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:
-
- Mixed At – M & M Productions
- Engineer – Joe Arlotta
- Mixed By – John Morales & Sergio Munzibai
- Producer – Dennis Lambert
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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Pls re-up
Thank you for sharing. Interesting that they call the one version an “Instrumental” when it is clearly a Dub. I forgot how great this song really is.
Love this! Thank you
Thank you bunches for your great rips DJPaulT. I used your rip for my extended mix of Nightshift: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ggh2gMPu1s
Wonderful – thank you DJPaul! This song came back into many people’s consciousness recently as the first single of Bruce Springsteen’s soul music covers record last year, but I’ve always loved it.
One of the all-time best R&B songs EVER. At 4:38 it seems too short and I could listen to this all day long! It conjures up memories of the 1968 Dion DiMucci tribute song “Abraham, Martin, & John” (US #4) in its simplicity, yet powerful message that ironically Marvin Gaye later recorded and released as a 1970 hit single in Britain (UK #9).
I remember this single charting in the UK, but I never heard these extended versions before.
Looking forward to hearing them.
Thanks Paul 🙂
You’re welcome, Marco 🙂
Was there a version that didn’t mention Michael Jackson… my memory is fading it seems.
Not that I know of.
Love it!! This proved the Commodores were more than just Lionel Richie. Such a mature and heartfelt tribute to their heroes. Maturity… something sorely lacking in today’s music scene (if you can call it that). What would we do without you Paul? Thank you for your hard work in restoration of these classics!! And have a great weekend Paul, Jeff, Fred, Martika and everyone else here!
There was such thought and care put into these records that made them so special. Today’s music is lacking in so many ways. I am just glad that there are still people like my readers who still value this music. Have a great weekend 🙂
This truly is a classic and was played a lot back at the time. I remember the 12″ mix well and was thankfully able to get it on this site eons ago when Paul posted it. 1985, in my view, was the year when remixing really started to remix (but no on this track) rather than previous years of mostly “extended” mixes. This Commodore remix is very reminiscent in style of the remixes of Who’s Johnny and Rhythm Of The Night…just soulfully extending the song and the FEEL of the song. Thanks again for all this work, Paul! Any chance… Read more »
You’re welcome. I’ll see what I can do 🙂
Hello all,
Thank you Paul for this gem. I have always loved this song from the start, back in 1985. And to have it in extended remixed form adds to the listening experience.
Have a great week-end.
Manu
You’re welcome, Manu. Have a great weekend 🙂
Here is a record I have been hoping you’d re-rip at one point, and here it is!! Paul, it was you who introduced me to this mix via your site. I was blown away by it and, unfortunately, only had the MP3 version. And this version I lost, so I am drunkenly happy that I’m getting it now. This is truly a gift to the ears, Paul!! It’s just that good!! Thanks for a great week of posts. From the mad cap editing on “My Magic Man” to the sample fest of Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, to today’s soulful… Read more »
I had to make this one part of my Auditory Icon series because the song just makes you move inside and out. It’s Such an iconic heartfelt track with a beautiful message. M&M did an outstanding job remixing the track as well. Have a great weekend, Jeff 🙂
I was going to post my appreciation for this and then I read your words, which perfectly describe my thoughts so Thank you for this: “the song just makes you move inside and out. It’s Such an iconic heartfelt track with a beautiful message”
Thank you and Happy Friday!
Wow had no clue there was a club mix of this! I totally remember when it came out and it being all ‘no more Lionel Richie’! Thanks for the info on the vocals, as this also answered my lingering question about Brick House as well! (That I never looked up 😆).
Thanks again for another fantastic post!
You’re welcome, ING have a great weekend 🙂