Machine Gun (Commodores album)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2012) |
| Machine Gun | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 22, 1974 | |||
| Recorded | 1972–74 at Motown Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA | |||
| Genre | Funk, R&B | |||
| Length | 36:06 | |||
| Label | Motown | |||
| Producer | James Anthony Carmichael, Commodores, Jeffrey Bowen, George Tobin, Gloria Jones, Pam Sawyer, Clayton Ivey, Terry Woodford | |||
| Commodores chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [1] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | B+[2] |
Machine Gun is the debut studio album by the Commodores, released on July 22, 1974, on Motown Records.[3]
Singles
The titular lead song has Milan Williams on clavinet, which led the Motown executive Berry Gordy to name the song "Machine Gun" as the clavinet work reminded him of gunfire.[citation needed] This track peaked at number 7 on the R&B charts, while reaching number 22 on the overall pop charts. Samples from the song were used prominently by the Beastie Boys in their 1989 song "Hey Ladies," and the song itself was featured on the soundtrack for the 1997 film Boogie Nights. In the late 1970s, the track was used as the theme to UK Sunday-morning-filler show about health How To Stay Alive, presented by Colin Welland,[citation needed] and in early 1980s the tune was also used as the opening theme of the New Zealand music show Ready to Roll.[4]
The second single to be released, "I Feel Sanctified", reached number 12 on the R&B charts, and concerns a man spiritually blessed by his girlfriend's love. The song has Ronald LaPread on bass guitar, while Lionel Richie and William King contributed horn arrangements. The tune has an a cappella introduction with three-way harmonization.
Covers and Samples
The song "Assembly Line" was sampled by Public Enemy on the song "Raise the Roof" from their 1987 album Yo! Bum Rush the Show. The song was also sampled by such artists as Eric B. & Rakim on "Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em," Outkast featuring Erykah Badu on "Humble Mumble", Snow on "Informer" and Guy on "Her".[5][6]
Australian pop singer Kate Ceberano covered "Young Girls Are My Weakness", re-written from a female perspective as "Young Boys Are My Weakness", on her 1989 album Brave.[citation needed]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Machine Gun" (instrumental) | Milan Williams | 2:43 |
| 2. | "Young Girls Are My Weakness" | William King & Ronald LaPread | 2:42 |
| 3. | "I Feel Sanctified" | Lionel Richie, Jeffrey Bowen, Ronald LaPread, Walter Orange, Milan Williams & Thomas McClary | 3:30 |
| 4. | "The Bump" | Milan Williams | 4:11 |
| 5. | "Rapid Fire" (instrumental) | Milan Williams | 3:08 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Assembly Line" | Gloria Jones & Pam Sawyer | 5:10 |
| 2. | "The Zoo (The Human Zoo)" | Gloria Jones & Pam Sawyer | 3:16 |
| 3. | "Gonna Blow Your Mind" | Thomas McClary, Walter Orange & Milan Williams | 6:09 |
| 4. | "There's a Song in My Heart" | Lionel Richie | 2:38 |
| 5. | "Superman" | Lionel Richie | 2:39 |
| Total length: | 36:06 | ||
Personnel
- Lionel Richie – vocals, saxophone, keyboards
- Thomas McClary – vocals, guitar
- Milan Williams – guitar, keyboards
- Ronald LaPread – bass guitar
- William King – trumpet, percussion
- Walter Orange – drums, vocals, percussion[3]
Production
- Producers – James Anthony Carmichael (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 & 10); Commodores (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 & 10); Jeffrey Bowen and George Tobin (Track 3); Gloria Jones and Pam Sawyer (Tracks 6 & 7); Clayton Ivey and Tom Woodford (Track 9).
- Arrangements – James Anthony Carmichael (Tracks 1-5, 8 & 10); Commodores (Tracks 1, 2, 4-8 & 10); George Tobin (Track 3); Gloria Jones (Tracks 6 & 7); Clayton Ivey and Tom Woodford (Track 9).
- Horn arrangements on Track 3 – James Anthony Carmichael
- Effects – Cal Harris
- Photography – Jim Britt[3]
Charts
| Year | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B |
NZ Pop | US Pop | |
| 1974 | 22 | 27[7] | 138 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B |
UK Pop |
CAN Pop | |||
| 1974 | "Machine Gun" | 22 | 7 | 20[8] | 20[9] | |
| "I Feel Sanctified" | 75 | 12 | — | — | ||
References
- ^ Henderson, Alex. "Commodores: Machine Gun". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: C". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 23, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ a b c d Commodores: Machine Gun. Motown Records. July 1974.
- ^ "Ready to Roll". NZ On Screen. NZ On Air. Retrieved 2014-10-02.
- ^ "Raise the Roof by Public Enemy". secondhandsongs.com.
- ^ "The Commodores". the-breaks.com.
- ^ "Commodores: Machine Gun". charts.nz. RIANZ.
- ^ "RPM Top Singles". bac-lac.gc.ca. Vol. 24, no. 1. RPM. August 24, 1974.
- ^ "Machine Gun". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.