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{{short description|1985 song by the Commodores}}
{{About|Commodores single|Commodores album of same name|Nightshift (album)}}
{{Infobox song
{{Other uses|Night Shift (disambiguation)}}
| name = Nightshift
{{Infobox single
| cover = Commodores-nightshift-1984-US-artwork.jpg
| Name = Nightshift
| Artist = [[Commodores]]
| alt =
| caption = Standard artwork ''(US vinyl single pictured)''
| Album = [[Nightshift (album)|Nightshift]]
| B-side = "I Keep Running"
| type = single
| Cover = Commodores-nightshift-1984-US-artwork.jpg
| artist = [[Commodores]]
| album = [[Nightshift (album)|Nightshift]]
| Caption = Standard artwork ''(U.S. vinyl single pictured)''
| Released = January 31, 1985
| B-side = I Keep Running
| released = 18 January 1985<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/|title=BPI certifications}}</ref>
| Genre = [[Soul music|Soul]]
| recorded = 1984
| Length = 5:04 (album version)<br>4:19 (7" single edit)
| Label = [[Motown]]
| studio =
| Writer = Walter Orange<br />[[Dennis Lambert]]<br />[[Franne Golde]]
| genre = {{hlist|[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]|[[Soul music|soul]]}}
| length = 5:04 (album version)<br>4:19 (7" single edit)
| Producer = Dennis Lambert
| label = [[Motown]]
| Last single = "Only You"<br/>(1983)
| writer = {{hlist|Walter Orange|[[Dennis Lambert]]|[[Franne Golde]]}}
| This single = "'''Nightshift'''"<br/>(1985)
| producer = [[Dennis Lambert]]
| Next single = "Animal Instinct"<br/>(1985)
| prev_title = Only You
| prev_year = 1983
| next_title = Animal Instinct
| next_year = 1985
}}
}}


"'''Nightshift'''" is a 1985 hit song by the [[Commodores]] and the title track from their [[Nightshift (album)|eleventh album of the same name]]. The song, written by then lead singer Walter Orange in collaboration with Dennis Lambert and Franne Golde, was a loving tribute to soul/R&B singers [[Jackie Wilson]] and [[Marvin Gaye]], who both died in 1984. The single was released on January 31, 1985 in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/song-stories/nightshift-the-commodores|title="Nightshift" The Commodores - 1984|date=|accessdate=2014-02-22|work=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref>
"'''Nightshift'''" is a 1985 song by the [[Commodores]] and the title track from their [[Nightshift (album)|album of the same name]]. The song was written by lead singer Walter Orange in collaboration with [[Dennis Lambert]] and [[Franne Golde]] as a 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 in January 1985 by [[Motown Records]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/song-stories/nightshift-the-commodores|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626110904/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/song-stories/nightshift-the-commodores|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 26, 2012|title="Nightshift" The Commodores - 1984|access-date=2014-02-22|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref> "Nightshift" was recorded in 1984 and became the Commodores' first hit after [[Lionel Richie]]'s departure from the group. [[Bruce Springsteen]] covered the song in his 2022 studio album, ''[[Only the Strong Survive (Bruce Springsteen album)|Only the Strong Survive]]''.


==Background==
For the Marvin Gaye verse his song "[[What's Going On (song)|What's Going On]]" is mentioned, while in the Jackie Wilson verse his song "[[(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher]]" is mentioned, as well as a reference to Wilson's hit "Baby Work Out".
The song features a lead vocal from drummer Walter Orange, who had sung lead years earlier on "[[Brick House (song)|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.


