Commodores discography

Commodores discography
Studio albums15
Live albums1
Compilation albums9
Singles39

The discography of American soul band the Commodores includes 15 studio albums and 39 singles spanning three decades, from 1974 to 1993.

The band reached the top of the Billboard charts twice with their international smash hit singles "Three Times a Lady" and "Still". They also topped the US R&B singles chart on seven occasions. The Commodores also reached the top 10 no fewer than five times in the US with hit albums Commodores, Commodores Live!, Natural High, Midnight Magic and Heroes.

Albums

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[1] 		US
R&B
[1] 		AUS
[2] 		CAN
[3] 		GER
[4] 		NLD
[5] 		NZ
[6] 		SWE
[7] 		SWI
[8] 		UK
[9]
Machine Gun
  • Released: July 1974
  • Label: Motown
 138 22 95 — — — 27 — — —
Caught in the Act
  • Released: February 1975
  • Label: Motown
 26 7 59 80 — — — — — —
Movin' On
  • Released: October 1975
  • Label: Motown
 29 7 80 55 — — — — — —
Hot on the Tracks
  • Released: June 1976
  • Label: Motown
 12 1 93 28 — — 39 — — —
Commodores
(Zoom in the Australia/UK)
  • Released: March 1977
  • Label: Motown
 3 1 62 23 — — 11 — — —
Natural High
  • Released: May 1978
  • Label: Motown
 3 1 14 3 — 5 5 — — 8
Midnight Magic
  • Released: July 1979
  • Label: Motown
 3 1 56 17 — 9 7 44 — 15
Heroes
  • Released: June 1980
  • Label: Motown
 7 3 94 36 — 44 45 — — 50
In the Pocket
  • Released: June 1981
  • Label: Motown
 13 4 48 29 — 21 45 25 — 69
Commodores 13
  • Released: September 1983
  • Label: Motown
 103 26 — — — — — — — —
Nightshift
  • Released: January 1985
  • Label: Motown
 12 1 44 22 4 1 13 22 8 13
United
  • Released: October 1986
  • Label: Polydor
 101 17 — — 62 44 — 50 28 —
Rock Solid
  • Released: July 1988
  • Label: Polydor
 — — — — — — — — — —
Commodores Christmas
  • Released: November 1992
  • Label: Commodores
 — — — — — — — — — —
No Tricks
  • Released: March 1993
  • Label: Commodores
 — — — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

  • There are many compilation albums by Commodores.[21] This is a selected list of albums that charted.
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[1] 		US
R&B
[1] 		AUS
[2][22] 		CAN
[23] 		GER
[24] 		NED
[5] 		NZ
[6] 		SWE
[7] 		SWI
[8] 		UK
[9]
Greatest Hits
  • Released: 10 November 1978
  • Label: Motown
 23 24 85 12 — 22 12 — — 19
All the Great Hits
  • Released: 5 November 1982
  • Label: Motown
 37 — — — — — 30 — — —
Love Songs
  • Released: 6 August 1982
  • Label: K-tel
 — — — — — — — — — 5
The Best Of
  • Released: September 1982
  • Label: Arcade
 — — — — — 5 — — — —
Anthology
(All the Great Hits in the Australia)
  • Released: May 1983
  • Label: Motown
 141 — 65 — — — — — — —
The Very Best Of
  • Released: November 1985
  • Label: Telstar
 — — — — — 24 — — — 25
The Very Best Of
  • Released: May 1995
  • Label: Motown
 — — — — — — 39 — — 26
20th Century Masters
The Millennium Collection
  • Released: November 1999
  • Label: Motown/Universal
 155 — — — — — — — — —
The Definitive Collection
(Lionel Richie and Commodores)
  • Released: November 2003
  • Label: Motown/UMTV
 19 — 16 — 40 23 7 31 45 1
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Live albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[1] 		US
R&B
[1] 		CAN
[30] 		NED
[5] 		NZ
[6] 		UK
[9]
Commodores Live!
  • Released: October 1977
  • Label: Motown
 3 2 26 7 8 60

