Still
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Album Summary
Still, released in 1979 on the mighty Motown label, stands as one of those records that caught a group right in the middle of their evolution — and what a beautiful transition it was. The Commodores, working alongside their trusted producer James Anthony Carmichael, crafted this project during a period when the group was stretching beyond their funk and soul roots and reaching for something smoother, something that could touch every corner of the radio dial. Carmichael and the Commodores themselves shared production duties, and that collaborative spirit comes through in every groove on this record — a sound that felt both familiar and brand new at the same time.
Reception
- The album climbed all the way to the top of the Billboard 200, making it one of the most commercially triumphant releases in the Commodores' storied catalog.
- The title track 'Still' broke into the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and brought home Grammy recognition, cementing its place as one of the defining ballads of its era.
- Still was certified multi-platinum, a testament to how deeply this music resonated with a wide and devoted audience across genres.
Significance
- Still captured the Commodores at a pivotal crossroads, marking their confident and graceful shift away from harder funk toward the silky, ballad-driven pop and R&B sound that would define the late 1970s and early 1980s.
- The album stood as a mirror to a broader cultural moment, reflecting the industry-wide move of soul and funk artists toward softer, more polished sounds as musical tastes shifted in the waning days of the disco era.
- Still served as a powerful showcase for Lionel Richie's singular gifts as both a vocalist and a songwriter, deepening his profile as one of the most important voices to emerge from the Motown tradition during this period.
Samples
- Still — one of the most recognizable ballads to emerge from the Commodores catalog, the title track has been sampled and interpolated across hip-hop and contemporary R&B productions, celebrated for its lush melodic framework and emotional resonance.
Tracklist
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A Still 123
3:43
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B Such A Woman 92
4:10
Artist Details
The Commodores are a smooth, soulful powerhouse that came together in Tuskegee, Alabama in the late 1960s, hitting their stride in the early to mid-1970s as one of Motown's crown jewels, blending funk, R&B, and silky ballads into a sound that could shake the dance floor one moment and break your heart the next. Led by the incomparable Lionel Richie alongside Tomas McClary, Milan Williams, and the rest of that tight-knit brotherhood, they gave the world undeniable grooves like "Brick House" and "Slippery When Wet" while also gifting the slow-jam faithful with tender masterpieces like "Easy" and "Three Times a Lady." Their cultural significance runs deep — they stood as a shining example of Black excellence and musical versatility during an era when soul music was the heartbeat of a generation, and their influence can be felt in virtually every R&B and funk artist that followed in their footsteps.
