Machine Gun (Commodores album)

1974 studio album by Commodores

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Machine Gun" Commodores album – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Machine Gun

Studio album by

Commodores

Released| July 22, 1974
Recorded| 1972–74
Studio| Motown Recording Studios, Hollywood, California
Genre| Funk, R&B
Length| 36:06
Label| Motown
Producer| James Anthony Carmichael, Commodores, Jeffrey Bowen, George Tobin, Gloria Jones, Pam Sawyer, Clayton Ivey, Terry Woodford
Commodores chronology
|  | Machine Gun
(1974)  | Caught in the Act
(1975)

|
|

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
Allmusic| [1]
Christgau's Record Guide| B+[2]

Machine Gun is the debut studio album by Commodores, released on July 22, 1974, on Motown Records.[3]

## Critical reception

[edit]

Alex Henderson of Allmusic in a 3.5/5 stars review remarked, "What you won't find on Machine Gun are a lot of sentimental love ballads. In the late '70s, the Commodores became as famous for their ballads as they were for their funk and dance material, but believe it or not, there are no ballads to be found on this consistently funky, mostly up-tempo debut."[1]

With a B+ Robert Christgau of the Village Voice declared "The first side is good straight hard funk, kicked off by a title instrumental that's the best thing on the record--sure sign of a good straight hard funk band. The second side is acceptable straight hard funk, with some social consciousness thrown in by corporate stablemates Pam Sawyer and Gloria Jones."[2]

## Singles

[edit]

The title track peaked at number 7 on the US Billboard R&B Singles charts, while reaching number 22 on the US Billboard Pop Singles charts, becoming the band's first hit. As a single "Machine Gun" also reached No. 20 on both the UK Singles chart and the Canadian RPM Pop Singles chart.[4][5]

The song is also featured on the soundtrack to the 1997 film Boogie Nights.

The second single to be released, "I Feel Sanctified", reached number 12 on the R&B charts, and concerns a man spiritually blessed by his girlfriend's love. The song has Ronald LaPread on bass guitar, Walter "Clyde" Orange on drums, while Lionel Richie and William King contributed horn arrangements. The tune has an a cappella introduction with three-way harmonization. Record World said of it "Bangin' out with a Salvation Army drum beat gone funk, the [Commodores] aim for a vocal bullseye."[6] The song has been called a "prototype" for Wild Cherry's 1976 hit "Play That Funky Music".[7] "I Feel Sanctified" was also later covered by that same group.

"The Human Zoo" was a staple on the Northern Soul scene at Blackpool Mecca and Wigan Casino with dancers back flipping spinning and hand clapping to the beat.

The drum break in the track "The Assembly Line" has been sampled many times, mainly used in Hip Hop, Drum & Bass and Jungle music.

## Track listing

[edit]

Side oneNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "Machine Gun" (instrumental)| Milan Williams| 2:43
2.| "Young Girls Are My Weakness"| William King, Ronald LaPread| 2:42
3.| "I Feel Sanctified"| Lionel Richie, Jeffrey Bowen, Ronald LaPread, Walter Orange, Milan Williams, Thomas McClary| 3:30
4.| "The Bump"| Milan Williams| 4:11
5.| "Rapid Fire" (instrumental)| Milan Williams| 3:08

Side twoNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "The Assembly Line"| Gloria Jones, Pam Sawyer| 5:10
2.| "The Zoo (The Human Zoo)"| Gloria Jones, Pam Sawyer| 3:16
3.| "Gonna Blow Your Mind"| Thomas McClary, Walter Orange, Milan Williams| 6:09
4.| "There's a Song in My Heart"| Lionel Richie| 2:38
5.| "Superman"| Lionel Richie| 2:39
Total length:| 36:06

## Personnel

[edit]

Commodores

* Lionel Richie – vocals, saxophones, keyboards
* Milan Williams – keyboards, guitars
* Thomas McClary – vocals, guitars
* Ronald LaPread – bass
* Walter Orange – drums, vocals, percussion[3]
* William King – trumpet, percussion

## Production

[edit]

* Producers – James Anthony Carmichael (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 & 10); Commodores (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 & 10); Jeffrey Bowen and George Tobin (Track 3); Gloria Jones and Pam Sawyer (Tracks 6 & 7); Clayton Ivey and Terry Woodford (Track 9).
* Arrangements – James Anthony Carmichael (Tracks 1–5, 8 & 10); Commodores (Tracks 1, 2, 4–8 & 10); George Tobin (Track 3); Gloria Jones (Tracks 6 & 7); Clayton Ivey and Terry Woodford (Track 9).
* Horn arrangements on Track 3 – James Anthony Carmichael
* Effects – Cal Harris
* Photography – Jim Britt[3]

## Charts

[edit]

Chart (1974)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] | 37
New Zealand (RIANZ)[9] | 27
US Top LPs (Billboard)  | 138
US Top Soul LPs (Billboard)  | 22

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Australia (ARIA)[10] | Gold  | 20,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Henderson, Alex. "Commodores: Machine Gun". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
2. ^ a b Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: C". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 23, 2019 - via robertchristgau.com.
3. ^ a b c The Commodores (1974). Machine Gun (album). Motown Records.
4. ^ "Machine Gun". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
5. ^ "RPM Top Singles". bac-lac.gc.ca. Vol. 24, no. 1\. RPM. August 24, 1974.
6. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. October 26, 1974. p. 1. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
7. ^ Wild cherry Retrieved 11 December 2021
8. ^ 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.
9. ^ "Commodores: Machine Gun". charts.nz. RIANZ.
10. ^ "Intl Gold Albums Awarded" (PDF). Cash Box. June 4, 1977. p. 52. Retrieved November 25, 2021 - via World Radio History.

* v
* t
* e

Commodores

* William King
* Walter Orange
* J. D. Nicholas

* Milan Williams
* Thomas McClary
* Lionel Richie
* Andre Callahan
* Michael Gilbert
* Ronald LaPread
* James Ingram
* Skyler Jett
* Sheldon Reynolds

Albums|

* Machine Gun
* Caught in the Act
* Movin' On
* Hot on the Tracks
* Commodores
* Commodores Live!
* Natural High
* Midnight Magic
* Heroes
* In the Pocket
* Commodores 13
* Nightshift
* United
* Rock Solid
* Commodores Christmas
* No Tricks

Compilations|

* Greatest Hits
* Love Songs
* All the Great Hits
* The Very Best of Commodores
* The Very Best of The Commodores
* Gold

Singles|

* "Slippery When Wet"
* "Sweet Love"
* "Just to Be Close to You"
* "Easy"
* "Brick House"
* "Too Hot ta Trot"
* "Three Times a Lady"
* "Sail On"
* "Still"
* "Lady (You Bring Me Up)"
* "Oh No"
* "Painted Picture"
* "Only You"
* "Nightshift"
* "Janet"
* "Goin' to the Bank"
* "Take It from Me"
* "United in Love"

Related articles|

* Discography

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

*[No.]: Number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template