For those that are unfamiliar with the Book of Lionel, listen up.
If you were alive and functioning in the early 80s, then I don’t have to go into how Lionel Richie was a literal lion of soul and popular music.
I don’t need to go into his days with the Commodores and how his signature vocals were included on classics tracks such as “Brick House”, “Easy” and “Zoom”.
I don’t need to rattle off his solo hits like “Truly”, “You Are” and “My Love”.
But for those that are unfamiliar with the Book of Lionel, listen up.
From a funk jammy jam to a soothing night’s drive with that favorite someone. Right on down to cleaning the house on a Sunday morning, Lionel Richie’s music dominated my childhood and early teens due to the fact that my mother loved me and she was his biggest fan
Indeed, the multiple Grammy Award-winning artist would have dominated pop music and love ballads throughout the 80s if it weren’t for Michael Jackson. Please don’t give me the screwface, just check the stats.
So, in celebration of his 70th birthday here are five Richie cuts that slap harder than Sister Mary Susan’s yardstick.
Love With Find A Way
Anyone who does not have this one on their Quiet Storm playlist is slackin’.
Zoom by The Commodores
One of life’s great joys is being on a plane to paradise with this bumping in your earbuds.
Hello
This song was very sentimental to many people, and I’ve been to at least three weddings where this got major spin.
However, as a 12-year-old, I couldn’t help but notice how fine the “blind” woman in the video was. (Elmo shrug).
You Are
A very upbeat dance track that was also heavy in the soul category thanks to Richie himself, but this one is here simply because my Momma played the sh*t out of this song.
Truly
It wasn’t the 80’s if you couldn’t flex behind a white piano.
