Nightshift is the 11th studio album by the Commodores, released by Motown Records on January 15, 1985. It was the group’s last album on the Motown label before switching to Polydor.
Nightshift is the Commodores’ second album without Lionel Richie, who left the band in 1982, and their last album with their original bass guitarist Ronald LaPread. Their previous album Commodores 13 (1983) had featured interim lead vocalist Harold Hudson of Mean Machine. For Nightshift the Commodores permanently replaced Richie with British-born J.D. Nicholas, formerly of Heatwave. Dennis Lambert was chosen as producer, the Commodores hoping to find the same magic created by producer/arranger James Anthony Carmichael, with whom they had worked since 1974 and who was a major impetus in their earlier success.
Other musicians that play on this album include: Peter Wolf, Paul Fox, John Robinson, Neil Stubenhaus, Jeff Lorber, Peter Maunu, Harold Hudson, Dennis Lambert, Paulinho da Costa, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jerry Hey, Gary Grant, Gary Herbig and Larry Williams.
Tracks
1 Animal Instinct (Martin Page) 04:49
2 Nightshift (Dennis Lambert; Franne Golde; Walter Orange) 05:06
3 I Keep Running (Harold Hudson; Shirley King; William King) 04:12
4 Lay Back (Dennis Lambert; Franne Golde; Martin Page; Milan Williams) 05:02
5 Slip Of The Tongue (Lenny Macaluso; Peter Beckett) 03:53
6 Play This Record Twice (Kevin Smith; Ronald LaPread) 04:26
7 Janet (Bobby Caldwell; Franne Golde; Paul Fox) 03:42
8 The Woman In My Life (Keith Stegall; Patrick Henderson) 03:38
9 Lightin’ Up The Night (Diane Warren; Jeff Lorber) 04:05
Musicians
| Bass | Freddie Washington |
| Bass | Neil Stubenhaus |
| Bass | Ronald LaPread |
| Drums | JR Robinson |
| Drums | Vinnie Colaiuta |
| Drums | Walter Orange |
| Guitar | Peter Maunu |
| Guitar | Paul Jackson Jr |
| Keyboards | Milan Williams |
| Keyboards | William King |
| Keyboards | Peter Wolf |
| Synthesizer | Paul Jackson Jr |
| Synthesizer | Peter Wolf |
| Synthesizer | Dennis Lambert |
| Synthesizer | Harold Hudson |
| Synthesizer | Jeff Lorber |
| Synthesizer | Paul Fox |
| Programming | Paul Jackson Jr |
| Programming | Peter Wolf |
| Programming | Jeff Lorber |
| Programming | Paul Fox |
| Sax | Gary Herbig |
| Sax | Larry Williams |
| Trumpet | Gary Grant |
| Trumpet | Jerry Hey |
| Percussion | Paulinho Da Costa |
| Percussion | Dennis Lambert |
| Background Vocals | Ronald LaPread |
| Background Vocals | William King |
| Background Vocals | JD Nicholas |
| Background Vocals | Walter Orange |
| Background Vocals | Ambrose Price |
| Background Vocals | Darryl Phinnessee |
| Background Vocals | David Swanson |
| Background Vocals | Dennis Lambert |
| Background Vocals | Doris Garrett |
| Background Vocals | Gregory Alexander |
| Background Vocals | Patricia Hamlin |
| Background Vocals | Phillip Ingram |
| Background Vocals | Sheldon Reynolds |
| Background Vocals | Siedah Garrett |
| Background Vocals | Tracee Augcomfar |
Lead Vocals
1 Animal Instinct
2 Nightshift
| Vocals | JD Nicholas |
| Vocals | Walter Orange |
3 I Keep Running
4 Lay Back
5 Slip Of The Tongue
6 Play This Record Twice
7 Janet
8 The Woman In My Life
9 Lightin’ Up The Night
Liner Notes
Producer – Dennis Lambert
Co-producer – William King (Track 3)
Arranged By – Peter Wolf (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 8)
Arranged By – Harold Hudson, Paul Fox, William King (Track 3)
Arranged By – Paul Jackson Jr (Track 6)
Arranged By – Paul Fox (Track 7)
Arranged By – Jeff Lorber (Track 9)
Arranged By (Backing Vocals) – Dennis Lambert
Arranged By (Horns) – Jerry Hey (Track 9)
Engineer (Assistant) – Bino Espinoza, Fred Law
Engineer (Associate) – Paul Ericksen
Mastered By – John Matousek
Art Direction – Johnny Lee
Design – Janet Levinson
Photography – Ron Slenzak
Mixed At – Soundcastle
Recorded At – Soundcastle
Phonographic Copyright Motown Record Corporation
Copyright Motown Record Corporation
