Sail On (song)

Last updated
"Sail On"
Single by Commodores
from the album Midnight Magic
B-side
  • "Thumpin' Music" (US)
  • "Captain Quick Draw" (UK)
Released27 July 1979 [1]
Genre Pop
Length5:32
Label Motown
Songwriter(s) Lionel Richie
Producer(s) James Anthony Carmichael, Commodores
Commodores singles chronology
"Flying High"
(1978)
"Sail On"
(1979)
"Still"
(1979)

"Sail On" is a Commodores song written by Lionel Richie from their 1979 album Midnight Magic . Released as the first of three singles from the album, it was produced by both Commodores and James Anthony Carmichael. The song reached the top ten on both the US and UK music charts that same year. Richie later recorded the song with Tim McGraw for 2012's Tuskegee . [2]

Contents

Cash Box described it as "a sparkling ballad." [3] Billboard called it "a surprising country flavored ballad" and said that "the subdued backing featuring prominent guitar and keyboards and the slick country intonations to Lionel Richie's vocal carry the melody." [4] Record World called it a "beautiful, country-colored ballad." [5]

Track listings

US 7" single

  1. "Sail On" – 3:57
  2. "Thumpin' Music" – 3:24

UK 7" single

  1. "Sail On" – 3:57
  2. "Captain Quick Draw" – 3:00

Charts

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Night Long (All Night)</span> 1983 single by Lionel Richie

"All Night Long (All Night)" is a song by American singer and songwriter Lionel Richie from his second solo album, Can't Slow Down (1983). The song combined Richie's Commodores style with Caribbean influences. The single reached number one on three Billboard charts (pop, R&B and adult contemporary). In the UK, it peaked at number two on the singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Endless Love (song)</span> 1981 single by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross

"Endless Love" is a song written by Lionel Richie and originally recorded as a duet between Richie and singer/actress Diana Ross. In this ballad, the singers declare their "endless love" for one another. It was covered by Luther Vandross with R&B-pop singer Mariah Carey, and also by country music singer Shania Twain. Richie's friend Kenny Rogers also recorded the song. Billboard has named the original version as the greatest song duet of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three Times a Lady</span> 1978 single by Commodores

"Three Times a Lady" is a 1978 song by American soul group Commodores for their album Natural High, written by lead singer Lionel Richie. It was produced by James Anthony Carmichael and Commodores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Easy (Commodores song)</span> 1977 single by the Commodores

"Easy" is a song by American band Commodores from their fifth studio album, Commodores (1977), released on the Motown label. Group member Lionel Richie wrote "Easy" with the intention of it becoming another crossover hit for the group given the success of a previous single, "Just to Be Close to You", which spent two weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nightshift (song)</span> 1985 song by the Commodores

"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. Bruce Springsteen covered the song in his 2022 studio album, Only the Strong Survive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'll Be There for You (Bon Jovi song)</span> 1989 single by Bon Jovi

"I'll Be There for You" is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi, released as the third single from their 1988 album, New Jersey. The power ballad was written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora. The single reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number five on the Album Rock Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Say You, Say Me</span> 1985 single by Lionel Richie

"Say You, Say Me" is a song written and recorded by American singer and songwriter Lionel Richie for the film White Nights. The single hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and on the Hot Black Singles chart in December 1985. It also became Richie's ninth number-one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The track is not available on the film's soundtrack album, as Motown did not want Richie's first single following the massive success of his 1983 album Can't Slow Down to appear on another label. It was included by Motown on Richie's 1986 release Dancing on the Ceiling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hello (Lionel Richie song)</span> 1984 song by Lionel Richie

"Hello" is a song by American singer and songwriter Lionel Richie. Taken as the third single from his second solo album, Can't Slow Down (1983), the song was released in 1984 and reached number one on three Billboard music charts: the pop chart, the R&B chart, and the Adult Contemporary chart. The song also went to number one on the UK Singles Chart for six weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lionel Richie discography</span>

Lionel Richie is an American R&B and pop singer, who has released 11 studio albums, three live albums, and seven compilation albums. Formerly the lead vocalist of The Commodores, Richie began a solo career in the early 1980s and has released over 40 singles, five of which became number-one hits on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Truly (Lionel Richie song)</span> 1982 single by Lionel Richie

"Truly" is the debut solo single by American singer-songwriter Lionel Richie. Resuming where he left off with D-flat major tunes "Sail On" and particularly "Still" when he was lead for the Commodores, Richie wrote the song and co-produced it with James Anthony Carmichael.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady (Kenny Rogers song)</span> 1980 single by Kenny Rogers

"Lady" is a song written by Lionel Richie and first recorded by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. It was released in September 1980 on the album Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits.

