Nightshift
Encyclopedia
"Nightshift" is a 1985 hit song by the Commodores
and title track from the album of the same name
. The song was a tribute to Jackie Wilson
and Marvin Gaye
, two famous R&B musicians who had died in 1984.
This song was the first hit attained by the Commodores following Lionel Richie
's departure from the group. It was also their biggest hit after Richie's departure, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100
and rising to number one on the Hot Black Singles
chart, as well as number three in the UK Singles Chart
. Although the band was against the label's decision to release it as a single, it won a Grammy Award
in 1985 for Best Vocal R&B Performance by a Duo/Group. The song features the lead vocal from drummer Walter Orange, whose lead appeared years before on the hugely popular "Brick House"
.
The Commodores re-recorded a version dedicated to Michael Jackson
in 2010.
The song was also parodied by the band as 11 Alive on a 1985 commercial for NBC
affiliate WXIA-TV
in Atlanta, Georgia
.
, with the lyrics changed as a tribute to Bob Marley
.
Commodores
The Commodores are an American funk/soul band of the 1970s and 1980s. The members of the group met as mostly freshmen at Tuskegee Institute in 1968, and signed with Motown in November 1972, having first caught the public eye opening for The Jackson 5 while on tour...
and title track from the album of the same name
Nightshift (album)
Nightshift is a nine-track album by the Commodores, released January 15, 1985, on Motown Records, their last album on that label before switching to Polydor.- Album credits; staff changes :...
. The song was a tribute to Jackie Wilson
Jackie Wilson
Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson, Jr. was an American singer and performer. Known as "Mr. Excitement", Wilson was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. He was known as a master showman, and as one of the most dynamic singers and performers in R&B and rock history...
and Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
, two famous R&B musicians who had died in 1984.
This song was the first hit attained by the Commodores following Lionel Richie
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 departure from the group. It was also their biggest hit after Richie's departure, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and rising to number one on the Hot Black Singles
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart, as well as number three in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. Although the band was against the label's decision to release it as a single, it won a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in 1985 for Best Vocal R&B Performance by a Duo/Group. The song features the lead vocal from drummer Walter Orange, whose lead appeared years before on the hugely popular "Brick House"
Brick House (song)
"Brick House" is a funk song from the Commodores' 1977 album Commodores and is one of their most popular songs. The single peaked at #5 in the U.S. and #32 in the UK pop charts.-Creation and recording:...
.
The Commodores re-recorded a version dedicated to Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
in 2010.
The song was also parodied by the band as 11 Alive on a 1985 commercial for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate WXIA-TV
WXIA-TV
WXIA-TV, virtual channel 11.1 , is the NBC-affiliated television station in Atlanta, Georgia. Popularly known by its 11 Alive moniker, WXIA is owned by the Gannett Company in a duopoly with MyNetworkTV affiliate WATL...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Chart performance
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles | 1 |
| Dutch Top 40 | 1 |
| UK Top 75 | 3 |
Other versions
A reggae version of this was recorded by Winston GroovyWinston Groovy
Winston Tucker , better known as Winston Groovy, is a Jamaican reggae singer best known for his recordings between the late 1960s and 1980s.-Biography:Tucker was born in the Waltham Park Road area of Kingston, Jamaica in 1946...
, with the lyrics changed as a tribute to Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
.