Although the band's 1969 debut album on
Atlantic and their first handful of
Motown singles slipped out unnoticed,
The Commodores became one of the 70s' most popular recording acts.
First making their name as hard-hitting Funksters with tracks like 'Machine Gun' and 'Slippery When Wet', they later became one of the era's best-known ballad acts. The sextet's transatlantic hits included million-sellers 'Easy' (covered by Faith No More), 'Three Times A Lady' and 'Still'- all penned by lead singer Lionel Richie.
By 1982, he had left and was replaced by Englishman J. D. Nicholas, who shared lead vocals on the Grammy-winning 'Nightshift'- The Commodores' only major hit without Richie. They subsequently recorded for Polydor and SBK with minor success.