The legacy of 'Brick House': Story, meaning of Lionel Richie, Commodores' mighty, mighty classic al com

Table Of Content

• Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
• Genius is the world’s biggest collection of song lyrics and musical knowledge
• /90s & Retro, Motown/Soul/Variety, Rock/Classic Rock
• TOP ALBUMS
• Lyrics Written by:
• The legacy of 'Brick House': Story, meaning of Lionel Richie, Commodores' mighty, mighty classic
• Brick House – Commodores Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles. But the legacy of the song continues mainly through its status as a must-play on DJ's standard party set-lists from Birmingham to Boise. The song's popularity even spawned a beauty contest of sorts that followed the Commodores as they travelled the globe giving concerts. The band would choose a lucky winner at each tour stop, who would henceforth be named the Miss Brickhouse of that locale. The song went through further tweaks and mastering by engineers and Motown whizzes after that first session, but the band recorded all the main parts that day in Tuskegee, Bailey added. "Brick House" went on to be band's most commercial hit, peaking at #5 on the U.S. charts, but achieving a staying power that would impress even late soul crooner Barry White.

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

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By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Michael Jackson's "Human Nature" was written by the keyboard player from Toto, who was working on the Thriller album. Old Time Music is proud to have such a passionate and talented team of writers who share their love for music with our readers.

Genius is the world’s biggest collection of song lyrics and musical knowledge

Beyond its message, “Brick House” is also notable for its impeccable musicianship. As a funk band, Commodores were known for synthesizing elements of rock, jazz, and soul into a unique sound that was all their own. The song’s popularity amongst African American audiences further cemented its place as a funk classic that has stood the test of time. This is one of those phrases that started off as incredibly rude, and through sheer repetition (and dropping one key word) turned into a compliment. See, the original expression, from early 1900s slang, was built like a brick shithouse. This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne.

/90s & Retro, Motown/Soul/Variety, Rock/Classic Rock

Add "Brick House" by Commodores to your Rock Band™ 4 song library. Brick House was the last song recorded for the Commodores album, and released after Easy. Yet, it was Easy – along with the success of Sweet Love and Just To Be Close To You in 1976 – that showed where the group was heading.

"And they sure enough did because that was the biggest commercial song ever been done by the Commodores, 'Brick House.' All that, right here in this building. This is where the magic happened." Newspaper clippings from the era indicate that the competitions were major draws. More than 800 people attended a 1982 Miss Brickhouse event in Indianapolis, according to the Indianapolis Recorder. Desmond Child thought Gavin Rossdale was singing "Kiss The Rain" on the Bush song "Glycerine." When he found out the truth, he wrote a song called "Kiss The Rain" for Billie Myers.

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But according to Bailey and Commodores frontman Lionel Richie, it all began with an idea Commodores drummer Walter 'Clyde' Orange brought into the studio that charmed day. In a 1996 interview with a Swedish news outlet, Richie credited Orange with writing "most of the lyrics and most of the melody to" the track. Despite the rise to ubiquity of the classic tune, the story of its creation is a humble one that serves as a reminder of the power of creativity, musical chemistry and hard work, with a heaping serving of swagger. The Top Tier Band consists of seasoned, experienced musicians with a passion for performing. The band members have shared the stage with a diverse group of artists, such as Rick Springfield, The Cars, Craig Morgan, Tiffany, Phil Vassar, Ambrosia, and John Ford Coley. If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.

This odd yet evocative four-word string, backed by one of popular music's funkiest basslines, has long been ingrained deep in the psyche of even casual listeners. The song’s message of empowerment for Black women continues to resonate with fans of all backgrounds. In an era where movements like Black Lives Matter and the push for body positivity have gained mainstream attention, “Brick House” is a reminder of the power of self-love and acceptance. If you have ever wondered how songwriters and musicians come up such great songs you will love the story behind the Commodores classic “Brick House”.

When "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" climbed to #1 on the Hot 100, Katy Perry became the first woman to send five songs from one album to the top of the charts. The four previous chart-toppers from her Teenage Dream set were "California Gurls," "Teenage Dream," "Firework"; and, "E.T." As of 2021, “Brick House” remains one of the most recognizable funk songs of all time.

Brick House – Commodores Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

We hope you enjoy the articles and insights they bring to our platform. The Top Tier Band is a fun, high-energy party band and a smooth, light jazz band all in one. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it.

Its infectious groove has been used in countless movies, TV shows, and commercials, cementing its place in popular culture. The song features powerful horns, tight rhythm guitar, and a memorable bassline that has been sampled by countless other artists over the years. The track’s energy and syncopation are a testament to the band’s skills as musicians, and it’s no surprise that it catapulted them to mainstream success soon after its release. At its core, “Brick House” is a celebration of Black women’s beauty and a rejection of Eurocentric beauty standards. Written by Commodores band members Lionel Richie, Ronald LaPread, Walter “Clyde” Orange, and Milan Williams, the lyrics praise a woman who defies stereotypes with her curvy figure and unapologetic attitude.

The song’s message of empowerment and pride in Black female beauty is emblematic of the Black Power Movement of the 1960s and 70s. During this time period, many Black Americans were fighting for self-determination and cultural pride in the face of systemic racism and oppression. Easy pretty much marked the end of funk as they’d played it, as the group worked the Three Times A Lady “Quiet Storm” vein for subsequent hits. Brick House rose from the dead one mo’ time in 2003 when Richie recorded a new version with Rob Zombie for (are you ready for this?) the soundtrack to Zombie’s horror flick, House Of 1000 Corpses.

Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs). The Commodores’ two highest charting singles of 1977 were drawn from the same album, and represented the two contrasting sounds of the group. Easy looked forward to hits dominated by the smooth crooning of Lionel Richie while Brick House captured the fiery rhythms of their early records and live shows. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. "That first day, that's when they knew they had a hit song," Bailey said.

Led Zeppelin never won a Grammy Award; Jimmy Page and Robert Plant earned their first trophies in 2000 for "Most High," a song they wrote together that explores the role of religion in society. The name "Schoolhouse Rock," which was a series of educational cartoons, was a play on "Jailhouse Rock," the title of an Elvis Presley song.