The first verse mentions Gaye's song "[[What's Going On (Marvin Gaye song)|What's Going On]]", while the second verse mentions Jackie Wilson's "Lonely Teardrops" ("Say you will"), "[[Baby Workout]]" and "[[(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher|(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher]]".
This song, which was originally recorded in 1984, was the first hit attained by the Commodores following [[Lionel Richie]]'s departure from the group. It was also their biggest hit after Richie's departure, peaking at number three on both the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and [[UK Singles Chart]],<ref>[http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/commodores/ The Commodores on the UK Singles Chart]</ref> and rising to number one on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot Black Singles]] chart; the single also became a huge success on the [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary]] and the [[Dance/Electronic Singles Sales|Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales]] charts in the first half of that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/commodores-mn0000766094/awards|title=Commodores Artist Biography by Craig Lytle - Awards|accessdate=2014-02-22 |publisher=Allmusic.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=130}}</ref>


==Release and reception==
Although the band was against the label's decision to release it as a single,<ref>{{cite book|title=Singles - Commodores "Nightshift" (Motown)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=16jp_aFRHdgC&pg=PA36&dq=spin+magazine+1985+commodores+night+shift&hl=en&ei=iTxxTIznPI-6sQPfl5yLCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false|author=John Leland|authorlink=John Leland (journalist)|publisher=''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''|pages=36|date=June 1985|accessdate=2010-08-22}}</ref> 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 the hugely popular "[[Brick House (song)|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.
"Nightshift" became their biggest hit after Richie's departure, peaking at number three for the week of April 20 on both the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and [[UK Singles Chart]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/commodores/|title=COMMODORES - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=5 January 2018}}</ref> and rising to number one on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot Black Singles]] chart; the single also became a success on the [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary]] and the [[Dance/Electronic Singles Sales|Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales]] charts in the first half of that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/commodores-mn0000766094/awards|title=Commodores Artist Biography by Craig Lytle - Awards|access-date=2014-02-22 |website=Allmusic.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=130}}</ref> It was the group's final top ten hit.


Although the band was against the label decision to release it as a single,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Singles - Commodores "Nightshift" (Motown)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=16jp_aFRHdgC&q=spin+magazine+1985+commodores+night+shift&pg=PA36|first=John|last=Leland|author-link=John Leland (journalist)|magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|pages=36|date=June 1985|access-date=2010-08-22}}</ref> it won a [[Grammy Award]] in 1985 for Best Vocal R&B Performance by a Duo/Group.
The Commodores recorded another version in 2010, dedicating it to [[Michael Jackson]].<ref>[http://mjfanclub.net/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3859:commodores-re-record-qnightshiftq-as-mj-tribute&catid=85:latest-news&Itemid=82 Commodores Re-record "Nightshift" As MJ Tribute]</ref> In this version Jackson's hit with [[The Jackson 5]], "[[I'll Be There (The Jackson 5 song)|I'll Be There]]", and his solo hit "[[Rock With You (Michael Jackson song)|Rock With You]]" are mentioned in the lyrics.


[[John Leland (journalist)|John Leland]] of ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' said the song, "puts the group back on the map with a vengeance. Its spare, lilting Caribbean groove dispenses with the group's penchant for schmaltz, and new lead singer J. D. Nicholas' sweet tenor is all late-night yearning."<ref>{{cite magazine| magazine= [[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] | title=Singles|author=John Leland| date=June 1985|issue=2|page=73}}</ref>
The song was also parodied by the band as "11 Alive" on a [[1985 in American television|1985]] commercial for [[NBC]] affiliate [[WXIA-TV]] in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]].


==Chart performance==
==Chart performance==
{{col-begin}}
{|class="wikitable"
{{col-2}}
!Chart (1985)

