Sweet Love (Commodores song)

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

"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)

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

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"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

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

Chart performance

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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

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  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.