"Just to Be Close to You" is a song by American R&B/funk band, Commodores, in 1976. Released from their album, Hot on the Tracks, it would become one of their biggest hits, spending two weeks at the top of the Hot Soul Singles chart and becoming their second Billboard Hot 100 top ten, peaking at number seven. The song was written and sung by Lionel Richie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Are (Lionel Richie song)</span> 1983 single by Lionel Richie

"You Are" is a song released as a single in 1983 by American singer-songwriter Lionel Richie. It was written by Richie and his then-wife, Brenda Harvey Richie. It appears on his self-titled debut solo album, which came out in 1982. It resumes where he left off with D-flat major tunes with Commodores' "Sail On" and "Still", and his solo effort "Truly".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Love (Lionel Richie song)</span> 1983 single by Lionel Richie

"My Love" is a song by American singer-songwriter Lionel Richie. It was released in 1983 as the third and final single from his self-titled debut solo album. The song features harmony backing vocals by country music singer Kenny Rogers. It reached the top 10 on three notable Billboard magazine charts in the spring of 1983: on the Billboard Hot 100 the song peaked at No. 5; on the Adult Contemporary chart, the song spent four weeks at No. 1; and on the R&B chart, the song topped out at No. 6. "My Love" was not among Richie's more successful singles in the United Kingdom, where it only managed No. 70 on the UK Singles Chart. In Canada, it peaked at No. 28 on the RPM Top 100 Singles chart.

"Running with the Night" is the second single released from American singer and songwriter Lionel Richie's multi-platinum and Grammy Award-winning 1983 album, Can't Slow Down. Richie co-wrote the song with songwriter Cynthia Weil and co-produced it with James Anthony Carmichael.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penny Lover</span> 1984 single by Lionel Richie

"Penny Lover" is the title of the fifth and final single released from Lionel Richie's multi-platinum 1983 album, Can't Slow Down. The song was written by Richie and his then-wife, Brenda Harvey Richie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Destiny (Lionel Richie song)</span> 1992 single by Lionel Richie

"My Destiny" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Lionel Richie. It was released on July 28, 1992 as the second single from his first compilation album, Back to Front (1992), by Motown Records. It was written by Richie and produced by himself and Stewart Levine. The song achieved some success, and it even topped the Dutch Single Top 100 and peaked at number two in the Dutch Top 40. It also appeared on Richie's best of albums Truly: The Love Songs and The Definitive Collection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuck on You (Lionel Richie song)</span> 1984 single by Lionel Richie

"Stuck on You" is a song written and originally recorded by American singer and songwriter Lionel Richie. It was the fourth single released from his second studio album, Can't Slow Down, released in June 1984, by Motown, and achieved chart success, particularly in the US and the UK, where it peaked at number three and number 12, respectively. "Stuck on You" reached number one on the Adult Contemporary chart, Richie's seventh chart topper.

"Sweet Love" is a soul/R&B ballad written by Lionel Richie and recorded by American R&B vocal group Commodores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Wanna Lose You (Lionel Richie song)</span> 1996 single by Lionel Richie

"Don't Wanna Lose You" is a song by American singer and songwriter Lionel Richie. It was written by Richie along with James Harris III and Terry Lewis for his fourth studio album, Louder Than Words (1996), while production was helmed by Harris and Lewis under their production moniker Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The song reached number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Richie's final top 40 hit.

References

  1. "Commodores singles".
  2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Tuskagee". Allmusic. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  3. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. August 11, 1979. p. 15. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  4. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. August 11, 1979. p. 74. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
  5. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. August 11, 1979. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  6. 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.
  7. "Commodores – Sail On" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  8. "RPM Top 100 Singles - November 3, 1979" (PDF).
  9. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 42, 1979" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  10. "Commodores – Sail On" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  11. "Commodores – Sail On". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  12. "Commodores – Sail On". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  13. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  14. "Commodores, HSI" . Billboard . Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  15. "Commodores, ASI" . Billboard . Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  16. "Commodores, HSI" . Billboard . Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  17. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1979". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  18. "1979 Talent in Action – Year End Charts : Pop Singles". Billboard. 91 (51): TIA-10. December 22, 1979.