!Peak<br />position
===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Weekly chart performance for "Nightshift"
!scope="col"|Chart (1985)
!scope="col"|Peak<br />position
|-
|-
!scope="row"|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
|UK Top 75
|8
|align="center"|3
|-
|-
{{single chart|Austria|4|artist=Commodores|song=Nightshift|rowheader=true}}
|U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100
|align="center"|3
|-
|-
{{single chart|Belgium (Flanders)|2|artist=Commodores|song=Nightshift|rowheader=true}}
|U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Black Singles
|align="center"|1
|-
|-
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|7|chartid=0515|rowheader=true}}
|U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales
|align="center"|6
|-
|-
{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|4|chartid=7832|rowheader=true}}
|U.S. ''Billboard'' Adult Contemporary
|align="center"|2
|-
|-
!scope="row"|Finland ([[Suomen virallinen lista]])<ref>{{Cite web|last=Timo|date=13 August 2015|title=Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1960: Artistit COB - COS|url=http://suomenlistalevyt.blogspot.com/2015/08/cob-cos.html|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Sisältää hitin}}</ref>
|align="left" |Australia ([[Kent Music Report]]) <ref name="auchart">{{Cite book|title=[[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970–1992]] |last=Kent |first=David |authorlink=David Kent (historian) |publisher=Australian Chart Book |location=[[St Ives, New South Wales|St Ives, NSW]] |year=1993 |isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
|3
|align="center" |8
|-
|-
{{single chart|France|34|artist=Commodores|song=Nightshift|rowheader=true}}
|[[RIANZ]] New Zealand Top 40
|align="center"|2
|-
|-
{{single chart|Germany|4|artist=Commodores|song=Nightshift|songid=1245|rowheader=true}}
|Dutch Top 40 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radio538.nl/web/show/id=44685/chartid=5872 |title=De Nederlandse Top 40, week 13, 1985 |accessdate=2008-03-01 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518024137/http://www.radio538.nl/web/show/id=44685/chartid=5872 |archivedate=May 18, 2011 }}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
|-
{{single chart|Ireland2|3|song=Nightshift|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"|Israel ([[Israel Broadcasting Authority|IBA]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukmix.org/forum/chart-discussion/chart-analysis/46793-israel-singles-charts-1987-1995?q=nightshift|title=Israel Singles Charts 1987-1995|website=www.ukmix.org|access-date=7 January 2021}}</ref>
|2
|-
!scope="row"|Italy (''[[Musica e dischi]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|title=Classifiche|work=[[Musica e dischi]]|language=it}} Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Commodores".</ref>
|17
|-
{{single chart|Dutch40|1|artist=Commodores|song=Nightshift|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|1|artist=Commodores|song=Nightshift|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|New Zealand|2|artist=Commodores|song=Nightshift|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"|South Africa ([[Springbok Radio]])<ref>{{cite web|title=SA Charts 1965–March 1989|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(C).html|access-date=7 January 2021}}</ref>
|2
|-
{{single chart|Sweden|13|artist=Commodores|song=Nightshift|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Switzerland|5|artist=Commodores|song=Nightshift|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|3|artist=Commodores|artistid=15104|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"|US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]<ref name="Billboard">{{Cite web|title=Nightshift (song by The Commodores) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts|url=https://www.musicvf.com/song.php?title=Nightshift+by+The+Commodores&id=42068|access-date=2021-01-07|website=www.musicvf.com}}</ref>
|3
|-
!scope="row"|US [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary]] ([[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']])<ref name="Billboard"/>
|2
|-
!scope="row"|US [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot Black Singles]] ([[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']])<ref name="Billboard"/>
|1
|-
!scope="row"|US [[Dance/Electronic Singles Sales|Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales]] ([[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']])
|6
|-
!scope="row"|US [[Cashbox (magazine)|''Cash Box'']] Top 100<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19850413.html|title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending April 13, 1985|work=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box magazine]]|access-date=2021-01-07|archive-date=2020-02-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225000109/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19850413.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|4
|}
|}
{{col-2}}


