Sweet Love (Commodores song)

"Sweet Love"
Single by Commodores
from the album Movin' On
B-side"Better Never Than Forever"
Released25 November 1975 (US)[1]
Recorded1975
Genre
Length3:20
LabelMotown
Composer(s)Lionel Richie
Producer(s)James Anthony Carmichael, Commodores
Commodores singles chronology
"This Is Your Life"
(1975) 		"Sweet Love"
(1975) 		"Just to Be Close to You"
(1976)

"Sweet Love" is a soul/R&B ballad written by Lionel Richie and recorded by American R&B vocal group Commodores.

It became their first Top 10 pop hit in the US, where the single peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100[4] and number two on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart in 1976, while in the UK, it reached number 32, becoming their second Top 40 hit.

Background

"Sweet Love " was a ballad that heralded a move away from their initial stone cold funk sound. The six-minute album version is noted for Richie's half-sung, half-spoken recitation before the song's refrain repeats to the fade out.

Reception

Cash Box said that it has "close, colorful, harmonious vocal lines and smooth, flowing musical arrangement."[5]

Chart performance

Chart (1976) Peak
position
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[6] 32
US Billboard Hot 100 5
US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard)[7] 2

References

  1. ^ "COMMODORES - SWEET LOVE". Dutchcharts.nl.
  2. ^ Breihan, Tom (December 23, 2019). "The Number Ones: Commodores' "Three Times A Lady"". Stereogum. Retrieved July 7, 2023. "Sweet Love," "Just To Be Close To You," and "Easy" are all recognizably soul songs.
  3. ^ a b Molanphy, Chris (October 15, 2022). "Give Up the Funk Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  4. ^ "Commodores Sweet Love Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 20, 2018. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
  5. ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. December 13, 1975. p. 16. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  6. ^ "officialcharts.com". officialcharts.com. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  7. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 130.


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