Disco de Lionel Richie: “Renaissance [Import]”

I have to disagree with the reviews thus far, especially the one from Philidelphia who gives it a poor review without even mentioning a single song. That was classic. Anyway, this is a solid collection. "Angel" is garnering a good amount of air-play in many formats. This song is a strong opener and is as soulful as a dance song can be nowadays. The production is very crisp on this cut especially. "Tender Heart" and "How Long" rank up there with such classic Richie ballads as "Hello" and "Stuck On You." "Dance The Night Away" is a melodic ballad/mid-tempo song with some nice latin undertones and a very catchy chorus. There are however, a few lack-luster tracks. The two tracks produced by Rodney and Fred Jerkins ("Tonight", "Wasted Time") are way out of place. These producers are huge in the industry, but the music is very hip-hop like, and is more suited for someone like Destiny's Child. Other than those two cuts, the album is quite good. Richie's voice is as good, if not better than it was 15 years ago. All in all, a very strong collection.

Like Gladys Knight, Lionel Richie has just released one of his better CD's. Richie in his heyday could do no wrong. However, the last several years have not been so kind. On Renaissance, Lionel gives us the CD, that we knew he was capable. This is classic Lionel, good songs, good production, and Lionel Richie's distinctive voice. If you were a Richie fan, then you will definitely want to pick up his latest.

It's Grammy time! If it were in my power, I'd give the nominees from Lionel Richie's Renaissance the following awards:

BEST DANCE TUNE: Angel was the first hit, and it's no surprise that the producer from Cher's Believe gave it a similar sound but thankfully without the vocoder. (Those are used only for people who can't sing.) Here is My Heart is almost technopop, and the very disco-fied Don't Stop The Music will really have you reaching for the platform shoes (if you aren't already tall, like I am)! A couple of songs actually go beyond funk and "old school" and dive headlong into (gasp) Hip-hop! The beat-box influence is strong in Wasted Time and the sultry Don't You Ever Go Away. However, the award goes to Tonight, a good old-fashioned funk jam such as I used to hear when I was a teenager and used to hear Lionel's voice fronting the Commodores. (Showing my age as well as his!) It's VERY hard to sit still with this fun tune with its heavy bass and percussion.

BEST LATIN-INFLUENCED NUMBERS: Enrique or especially Marc Anthony should beg to record either Cinderella or Dance the Night Away! Of the two nominees, the award goes to Cinderella, which I feel should have been the first single.

BEST BALLAD: Tender Heart is a beautiful ballad I'm sure will enjoy a long life on someone else's album. The wistful Piece of My Heart and It May Be The Water both deserve honorable mention. But one ballad in particular, How Long, is not only the one song Lionel Richie wrote without collaboration, it's also the one definitive Lionel Richie song on the album. It not only gets Best Ballad, but Best Song.

BEST ALBUM PACKAGE: Sorry, no winners here! The photos on the booklet and cover of Renaissance look as though a Richard Avedon wannabe took over the design! They remind me of the strange poses on the first Johnny Mathis Broadway album from 1960.

In the category of MOST SHAMELESSLY NEGLECTED RECORDING FOR 2001, the winner is: Lionel Richie's Renaissance! Here is a recording by someone who can write great songs and who can actually sing without infusing every syllable with the electronic tricks and the vocal gymnastics that today's pop music artists seem hooked on. Lionel Richie has a voice that, unlike today's crop of boy/girl groups or any number of young female country singers, is instantly recognizable after the first two notes.

Obviously a student of classic true singers such as Johnny Mathis before him, and Nat Cole before that, as well as of the classic writers like Stevie Wonder and Barry Manilow, Richie has apparently learned that to master your craft, even at the risk of being unpopular, means your career will have staying power in the long run. For that, I bestow the final award of the evening, the LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, to Lionel Richie.

Oh oh, there's still a couple minutes left, so I'd like to mention an award that was given before the broadcast:

For failing to recognize the genius in this album with even a single nomination, I award the Grammy nomination committee LIFETIME LOSER AWARD. These are repeat winners of this award, folks. To my mind, there is plenty of single material here for those who care about such things, dance tunes that should go over well in the clubs, and I'd really be surprised if one of these songs didn't find its way onto a movie soundtrack at some point. Lionel Richie has his market. The fact that NARAS can't find a category to put good music in is no fault of his. It's their loss.

I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised with this come back CD. I have always liked Lionel Richie and I must say that I am really enjoying his latest work. My favorites so far are Cinderlla, Tonight and Watsted Time. I don't think it would be a waste of your time if you added this one to your collection.

good comeback cd for mr. richie if you're feeling this you know what to do.