Disco de Lionel Richie: “Can't Slow Down”

Don't know if you heard the news or not, but yesterday Punxsutawney Phyllis (an emortional vampire friend of mine) did not see her reflection in a mirror. You know what this means don't you? Yes. 6 more months of Metamorpho's reviews! And I just know there will be great celebration today because of it. What? You say the celebration will be for the Super Bowl? Parties etc.? Ohno- you must be mistaken. It's for me - I'm sure it is. ;)

That said, I am reviewing this Lionel Ritchie c.d. "Can't Slow Down" was a stand-out in the 80's. In a season with one hit wonders and safety pants (or was that dance?), this selection is a refreshing breeze. Some people may consider this too middle of the road. However, there are real reasons for it's success, which I will tell you because you asked nicely.

Certainly the smart videos he produced for MTV were a big part of it. Classy and well done. By the time this music had arrived, he was well-known as a considerable artist, given that he was with the Commodores and had also put out a previous solo album (also quite excellent). His songwriting was crisp, smooth, easy on the ear and he was also a lyrical master of the love ode. Earnest, heartfelt; alot of these songs wrap you in a comfort that is hard to qualify. But, it's there. One listen and you'll feel it too.

There is a nice mix here. There are beautiful, hook-filled ballads ("Penny Lover","Stuck On You" "Hello"), which play like pure velvet on the ears. An easy groove like "Love Will Find a Way" and harder groove like "Can't Slow Down". Lionel also possesses the creativity to write a calypso-flavored party classic "All Night Long", to the surprise of no one.

One of my favorites, "Running With the Night" employs a pop-rock chug a-long with smokin' silken guitar lead. In all honesty, he hits upon something for everyone here and the effort is flawless. Oh, I can hear the complaints now - the music is too studio polished, the music is too saccharin, Lionel sold out. I don't go along with any of it. He assembled top notch musicians here and paid alot of attention to his craft with great care. It shows. That is why it was a shining light back then and, I think, is so today.

In closing, this is a fine, easy listening selection to play when someone like Sondra the Seeress comes to visit your astute Metamorpho. Music in the background-- me with brandy - she with chardonnay - the lovelight twinkle in both our eyes. Ahhhhhhhhhh..........

Let the music play on, play on, play on....... Metamorpho ;)

1983, competitive year for black music. Michael Jackson and Prince were still hot with their albums, Thriller and 1999 respectively. The Pointer Sisters, Kool & The Gang, Cameo, Midnight Star, and Shalamar were leaving behind their signature disco styles and adapted either New Wave or Rock/Funk blends, which gave them hot albums for 1983. Jeffrey Osborne, Kashif, O'Bryan, and Luther Vandross were amongst new soul stars that were talented producers and performers that blew up towards the black community in 83'. What artist has all that, and alot more?? Lionel Richie!!

Like MJ scored with Off The Wall and truimphed with Thriller, Lionel did the same with his self titled debut and Can't Slow Down, respectively. I was born in late of 1983, around the same time this album was released. My father still has the original lp in working condition, remembered him playing All Night Long and Penny Lover alot. I confess that since then and from seeing his videos on NY Hot Tracks and Friday Night Videos, I loved his music. Let's get to the point, Can't Slow Down is one of the most enjoyable albums of the 1980s along with Thriller and Purple Rain (an album which you dug all the tracks without exceptions) and my 4th favorite album (behind Thriller, Confessions, and Jay-Z's Black Album and before Purple Rain and Off The Wall). Too make a long story short, heres how I rate the tracks

Can't Slow Down (energetic introduction in a PYT groove that failed to be a single which was a mistake) - A+

All Night Long (#1 international Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'-like groove that brought the album to life. Love the international style video) - A+

Penny Lover (love this song since I first saw the storyline video on NY Hot Tracks back in late 84') - A+

Stuck On You (Good single. A great effort that hit not only on adult complemntary, and mainstream stations, but on country stations as well. "Short and Sweet!" Look out Kenny Rodgers!!) - A-

Love Will Find A Way (lp track that is still hot on adult complemntary and urban stations today. I luv the hooks throughout the last couple minutes of the song) - A

The Only One (probaly the most forgotten track on the lp, which was better than Stuck On You, IMO) - A

Running With The Night (A bit smoother and more new-wavish than Beat It. Lionel's second single spells out good "Rock N Roll" In the video of where he and his boyz crash a prom, he dances with unknown then Shelia E) - A+

Hello (the most emotional and important single on the lp was a great album closer. It is my favorite Lionel Richie song too and the video was a bit amusing, yet great happy ending with the poor deaf student who seems to have a crush on her teacher - Lionel of course. Back on saturday afternoons of when my father replayed what he taped on NY Hot Tracks the friday night before, he always played this video among with others. Alot of memories coming back although I was only a baby. These videos my father use to tape from soul artists was probaly as far back as I can remember) - A++

I will purchase the cd version of this lp for myself in the future because this is incredible!! Another trip down memory lane! Who would care to join me?

I was born in 1977, and the one artist I can remember listining to growing up to, ( partly b/c my mom loved this album), was Lionel Richie's album Can't Slow Down. This was my favorite album as a child and still is one of my favorite albums today!!!! You can't get any better than this!!!!!

as writer of so many great songs lionel richie struck pay dirt for me on this gem.his songs evoke love,passion,timing and understanding.he was also very versatile going from all night long,to penny lover,to stuck on you to the powerful Love will find away. his voice was touch with his words. i mean artist sometimes write one way and the meaning comes out another.but Lionel richie so cased all the emotions really well on this gem.it's a must from an incredible song-writer.

Lionel Richie ex. Commodores had archieved great success with his eponumous debut album in 1982 and even experienced two solo #1 hits, "Endless Love" a duet with Diana Ross (which didn't appear on his debut) and then "Truly". There was no need to slow down at all and the year after this fantastic album was released. Lionel continues with the same kind of music, but now he does it better and smarter then ever. This album is well calculated with a great production and all singles seems to be exactly on point with good hooks and arrangements. Even if it's calculated to work for the charts, there are a few diffrent numbers here that shows a new side of Richies music., I'm talking about the Countryish "Stuck on You", the mega hit "All Night Long" with world Beat sound, simular to what Michael Jackson did on "Wanna Be Starting Something" and Madonna later did on "La Isla Bonita". Exotic pop songs that didn't sound like anything else on the charts at the time. The song topped the Billboard charts in 1983. The third song that comes to mind is the rock-pop hit "Running With the Night", not as edgy as MJ but not far from. Two more fantastic songs should be mentioned as highlights "Penny Lover" a midtempo love song and obviously the massive ballad hit "Hello" with a blind girl in the video. It topped both charts of the atlantic and was one of the biggest hits of that year. "Can't Slow Down" is a decent midtempo with great arrangements but lacks a good hook and was no single. Neither were the dry ballad "Love Will Find A Way" nor "The Only One" another ballad. Out of only 8 songs 5 were hits, which is quite amazing. Just like another reviewer mentioned, This is probably the best Pop album of 1983 and it made Lionel Richie a superstar. It got something for everyone and it's fullpacked with memorable hits that rocked the music charts in the early 80's. Just like the previous album Lionel also wrote all songs. Unfortunately some of the songs are too long. "All Night Long" really is all night, since it's 6.30 minutes and goes on forever. Shorting down some of the songs and adding a few more would have been better then having songs that never ends. However, this album shows Lionel at his peak when everything he made was a hit and I warmly recommend this to people that like good music and want a classic pop album in their collection.