Commodores Midnight Magic

Commodores 'Midnight Magic' (Motown, 1979)

Wow, this sounds amazing; the production is a pristine 70s Motown job. Many hardcore fans of Commodores see this record as one of the final nails in the coffin of the band's funkiness, but the bass is heavy and the records certainly grooves, 'You're Special' being a great example of both.

The back cover photo is pretty cool and the title track exhorts 'Let's go down to the Disco' so it's obvious to see that the band were trying to corner a new market, but being somebody that only really knows Commodores as being a huge ballad band this apparent attempt to 'sell out' doesn't bother me.

It's worth repeating that the bass really is brilliant and resonates warmly throughout, check out the heavy funk of 'Sexy Lady', and I'm really surprised I like it so much as it's the kind of sound I detest when poorly executed by the insufferable Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

The worst track is the most famous song on the album, the Lionel Richie ballad 'Still', and the other big hit, the strangely Country styled 'Sail On,' is a little out of place. Elsewhere there are hints of electronica with Kraftwerk squiggles on the title track, 'Sexy Lady' and 'Wonderland' and a few of the bass lines and drum beats make me think DJ Shadow might be fan.

Another plus is that I don't think I've ever seen Mr Richie looking more like Big Dunc.

Lu will be disappointed that she's missed another 'normal' record whilst out gallivanting.

Peace