==Other versions==
===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
A reggae version was recorded by [[Winston Groovy]], with the lyrics changed as a tribute to [[Bob Marley]].<ref>[http://www.gugalyrics.com/WINSTON-GROOVY-NIGHTSHIFT-LYRICS/115216/ Winston Groovys Nightshift lyrics]</ref>
|+Year-end chart performance for "Nightshift"
!scope="col"|Chart (1985)
!scope="col"|Position
|-
!scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name="aus85">{{cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/SN2evHp.jpg|title=Kent Music Report No 599 – 30 December 1985 > National Top 100 Singles for 1985|publisher=[[Kent Music Report]]|via=[[Imgur]]|access-date=January 23, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=AMR Top Singles of 1985|url=https://www.top100singles.net/2011/05/amr-top-singles-of-1985.html|access-date=2021-01-07|website=www.top100singles.net}}</ref>
|67
|-
!scope="row"|Austria (Ö3 Austria)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=s&id=1985|title=Jahreshitparade Singles 1985|access-date=7 January 2021|website=[[Ö3 Austria Top 40]]|language=de}}</ref>
|21
|-
!scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1985|title=Jaaroverzichten 1985|publisher=Ultratop|access-date=7 January 2021}}</ref>
|17
|-
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|49|chartid=0619|accessdate=7 January 2021|rowheader=true|refname=CanadaYE}}
|-
!scope="row"| Germany (GfK Entertainment)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1985 |title=Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts|language=de |work=[[GfK Entertainment]] |publisher=offiziellecharts.de |access-date=7 January 2021}}</ref>
|26
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1985|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985
|website=www.top40.nl|access-date=7 January 2021}}</ref>
|2
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1985&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten - Single 1985|website=www.dutchcharts.nl|access-date=7 January 2021}}</ref>
|2
|-
!scope="row"|New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)<ref>{{cite web|title=Top Selling Singles of 1985|website=Official NZ Music Charts.com. Recorded Music New Zealand Limited|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1985-12-31|access-date=7 January 2021}}</ref>
|20
|-
!scope="row"|South Africa (Springbok Radio)<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 20 Hit Singles of 1985|website=The South African Rock Encyclopedia|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/sahits_1985.html|access-date=7 January 2021}}</ref>
|17
|-
!scope="row"|UK Singles<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Top 100 Singles |magazine=[[Music Week]] |publisher=Spotlight Publications |location=London, England |page=10 |date=18 January 1986}}</ref>
|41
|-
!scope="row"|[[Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1985|US Top Pop Singles (''Billboard'')]]<ref>{{cite magazine|date=December 28, 1985 |title=1985 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles |page=T-21 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |volume=97 |issue=52 }}</ref>
|40
|-
!scope="row"|US ''Cash Box'' Top 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1985YESP.html|title=The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1985|access-date=7 January 2021|publisher=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]|archive-date=1 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001214739/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1985YESP.html|url-status=dead}}.</ref>
|46
|}
{{col-end}}


==Certifications==
[[Dexys Midnight Runners]] covered the song on their 2012 live album ''[[At The Royal Court]]''.
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Nightshift"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=The Commodores|title=Nightshift|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1985|certyear=1985|access-date=August 2, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Commodores|title=Nightshift|award=Silver|type=single|relyear=1985|certyear=1985|id=4581-228-1|access-date=August 2, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}


==Bruce Springsteen version==
''[[American Idol]]'' and [[Grammy Award]] winner [[Fantasia Barrino|Fantasia]] sampled the song for her single "[[Lose to Win]]".
[[Bruce Springsteen]] recorded a version of the song for his 2022 album, ''[[Only the Strong Survive (Bruce Springsteen album)|Only the Strong Survive]]''. The song was released as a single and music video in October 2022.


Springsteen performed his version of the song with a backing band from ''Only the Strong Survive'' on the November 16, 2022, episode of ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/bruce-springsteen-performs-nightshift-on-fallon-watch/|title=Bruce Springsteen Performs "Nightshift" on Fallon: Watch |first=Matthew|last=Ruiz|work=Pitchfork|date=November 17, 2022|access-date=July 9, 2023|archive-date=February 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204101709/https://pitchfork.com/news/bruce-springsteen-performs-nightshift-on-fallon-watch/|url-status=live}}</ref>
South African group [[Dr Victor]] and the Rasta Rebels recorded a reggae version, which appears on their greatest hits album.<ref>http://www.shazam.com/music/web/album?id=48527608 Retrieved 7 January 2014</ref>

