2006’s “Coming Home” was Lionel Richie’s most commercially successful release since 1986’s “Dancing On The Ceiling”, peaking within the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. Much of its success could be attributed to “I Call It Love”, a collaboration with StarGate. So on “Just Go”, Richie’s fourth studio set of the oughts, StarGate is all over the place, including the single “Forever”. Elswhere the once-proud Commodore enlists contemporary hitmaker Tricky Stewart, which is fine and dandy, but allowing the musically challenged Akon to dominate their two collaborations doesn’t necessarily reflect well on Richie’s legacy.

by Mark Emge

“Hello”? “Endless Love”? “Say You, Say Me”? “Dancing On The” friggin’ “Ceiling?!? Are you kidding us? No way a smoky voiced hit machine like Lionel Richie should have been out of the pop-music/R&B loop (except in the Arab world, where he’s always been bank) for over 15 years, no matter the musical climate. Like a black Phil Collins, Lionel Richie’s his own eco¬-system. He set his ego aside and let some of the kids coming up–Dallas Austin, Jermaine Dupri, Raphael Saadiq–modernize his sound a bit on 2006’s “Coming Home”. But the big reintroduction is set for “Just Go”, a collection featuring contributions from Ne-Yo, Akon and The-Dream. And if “Good Morning” is any indication, they’ve already sold Richie on the Auto Tune.

by Mark Emge

After leaving The Commodores, Lionel Richie became one of the most successful male solo artists of the ’80s, arguably eclipsed only by Michael Jackson and Prince during 1981-87. That year saw Richie’s nine-year streak of writing at least one No. 1 single (a feat matched only by Irving Berlin) come to an end. As a matter of fact, Richie all but disappeared from the music business, spending the ’90s and early-’00s getting divorced, remarried, and divorced again, only tentatively dipping his toes into the pop waters. 2006’s “Coming Home” found Lionel updating his sound with an all-star cast of collaborators, including Jermaine Dupri, Raphael Saadiq and Sean Garrett. “Just Go”, featuring Akon–who’s always good for a feature–is from the upcoming album of the same name.

by Mark Emge

Lionel Richie was a member of the very popular ’70s group The Commodores. His influences include Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Spinners and Al Green, to name a few. It was after he left The Commodores that Lionel catapulted into the ’80s as one of the most successful male solo artists. Richie accomplised 13 consecutive Top Ten hits, with five of those being No. 1 on the US charts. In 1987 Lionel took a break from music, and began a comeback in the late ’90s. Some of of Lionel Richie’s No. 1 US hits include; “Endless Love” (1981), “Truly” (1982), “All Night Long” (1983), “Hello” (1984) and “Say You Say Me” (1985). More than 20 years later this five-time Grammy Award winning musical legend has emersed with his new single, “I’m Not OK”. Lionel has hinted at trying to get The Commodores together for a reunion tour soon!

by Victor Caballero