Category: Commodores

Commodores – Nightshift (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1985

NEW 2024 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Originally posted August 13, 2011

AN 80s AUDITORY ICON

“Nightshift” is a 1985 song by the Commodores and the title track from their album of the same name. The song was written by lead singer Walter Orange in collaboration with Dennis Lambert and Franne Golde as a tribute to soul/R&B singers Jackie Wilson and Marvin Gaye, both of whom died in 1984. The song was released as the album’s first single in January 1985 by Motown Records. “Nightshift” was recorded in 1984 and became the Commodores’ first hit after Lionel Richie’s departure from the group.

The song features a lead vocal from drummer Walter Orange, who had sung lead years earlier on “Brick House”. Lionel Richie’s replacement, J.D. Nicholas, sings the second verse and then Orange and Nicholas share lead vocals on the remaining choruses.

The first verse mentions Gaye’s song “What’s Going On”, while the second verse mentions Jackie Wilson’s “Lonely Teardrops” (“Say You Will”), “Baby Workout” and “(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher”.

“Nightshift” became their biggest hit after Richie’s departure, peaking at number three for the week of April 20 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart, and rising to number one on the Hot Black Singles chart; the single also became a success on the Adult Contemporary and the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales charts in the first half of that year. It was the group’s final top-ten hit.

Although the band was against the label’s decision to release it as a single, it won a Grammy Award in 1985 for Best Vocal R&B Performance by a Duo/Group.

John Leland of Spin said the song, “puts the group back on the map with a vengeance. Its spare, lilting Caribbean groove dispenses with the group’s penchant for schmaltz, and new lead singer J. D. Nicholas’ sweet tenor is all late-night yearning.”

SIDE A:
Nightshift (Edit Of Club Mix) 4:47

SIDE B:
Nightshift (Club Mix) 7:04
Nightshift (Instrumental Mix) 7:18

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY

Year Single Chart Position
1985 Nightshift U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #3
1985 Nightshift U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles #1
1985 Nightshift U.S. Billboard Billboard Adult Contemporary Tracks #2
1985 Nightshift U.S. Billboard Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #6

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Motown – 4533MG
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul
Style: Downtempo, Rhythm & Blues, Funk

CREDITS:

NOTES:
“An M&M Mix”
Album version in “NIGHTSHIFT”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus:  Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

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