Machine Gun is the debut studio album by Commodores, released on July 22, 1974, on Motown Records.
Critical reception Alex Henderson of AllMusic in a 3.5/5-star review remarked, "What you won't find on Machine Gun are a lot of sentimental love ballads. In the late '70s, the Commodores became as famous for their ballads as they were for their funk and dance material, but believe it or not, there are no ballads to be found on this consistently funky, mostly up-tempo debut."
With a B+ Robert Christgau of the Village Voice declared "The first side is good straight hard funk, kicked off by a title instrumental that's the best thing on the record--sure sign of a good straight hard funk band. The second side is acceptable straight hard funk, with some social consciousness thrown in by corporate stablemates Pam Sawyer and Gloria Jones."
Singles The title track peaked at number 7 on the US Billboard R&B singles chart, while reaching number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band's first hit. It also reached No. 20 on both the UK Singles chart and the Canadian RPM pop singles chart.
The second single to be released, "I Feel Sanctified", reached number 12 on the US R&B chart, and concerns a man spiritually blessed by his girlfriend's love. The song has Ronald LaPread on bass guitar, Walter "Clyde" Orange on drums, while Lionel Richie and William King contributed horn arrangements. The tune has an a cappella introduction with three-way harmonization. Record World said of it "Bangin' out with a Salvation Army drum beat gone funk, the [Commodores] aim for a vocal bullseye." The song has been called a "prototype" for Wild Cherry's 1976 hit "Play That Funky Music". Wild cherry Retrieved 11 December 2021 "I Feel Sanctified" was also later covered by that same group.
"The Human Zoo" was a staple on the Northern soul scene at Blackpool Mecca and Wigan Casino with dancers back flipping spinning and hand clapping to the beat.
The drum break in the track "The Assembly Line" has been sampled many times, mainly used in hip-hop, drum and bass, and jungle music.
Track listing
Personnel Commodores Lionel Richie – vocals, saxophones, keyboards Milan Williams – keyboards, guitars Thomas McClary – vocals, guitars Ronald LaPread – bass Walter Orange – drums, vocals, percussion William King – trumpet, percussion
Production James Anthony Carmichael – producer (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10), arrangements (1–5, 8, 10), horn arrangements (3) Commodores – producers (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10), arrangements (1, 2, 4–8, 10) Jeffrey Bowen – producer (3) George Tobin – producer (3), arrangements (3) Gloria Jones – producer (6, 7), arrangements (6, 7) Pam Sawyer – producer (6, 7) Clayton Ivey – producer (9), arrangements (9) Terry Woodford – producer (9), arrangements (9) Cal Harris – effects Jim Britt – photography
Charts Chart (1974) Peakposition Australia (Kent Music Report) 37 New Zealand (RIANZ) 27 US Top LPs (Billboard) 138 US Top Soul LPs (Billboard) 22
Certifications
References