Dancing on the Ceiling
Encyclopedia
Dancing on the Ceiling is Lionel Richie
's third album, which was released on July 15, 1986. The title cut was the second (first being "Say You, Say Me
") biggest single from the album, reaching #1 in the U.S. and #7 in the UK. (Blender
magazine also labeled the title song at #20 as one of the "50 Worst Songs Ever".) Other Top 10 singles from the album include "Love Will Conquer All
" (U.S. #9, UK #45) and "Ballerina Girl
" (U.S. #7, UK #17). The song "Deep River Woman
" reached #10 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart and features guest vocals by the popular country group Alabama
.[]
The album's proposed original title before its release was "Say You, Say Me".
Lionel Richie
Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records...
's third album, which was released on July 15, 1986. The title cut was the second (first being "Say You, Say Me
Say You, Say Me
"Say You, Say Me" is a Oscar winning song, written and recorded by Lionel Richie for the film White Nights, starring Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines. The single hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B singles charts in December 1985. It became Richie's ninth number one on the...
") biggest single from the album, reaching #1 in the U.S. and #7 in the UK. (Blender
Blender (magazine)
Blender was an American music magazine that billed itself as "the ultimate guide to music and more". It was also known for sometimes steamy pictorials of celebrities....
magazine also labeled the title song at #20 as one of the "50 Worst Songs Ever".) Other Top 10 singles from the album include "Love Will Conquer All
Love Will Conquer All (song)
"Love Will Conquer All" is a track from Lionel Richie's 1986 album "Dancing on the Ceiling". The song was written by Richie along with Greg Phillinganes and Cynthia Weil. "Love Will Conquer All" was Richie's tenth number one on the Adult Contemporary chart. The single spent two weeks at number...
" (U.S. #9, UK #45) and "Ballerina Girl
Ballerina Girl
"Ballerina Girl" is a 1986 song written and recorded by Lionel Richie. The song was a track from Richie's Dancing on the Ceiling album. "Ballerina Girl" peaked at number five on the soul charts. The song was also the last of Richie's eleven number ones on the Adult Contemporary...
" (U.S. #7, UK #17). The song "Deep River Woman
Deep River Woman
"Deep River Woman" is a single written by American artist Lionel Richie and recorded by Richie with American country music group Alabama. It was released in 1987 as the fifth single from Richie's album Dancing on the Ceiling. The song peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart...
" reached #10 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart and features guest vocals by the popular country group Alabama
Alabama (band)
Alabama is a country music and southern rock band from Fort Payne, Alabama, United States. The band was founded in 1969 by Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry , soon joined by Jeff Cook...
.[]
The album's proposed original title before its release was "Say You, Say Me".
1986 release
- "Dancing on the CeilingDancing on the Ceiling (Lionel Richie song)"Dancing on the Ceiling" is a song written by Mike Frenchik, Lionel Richie and Carlos Rios and performed by Richie on his 1986 album Dancing on the Ceiling....
" (Mike Frenchik, Richie, Carlos Rios) – 4:30 - "Se La" (Greg PhillinganesGreg PhillinganesGreg Phillinganes is an active session keyboardist in Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of Cass Technical High School, Detroit Michigan....
, Richie) – 5:22 - "Ballerina GirlBallerina Girl"Ballerina Girl" is a 1986 song written and recorded by Lionel Richie. The song was a track from Richie's Dancing on the Ceiling album. "Ballerina Girl" peaked at number five on the soul charts. The song was also the last of Richie's eleven number ones on the Adult Contemporary...
" (Richie) – 3:38 - "Don't Stop" (John Barnes, Richie) – 7:43
- "Deep River WomanDeep River Woman"Deep River Woman" is a single written by American artist Lionel Richie and recorded by Richie with American country music group Alabama. It was released in 1987 as the fifth single from Richie's album Dancing on the Ceiling. The song peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart...
" (Richie) – 4:35 - "Love Will Conquer AllLove Will Conquer All (song)"Love Will Conquer All" is a track from Lionel Richie's 1986 album "Dancing on the Ceiling". The song was written by Richie along with Greg Phillinganes and Cynthia Weil. "Love Will Conquer All" was Richie's tenth number one on the Adult Contemporary chart. The single spent two weeks at number...
" (Phillinganes, Richie, Cynthia WeilCynthia WeilCynthia Weil is a prominent American songwriter. She is famous for having written many songs together with her husband Barry Mann....
