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

This article is about Commodores single. For Commodores album of same name, see Nightshift (album).
"Nightshift"
Standard artwork (U.S. vinyl single pictured)
Single by Commodores
from the album Nightshift
B-side"I Keep Running"
ReleasedJanuary 31, 1985
Recorded1984
GenreSoul
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 verse on Marvin Gaye mentions his song "What's Going On", while the verse on Jackie Wilson mentions his songs "Baby Workout" and "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher".

The song was originally recorded in 1984, and became the first hit attained by the Commodores after Lionel Richie's departure from the group. It was also 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's 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.

A revised version of the song was dedicated to Michael Jackson in 2010.

Chart performance
Chart (1985) Peak
position
UK Top 75 3
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 3
U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles 1
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales 6
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary 2
Australia (Kent Music Report) [6] 8
RIANZ New Zealand Top 40 2
Dutch Top 40 [7] 1
Year-end chart (1985)Rank
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[8] 40

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".[9]

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.[10]

The song was used on the syndicated sitcom What's Happening Now!! in the second-season episode, "Cabin Fever".

The song was memorably used in the 2008 Claire Denis film 35 Shots of Rum.

In 2016, MTN South Africa used the song in the advert "Night Shift" as an ode to workers on night duty across the country.[11]

gollark: Also, I more complain about you seemingly *claiming* to be objective sometimes.
gollark: I changed it to "stupid", but this probably has similar connotations to "idiot", so hmm.
gollark: Oh, did you? Hmm. I'll make some tweaks.
gollark: The original one you seem to like says "idiot".
gollark: This is serious, except the "dodecahedron" bit and maybe orbital laser strike.

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. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 13, 1985". Archived from the original on May 18, 2011. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
  8. "1985 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 97 no. 52. December 28, 1985. p. T-21.
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2009-04-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "Shazam". Shazam.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  11. "Howard Audio works the night shift for MTN". M.bizcommunity.com. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
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