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US Pop
[31] 		US
AC
[32] 		US
R&B
[33] 		AUS
[2] 		BEL
[34] 		CAN
[35] 		GER
[36] 		IRE
[37] 		NED
[38] 		NZ
[39] 		UK
[40]
1974 "Machine Gun" 22 — 7 95 — 20 — — — — 20 Machine Gun
"The Zoo (The Human Zoo)" — — — — — — — — — — 44
"I Feel Sanctified" 75 — 12 — — — — — — — —
1975 "Slippery When Wet" 19 — 1 — — 38 — — — — — Caught in the Act
"This Is Your Life" — — 13 — — — — — — — —
"Sweet Love" A 5 — 2 — — 16 — — — 16 32 Movin' On
1976 "Just to Be Close to You" 7 — 1 94 — 19 — — — — 62 Hot on the Tracks
1977 "Fancy Dancer" 39 — 9 — — 65 — — — — —
"Easy" 4 14 1 75 — 12 — — 24 9 9 Commodores
"Brick House" A 5 — 4 — 30 24 — — 15 2 32
1978 "Too Hot ta Trot" 24 — 1 — — 25 — — — 36 38 Commodores Live!
"Zoom" — — — — — — — — — —
"Three Times a Lady" 1 1 1 1 7 1 30 1 3 2 1 Natural High
"Flying High" 38 — 21 — — 47 — — — — 37
1979 "Sail On" 4 9 8 86 14 3 — 8 8 6 8 Midnight Magic
"Still" 1 6 1 38 — 2 — 3 16 13 4
1980 "Wonderland" 25 43 21 — — 70 — — — — 40
"Old-Fashion Love" 20 47 8 — — 70 — — — — — Heroes
"Heroes" 54 44 27 — — — — — — — —
"Jesus Is Love" — — 34 — — — — — — — —
1981 "Lady (You Bring Me Up)" 8 13 5 34 17 27 64 — 15 1 56 In the Pocket
"Oh No" 4 5 5 51 — 3 — — — 49 44
1982 "Why You Wanna Try Me" 66 — 42 — — — — — — — —
"Lucy" — — — — — — — — — — —
"Painted Picture" 70 — 19 — — — — — — — — All the Great Hits
1983 "Reach High" — — — — — — — — — — —
"Only You" 54 8 20 — — — — — — — 93 Commodores 13
1984 "Turn Off the Lights" — — — — — — — — — — —
1985 "Nightshift" 3 2 1 8 2 7 4 3 1 2 3 Nightshift
"Animal Instinct" 43 — 22 — 24 — 39 — — — 74
"Janet" 87 8 65 — 29 — — — — — 90
1986 "Goin' to the Bank" 65 — 2 — 11 — 34 — 13 39 43 United
"Take It from Me" — — 38 — — — — — — — —
"United in Love" — 22 — — — — — — — — —
1988 "Easy" (re-release) — — — — — — — 18 — — 15 The Very Best Of
"Solitaire" — — 51 — — — — — — — — Rock Solid
"Homeless" — — — — — — — — — — —
"Grrip" — — — — — — — — — — —
1993 "Everything Reminds Me of You" — — — — — — — — — — — No Tricks
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
  • A "Brick House" and "Sweet Love" were released in the UK as a double A-side single.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "US Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 72. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  3. ^ Canadian Albums:
    • "Caught in the Act" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
    • "Movin' On" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
    • "Hot on the Tracks" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
    • "Commodores" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
    • "Natural High" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
    • "Midnight Magic" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
    • "Heroes" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
    • "In the Pocket" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
    • "Nightshift" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  4. ^ German Albums:
    • "Nightshift" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
    • "United" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c "Commodores". dutchcharts.nl. Dutch Charts.
  6. ^ a b c "New Zealand Albums". charts.nz. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Swedish Albums". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Swiss Albums". hitparade.ch. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  9. ^ a b c "UK Albums". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  10. ^ "International Gold Albums Awarded – Commodores Cash In" (PDF). Cashbox. worldradiohistory.com. June 4, 1977. p. 52. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  11. ^ Levitt, Jess (November 15, 1975). "Cash Box R&B News Report – R&B Ingredients" (PDF). Cashbox. worldradiohistory.com. p. 32. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  12. ^ "Cash Box News – Temptations, Commodores Honored" (PDF). Cashbox. worldradiohistory.com. December 27, 1975. pp. 18–24. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  13. ^ "Cash Box News – Tracks of Platinum" (PDF). Cashbox. worldradiohistory.com. November 6, 1976. pp. 18–24. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  14. ^ "Cash Box News – Motown Salutes The Commodores" (PDF). Cashbox. worldradiohistory.com. June 4, 1977. p. 18. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Dutch album certifications – Commodores" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved May 26, 2021. Enter Commodores in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  16. ^ Conlee, John (November 10, 1979). "AMOA Juke Box Awards – Commodores" (PDF). Cashbox. worldradiohistory.com. p. AMOA–22. