Nightshift (song)

"Nightshift" is a 1985 song by the Commodores and the title track from their eleventh album of the same name. The song was written by lead singer Walter Orange in collaboration with Dennis Lambert and Franne Golde, as a loving tribute to soul/R&B singers Jackie Wilson and Marvin Gaye, both of whom died in 1984. The first verse mentions Gaye's song "What's Going On", while the second verse mentions Jackie Wilson's "Baby Workout" and "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher".

This article is about Commodores single. For Commodores album of same name, see Nightshift (album).
For other uses, see Night Shift (disambiguation).
"Nightshift"
Standard artwork (U.S. vinyl single pictured)
Single by Commodores
from the album Nightshift
B-side"I Keep Running"
ReleasedJanuary 31, 1985
Recorded1984
GenreR&B, soul
Length5:04 (album version)
4:19 (7" single edit)
LabelMotown
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Dennis Lambert
Commodores singles chronology
"Only You"
(1983)		 "Nightshift"
(1985)		 "Animal Instinct"
(1985)

The song was released as the album's first single on January 31, 1985 by Motown Records in the USA.[1]

"Nightshift" was recorded in 1984, and became the Commodores' first hit after Lionel Richie's departure from the group. It became their biggest hit after Richie's departure, peaking at number three for the week of April 20 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart,[2] and rising to number one on the Hot Black Singles chart; the single also became a success on the Adult Contemporary and the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales charts in the first half of that year.[3][4]

Although the band was against the label decision to release it as a single,[5] it won a Grammy Award in 1985 for Best Vocal R&B Performance by a Duo/Group. The song features a lead vocal from drummer Walter Orange, who had sung lead years earlier on "Brick House". Lionel Richie's replacement, J.D. Nicholas, sings the second verse and then Orange and Nicholas share lead vocals on the remaining choruses.

Chart performance

Other versions

A reggae version was recorded by Winston Groovy, with the lyrics changed as a tribute to Bob Marley who had also recorded a song titled "Nightshift".[37]

Dexys Midnight Runners covered the song on their 2012 live album At The Royal Court.

South African group Dr Victor and the Rasta Rebels recorded a reggae version, which appears on their greatest hits album.[38]

References
  1. ""Nightshift" The Commodores - 1984". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2014-02-22.
  2. "COMMODORES - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  3. "Commodores Artist Biography by Craig Lytle - Awards". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2014-02-22.
  4. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 130.
  5. John Leland (June 1985). Singles - Commodores "Nightshift" (Motown). Spin. p. 36. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. "Austriancharts.at – Commodores – Nightshift" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  8. "Ultratop.be – Commodores – Nightshift" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  9. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0515." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  10. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7832." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  11. Timo (13 August 2015). "Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1960: Artistit COB - COS". Sisältää hitin. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  12. "Lescharts.com – Commodores – Nightshift" (in French). Les classement single.
  13. "Offiziellecharts.de – Commodores – Nightshift". GfK Entertainment Charts.
  14. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Nightshift". Irish Singles Chart.
  15. "Israel Singles Charts 1987-1995". www.ukmix.org. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  16. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Commodores" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  17. "Dutchcharts.nl – Commodores – Nightshift" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  18. "Charts.nz – Commodores – Nightshift". Top 40 Singles.
  19. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  20. "Swedishcharts.com – Commodores – Nightshift". Singles Top 100.
  21. "Swisscharts.com – Commodores – Nightshift". Swiss Singles Chart.
  22. "Commodores: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  23. "Nightshift (song by The Commodores) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  24. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending April 13, 1985". Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  25. "AMR Top Singles of 1985". www.top100singles.net. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  26. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1985". Ö3 Austria Top 40 (in German). Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  27. "Jaaroverzichten 1985". Ultratop. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  28. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0619." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  29. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  30. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985". www.top40.nl. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  31. "Jaaroverzichten - Single 1985". www.dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  32. "Top Selling Singles of 1985". Official NZ Music Charts.com. Recorded Music New Zealand Limited. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  33. "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1985". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  34. "Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 18 January 1986. p. 10.
  35. "1985 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 97 no. 52. December 28, 1985. p. T-21.
  36. "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1985". Cash Box. Retrieved 7 January 2021..
  37. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2009-04-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  38. "Shazam". Shazam.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
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