Machine Gun (Commodores album)

Machine Gun
Studio album by Commodores
Released	July 22, 1974
Recorded	1972–74
Studio	Motown Recording Studios, Hollywood, California
Genre	Funk, R&B
Length	36:06
Label	Motown
Producer	James Anthony Carmichael, Commodores, Jeffrey Bowen, George Tobin, Gloria Jones, Pam Sawyer, Clayton Ivey, Terry Woodford
Commodores chronology
Machine Gun (1974) Caught in the Act (1975)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	B+ [2]

Machine Gun is the debut studio album by Commodores, released on July 22, 1974, on Motown Records. ^[3]

Critical reception

Alex Henderson of Allmusic in a 3.5/5 stars review remarked, "What you won't find on Machine Gun are a lot of sentimental love ballads. In the late '70s, the Commodores became as famous for their ballads as they were for their funk and dance material, but believe it or not, there are no ballads to be found on this consistently funky, mostly up-tempo debut." ^[1]

With a B+ Robert Christgau of the Village Voice declared "The first side is good straight hard funk, kicked off by a title instrumental that's the best thing on the record--sure sign of a good straight hard funk band. The second side is acceptable straight hard funk, with some social consciousness thrown in by corporate stablemates Pam Sawyer and Gloria Jones." ^[2]

Singles

The title track peaked at number 7 on the US Billboard R&B Singles charts, while reaching number 22 on the US Billboard Pop Singles charts, becoming the band's first hit. As a single "Machine Gun" also reached No. 20 on both the UK Singles chart and the Canadian RPM Pop Singles chart. ^{[4] [5]}

The song is also featured on the soundtrack to the 1997 film Boogie Nights.

The second single to be released, "I Feel Sanctified", reached number 12 on the R&B charts, and concerns a man spiritually blessed by his girlfriend's love. The song has Ronald LaPread on bass guitar, Walter "Clyde" Orange on drums, while Lionel Richie and William King contributed horn arrangements. The tune has an a cappella introduction with three-way harmonization. Record World said of it "Bangin' out with a Salvation Army drum beat gone funk, the [Commodores] aim for a vocal bullseye." ^[6] The song has been called a "prototype" for Wild Cherry's 1976 hit "Play That Funky Music". ^[7] "I Feel Sanctified" was also later covered by that same group.

"The Human Zoo" was a staple on the Northern Soul scene at Blackpool Mecca and Wigan Casino with dancers back flipping spinning and hand clapping to the beat.

The drum break in the track The Assembly Line has been sampled many times, mainly used in Hip Hop, Drum & Bass and Jungle music.

Track listing

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Machine Gun" (instrumental)	Milan Williams	2:43
2.	"Young Girls Are My Weakness"	William King, Ronald LaPread	2:42
3.	"I Feel Sanctified"	Lionel Richie, Jeffrey Bowen, Ronald LaPread, Walter Orange, Milan Williams, Thomas McClary	3:30
4.	"The Bump"	Milan Williams	4:11
5.	"Rapid Fire" (instrumental)	Milan Williams	3:08

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"The Assembly Line"	Gloria Jones, Pam Sawyer	5:10
2.	"The Zoo (The Human Zoo)"	Gloria Jones, Pam Sawyer	3:16
3.	"Gonna Blow Your Mind"	Thomas McClary, Walter Orange, Milan Williams	6:09
4.	"There's a Song in My Heart"	Lionel Richie	2:38
5.	"Superman"	Lionel Richie	2:39
Total length:			36:06

Personnel

Commodores

• Lionel Richie – vocals, saxophones, keyboards
• Milan Williams – keyboards, guitars
• Thomas McClary – vocals, guitars
• Ronald LaPread – bass
• Walter Orange – drums, vocals, percussion ^[3]
• William King – trumpet, percussion

Production

• Producers – James Anthony Carmichael (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 & 10); Commodores (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 & 10); Jeffrey Bowen and George Tobin (Track 3); Gloria Jones and Pam Sawyer (Tracks 6 & 7); Clayton Ivey and Terry Woodford (Track 9).
• Arrangements – James Anthony Carmichael (Tracks 1–5, 8 & 10); Commodores (Tracks 1, 2, 4–8 & 10); George Tobin (Track 3); Gloria Jones (Tracks 6 & 7); Clayton Ivey and Terry Woodford (Track 9).
• Horn arrangements on Track 3 – James Anthony Carmichael
• Effects – Cal Harris
• Photography – Jim Britt ^[3]

Charts

Chart (1974)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [8]	37
New Zealand (RIANZ) [9]	27
US Top LPs (Billboard)	138
US Top Soul LPs (Billboard)	22

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [10]	Gold	20,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Henderson, Alex. "Commodores: Machine Gun". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: C". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved February 23, 2019– via robertchristgau.com.
3. Commodores: Machine Gun. Motown Records. July 1974.
4. "Machine Gun". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
5. "RPM Top Singles". bac-lac.gc.ca. Vol. 24, no. 1. RPM. August 24, 1974.
6. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. October 26, 1974. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
7. Wild cherry Retrieved 11 December 2021
8. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 72. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
9. "Commodores: Machine Gun". charts.nz. RIANZ.
10. "Intl Gold Albums Awarded" (PDF). Cash Box . June 4, 1977. p. 52. Retrieved November 25, 2021– via World Radio History.