Heroes

ライオネル・リッチーが在籍していたことでも知られるMOTOWNを代表する人気バンド、コモドアーズのモータウン通算10枚目に当たる1980年作。2000年に発売されていた2イン1のCDはとうの昔に廃盤でしたので、これはファンには嬉し過ぎる世界初単独CD化!コモドアーズとはデビュー時からの付き合いであり、この作品をリリースした2年後にソロ・デビューすることになるライオネル・リッチーのデビュー・アルバムとセカンド・アルバムも手掛けた大物プロデューサー兼アレンジャーJAMES ANTHONY CARMICHAELとコモドアーズのメンバーによる共同プロデュース作。アルバムはビルボード・チャート7位(US R&Bチャート3位)、シングルは「Old Fashion Love 」がビルボードチャート20位(US R&Bチャート8位)と大ヒットを記録。「Old Fashion Love 」以外にもお家芸のヘヴィー・ファンク「Celebrate」「All The Way Down」「Mighty Spirit」や軽快なライト・アーバン・ファンク「Got To Be Together」そして、アルバムの中でファンキーな曲に負けないくらいに印象的な哀愁漂うバラードの「Heroes」「Wake Up Children」「Jesus Is Love」と、コモドアーズの魅力を様々な角度から見せつけてくれる八方美人な名作です!

From 1974 until the end of the '70s, the Commodores enjoyed kicking out the hits. As the 1980s rolled in, the Commodores did not lose much steam as they scored their first Top Ten hit of the decade with the midtempo beauty "Old Fashion Love." From the flattering lyric to the zestful groove, the splendid selection is complemented by Lionel Richie's colorful delivery. It peaked at number eight on the Billboard R&B charts."Heroes" extols everyday people for their feats and courage and checked in at 27 after 11 weeks on the charts. The former Tuskegee collegians were not known to do gospel, but the self-contained sextet scored big with "Jesus Is Love." Richie's prayerful message and pleading cries are solidified with a lyric and melody that complement one another. The song's popularity is far greater than what the charts reflected (number 37). "Wake Up Children" and "Mighty Spirit" are two other inspirational selections. ~ Craig Lytle|

From 1974 until the end of the '70s, the Commodores enjoyed kicking out the hits. As the 1980s rolled in, the Commodores did not lose much steam as they scored their first Top Ten hit of the decade with the midtempo beauty "Old Fashion Love." From the flattering lyric to the zestful groove, the splendid selection is complemented by Lionel Richie's colorful delivery. It peaked at number eight on the Billboard R&B charts."Heroes" extols everyday people for their feats and courage and checked in at 27 after 11 weeks on the charts. The former Tuskegee collegians were not known to do gospel, but the self-contained sextet scored big with "Jesus Is Love." Richie's prayerful message and pleading cries are solidified with a lyric and melody that complement one another. The song's popularity is far greater than what the charts reflected (number 37). "Wake Up Children" and "Mighty Spirit" are two other inspirational selections. ~ Craig Lytle