Definitive Collection, The - Lionel Richie > Reviews > Three Times A Classic!!!

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Loads of brillliant, stand the test of time classics .
Disadvantages:	The odd song is slightly boring and repetitive .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

For those of you that may have read my other review of Lionel Richie "Back to front" you may remember that at the end I mentioned my that my CD had started skipping. Being such a huge Lionel fan I was really dissapointed at this so I decided to buy a different one "The definitive collection", as it is newer and has more tracks.
I bought this on ebay, so a few days later the cd came through the post and I couldn't wait to put it on.
With a Greatest hits CD you sort of know what to expect because you know the majority of the songs, however it still managed to attract me and I know that it's a classic that will be valued in my CD collection for years to come.

~~~Who is Lionel?~~~
I'm sure you all know the answer to this, but just in case....
Lionel Richie started his music career with the Commondores. He is one of the world's most recognized and rewarded performers. Lionel Richie has sold nearly 100 million albums and notched 22 Top 10 hits. He is most famously known for his big hits including "Three times a lady", "Endless love" (with Diana Ross) and "All night long".
It is his ability to combine fast songs with ballads, and light hearted songs with intense love songs that have, in my opinion helped him to stand the test of time, and be a favourite with all ages from teens to pentioners!

~~~The CD listing~~~
CD 1:
All Night Long
Say You, Say Me
My Destiny
Running With The Night
Dancing On The Ceiling
Don't Stop The Music
Love Oh Love
Ballerina Girl
Love Will Conquer All
Do It To Me
Cinderella
Tender Heart
Don't Wanna Lose You
The Closest Thing To Heaven
I Forgot
Angel
To Love A Woman (With Enriquie Iglesias)
Goodbye
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now, I could list each individual song and review them seperately, however that would be somewhat boring for both me and you. So, instead I will list my favourites from each CD, (CD1 and CD2)

CD 1
*All night long~ This is a song I'm sure you're all familier with. It's one of Lionel Richie's more up tempo songs. It has brilliant reggae inspired drums, numerous backing singers, and a great catchy chorus. I'm sure some of you older readers will also remember the video to this too-Lionel in tight trousers dancing on the street! I only know this as I've seen the video on VH1!

*My destiny is another great classic. I absolutely love the beat and the fresh sound with this song. It is completely original and suits his voice so well. This song, like nearly all of Lionel Richie's are also still up to date, and despite being released a long time ago, don't sound at all dated.

*To love a woman~ This song includes my two favourite singers
of all time, from different generations getting together to colaborate. So I suppose it comes as no suprise that this is my favourite song on the CD. This duet is with the lovely Enrique Iglesias, and was released a few years ago. At the time I heard the song but wasn't a massive fan, and it didn't get to much airplay so I couldn't really remember it. However after hearing it again recently, I realised just how good it is.
It begins with a guitar strum and straight in with Enrique's, brilliant, emotional, typically spanish voice. Then for the second verse in comes Mr Richie, with his smooth, effortless voice and a beat kicks in. For the chorus, the pinnacle of the song, the two singers duet, with their voices beautifully complimenting each others.

CD 2:
Three Times A Lady
Easy
Endless Love (With Diana Ross)
Hello
Still
Sail On
Stuck On You
You Are
Truly
Just To Be Close To You
Sweet Love
Penny Lover
Oh No
Lady (You Bring Me Up)
Wonderland
Machine Gun
Brickhouse
Too Hot To Trot
Flying High
Zoom

*Easy~ This has always been one of my favourites. There's something about the laid back/relaxed beat and the chilled/mellow voice of the genius that is Lionel, that makes this a hit.

*Stuck on you~ From the first few bars of intro in this song, I realised that I loved it. It kicks off with a guitar, which is somewhat Eric Clapton-esque. This is a really romantic but nice, easy listening track. It was also fetured on an advert recently.

* Three times a lady~ In my opinion this is still brilliant, timeless classic. You must all be familier with this song, which is especially popular in weddings as first dance songs. This really shows off Richie's song writing, piano playing and mellow voice talent.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I want to find the simplest phrase that everybody says, no matter what language you speak"
Richie then goes on to explain how 'All Night Long' will always be 'All Night Long.' 'Easy like Sunday morning' will always be 'Easy like Sunday morning.' 'Stuck on You' is 'Stuck on You.' 'Truly,' or 'Still' or 'Endless Love', and that they all make it clear what the thought/feeling of the song is without even listening to the song.
This could be key to Lionel Richie's success, - his ability to make incredibly, fantastic songs that will, and have lasted the test of time. While being so talented, and mature these songs still have the simplicity so that everyone can sing along and relate to.

~~~Would I recommend it?~~~
Most certainly YES! Whether your a huge Lionel Richie fan, or you just like his numerous classics, this is a cd that you must have in your CD collection. It's ideal for so many occasions, from a singalong, to a great CD to listen to whilst relaxing, as background music to house warming parties and to play in the car. Lionel Richie has been a musical legend for years and I'm sure it's going to last a lot longer!

"And that's why the music has stayed around so long."
Comment from Lionel Richie regarding the simplicity of his music.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I searched for this on the Internet and most shops were still charging full price, as it's a greatest hits, and no doubt will be around for a while. I, however managed to get it for only £5.00, brand new from ebay-which I consider a bargain.

£10.99 CD wow, which includes free P&P.
Also try
www.hmv.com
www.whsmith.co.uk
www.virginmegastore.com

Thanks for reading,
Claire x x