Springsteen later performed his version of the song with the [[E Street Band]] on the [[Springsteen and E Street Band 2023 Tour|2023 Tour]], where it was the only song from ''Only the Strong Survive'' to become a regular part of the setlist.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110725151825/http://mms.businesswire.com/bwapps/mediaserver/ViewMedia?mgid=233288&vid=9&download=1 2010 Re-recording dedicated to Michael Jackson]
*[http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2426& Song Facts]
*[http://mms.businesswire.com/bwapps/mediaserver/ViewMedia?mgid=233288&vid=9&download=1 2010 Re-recording dedicated to Michael Jackson]
* {{MetroLyrics song|commodores|nightshift}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->

{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| before = "[[Missing You (Diana Ross song)|Missing You]]" by [[Diana Ross]]
| title = ''Billboard'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot Black Singles]] [[List of number-one R&B hits (United States)|number one single]]
| years = March 16, 1985 - April 6, 1985
| after = "[[Back In Stride (Maze song)|Back In Stride]]" by [[Maze (band)|Maze]] featuring [[Frankie Beverly]]
}}
{{s-end}}


{{Commodores}}
{{Commodores}}
{{Bruce Springsteen songs}}


{{authority control}}

[[Category:1985 songs]]
[[Category:1985 singles]]
[[Category:1985 singles]]
[[Category:2022 singles]]
[[Category:1980s ballads]]
[[Category:Commodores songs]]
[[Category:Commodores songs]]
[[Category:Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number-one singles]]
[[Category:Bruce Springsteen songs]]
[[Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles]]
[[Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles]]
[[Category:1985 songs]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Songs in memory of Marvin Gaye]]
[[Category:Songs about Marvin Gaye]]
[[Category:Songs in memory of deceased persons]]
[[Category:Commemoration songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Franne Golde]]
[[Category:Songs written by Franne Golde]]
[[Category:Songs written by Dennis Lambert]]
[[Category:Songs written by Dennis Lambert]]
[[Category:Soul ballads]]

Latest revision as of 19:42, 28 November 2024

"Nightshift"
Standard artwork (US vinyl single pictured)
Single by Commodores
from the album Nightshift
B-side"I Keep Running"
Released18 January 1985[1]
Recorded1984
Genre
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)

"Nightshift" is a 1985 song by the Commodores and the title track from their album of the same name. The song was written by lead singer Walter Orange in collaboration with Dennis Lambert and Franne Golde as a 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 in January 1985 by Motown Records.[2] "Nightshift" was recorded in 1984 and became the Commodores' first hit after Lionel Richie's departure from the group. Bruce Springsteen covered the song in his 2022 studio album, Only the Strong Survive.

Background

[edit]

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.

The first verse mentions Gaye's song "What's Going On", while the second verse mentions Jackie Wilson's "Lonely Teardrops" ("Say you will"), "Baby Workout" and "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher".

Release and reception

[edit]

"Nightshift" became 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,[3] 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.[4][5] It was the group's final top ten hit.

Although the band was against the label decision to release it as a single,[6] it won a Grammy Award in 1985 for Best Vocal R&B Performance by a Duo/Group.

John Leland of Spin said the song, "puts the group back on the map with a vengeance. Its spare, lilting Caribbean groove dispenses with the group's penchant for schmaltz, and new lead singer J. D. Nicholas' sweet tenor is all late-night yearning."[7]

Chart performance

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for "Nightshift"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[41] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] Silver 250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Bruce Springsteen version

[edit]

Bruce Springsteen recorded a version of the song for his 2022 album, Only the Strong Survive. The song was released as a single and music video in October 2022.

Springsteen performed his version of the song with a backing band from Only the Strong Survive on the November 16, 2022, episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[43]

Springsteen later performed his version of the song with the E Street Band on the 2023 Tour, where it was the only song from Only the Strong Survive to become a regular part of the setlist.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "BPI certifications".
  2. ^ ""Nightshift" The Commodores - 1984". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 26, 2012. Retrieved 2014-02-22.
  3. ^ "COMMODORES - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Commodores Artist Biography by Craig Lytle - Awards". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2014-02-22.
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