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  17. ^ a b "British album certifications – Commodores". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 8, 2022. Select albums in the Format field. Type Commodores in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  18. ^ a b c d "American album certifications – Commodores". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  19. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – The Commodores – Midnight Magic". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  20. ^ a b c "Cash Box News – Gold And Platinum For The Commodores" (PDF). Cashbox. worldradiohistory.com. December 1, 1979. p. 7. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  21. ^ "Commodores compilation albums". discogs.com. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  22. ^ "Australian Albums". officialcharts.com. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  23. ^ Canadian Albums:
    • "Greatest Hits" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  24. ^ German Albums:
    • "The Definitive Collection" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i "BPI Certification". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on July 10, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  26. ^ a b c "RIAA Certification". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  27. ^ "RIAA Certification". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  28. ^ "ARIA Charts Accreditations". ARIA. Archived from the original on September 29, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  29. ^ "New Zealand Certification – "The Definitive Collection"". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  30. ^ Canadian Albums:
    • "Commodores Live!" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  31. ^ "US Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  32. ^ "US Adult Contemporary Singles". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  33. ^ "US Hot R&B Singles". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  34. ^ "Belgian Singles". ultratop.be. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  35. ^ Canadian Singles:
    • "Machine Gun" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
    • "Slippery When Wet" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
    • "Sweet Love" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
    • "Just to Be Close to You" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
    • "Fancy Dancer" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
    • "Easy" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
    • "Brick House" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
    • "Too Hot ta Trot" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
    • "Three Times a Lady" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
    • "Flying High" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
    • "Sail On" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
    • "Still" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
    • "Wonderland" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
    • "Old-Fashion Love" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
    • "Lady (You Bring Me Up)" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
    • "Oh No" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
    • "Nightshift" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  36. ^ German Singles:
    • "Three Times a Lady" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
    • "Lady (You Bring Me Up)" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
    • "Nightshift" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
    • "Animal Instinct" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
    • "Goin to the Bank" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  37. ^ "Irish Singles". irishcharts.ie. Archived from the original on June 2, 2009. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  38. ^ "Dutch Singles". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  39. ^ "New Zealand Singles". charts.nz. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  40. ^ "UK Singles". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  41. ^ "Canadian Certification". Music Canada. Retrieved August 3, 2016.

External links

  • Official Commodores website
  • Lionel Richie interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' 03/2009
  • 'The Commodores' Vocal Group Hall of Fame Page
  • v
  • t
  • e
  • William King
  • Walter Orange
  • J. D. Nicholas
Albums
Singles
Compilations
  • Greatest Hits
  • The Very Best of The Commodores (1995 album)
  • Gold
Related
  • Discography