) – 5:40 - "Tonight Will Be Alright" (Richie) – 5:06
- "Say You, Say MeSay You, Say Me"Say You, Say Me" is a Oscar winning song, written and recorded by Lionel Richie for the film White Nights, starring Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines. The single hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B singles charts in December 1985. It became Richie's ninth number one on the...
" (Richie) – 4:00 - "Night Train (Smooth Alligator)" (Walter Afanasieff, Jeffrey Cohen, Preston Glass, Narada Michael Walden) – 4:58
2003 re-release
- "Dancing on the Ceiling" (12" Version) [2003 Remaster Bonus Track] – 7:10
- "Se La" (12" Version) [2003 Remaster Bonus Track] – 8:12
- "Don't Stop" (12" Version) [2003 Remaster Bonus Track] – 9:40
- "Love Will Conquer All" (12" Version) [2003 Remaster Bonus Track] – 7:10
Production
- Producers: Lionel Richie and James Anthony Carmichael
- Production Assistants: Lyle Rappaport, Brenda Richie
- Engineers: Dana Jon Chapelle, Jim Cotton, David Egerton, Calvin Harris, Fred Law, Gordon Lyon, Steve MacMillan, Joe Scaife
- Mixing: Calvin Harris, Steve MacMillan
- "Night Train" produced by Lionel Richie and Narada Michael Walden
Personnel
- Drums, Percussion: Paulinho Da CostaPaulinho Da CostaPaulinho da Costa is a Brazilian percussionist born in Rio de Janeiro, considered one of the most recorded musicians of modern times. Playing over two hundred percussion instruments, he has participated in thousands of recording sessions, Grammy Award-winning albums, hit songs, soundtracks, radio...
, Sheila E.Sheila E.Sheila Escovedo , known by her stage name Sheila E., is an American drummer and percussionist, perhaps best known for her work with Prince, George Duke and Ringo Starr.-Early life and Prince period:...
, Greg PhillinganesGreg PhillinganesGreg Phillinganes is an active session keyboardist in Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of Cass Technical High School, Detroit Michigan....
, Paul Leim, Lionel Richie, John RobinsonJohn Robinson (drummer)John Robinson is an American drummer and session musician...
, Narada Michael WaldenNarada Michael WaldenNarada Michael Walden is an American producer, drummer, singer, and songwriter. He was given the name Narada by guru Sri Chinmoy in the early 1970s and his musical career spans three decades, in which he was awarded several gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards... - Bass: Joe Chemay, Nathan EastNathan EastNathan Harrell East is a jazz, R&B and rock bass player and vocalist. East holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of California, San Diego...
, Randy JacksonRandy JacksonRandall Darius "Randy" Jackson is an American bassist, singer, record producer, music manager, A&R executive, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is best known as a judge on American Idol and executive producer for MTV's America's Best Dance Crew...
, Abraham LaborielAbraham LaborielAbraham Laboriel, Sr. is a Mexican bassist of Garifuna descent who has played on over 4,000 recordings and soundtracks. Guitar Player Magazine described him as "the most widely used session bassist of our time". Laboriel is the father of drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. and of producer, songwriter, and...
, Neil StubenhausNeil StubenhausNeil Stubenhaus is an American bass guitarist.-Career:He started his musical training playing drums and switched to bass guitar at the age of 12. He studied at the Berklee College of Music where he graduated in 1975... - Guitars: Vernon "Ice" Black, Eric ClaptonEric ClaptonEric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
, Dave Cochran, Charles Fearing, Tim May, Steve LukatherSteve LukatherSteve "Luke" Lukather is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer best known for his work with the rock band Toto. Lukather has played with many artists, released several solo albums, and worked as a composer, arranger, and session guitarist on more than 1,500 albums...
, Carlos Rios, Louis SheltonLouis SheltonLouis Shelton , also known as Louie Shelton, is an American musician and music producer.... - Keyboards, Synthesizers: John Barnes, Dave Cochrane, Preston Glass, Michael Lang, Neil Larsen, Greg Phillinganes, Tiger Head Preston, Lionel Richie, Carlos Rios
- Programming: John Barnes, Greg Phillinganes, Narada Michael Walden
- Saxophone: Dave Cochran
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | The Billboard 200 | 1 |