Truly: The Love Songs Music

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The collection includes the #1 ballad of all-time, the ultimate love theme to the movie "Endless Love," sung with superstar, Diana Ross. This epic beautifully blends the powerhouse vocals of these two consummate singers. The song spent a phenomenal nine weeks at the top of the charts! Richie who also penned the song was going to give the song to Stevie Wonder originally, but passed on the this, when he decided to leave the Commodores and persue a prosperous solo career in 1981!

From his 1982 self titled debut comes the classic "Truly," which shines as a memorable track that showcases Richie's tender and soaring vocals.

By 1983, everything that Richie touched automatically turned to gold, or should I say platinum. His second solo outing "Can't Slow Down" displayed great stamina (more than half of the tracks on the album were top 10 hits/5 songs in total released) and remains Richie's finest original solo album. Featured from that set is the tender love ballad "Hello," the smoldering "Penny Lover," and the country/folk tinged "Stuck On You."

From his 1986 "Dancing On The Ceiling" album, there is the enduring and inspirational "Love Will Conquer All," along with his smash theme from the film "White Nights," the exquisite "Say You Say Me."

Lionel's reign on the charts came to an abrupt end, partially due to a publicized divorce and personal loss of his father. He lost his inspiration for awhile and went into deep introspection. By 1991, he returned with the greatest hits compilation, "Back To Front." From that collection, "Do It To Me" is a stunning highlight that showed the world that he still had the knack to write and perform some of the most beautifully crafted pop/soulful tunes on the market.

The Commodores, which started as a funk, r@b outfit in the early 1970's, by the middle of that decade began to segue into a smoother, softer, sexier vein with the artistry of its lead singer Lionel Richie, who wrote and sang lead vocals on the majority of their hits. The group is represented on this beautiful collection of love songs with the classic "Three Times A Lady," "Just To Be Close To You," "Still," "Sail On," "Easy," and "Sweet Love."

The CD runs approximately 55 minutes so there was room for some additional tunes from his output I would have included. One of my favorite tracks from the Commodores is "Oh No," from "In The Pocket," collection. Lionel's "My Love," "The Only One," "Ballarina Girl," "Deep River Woman," and "Love Oh Love," were also excluded. Nevertheless, this is a thorough representation of the Lionel's greatest ballads as a solo artist and with the group, The Commodores.

After his 1991 comeback, Lionel has recorded several other albums, "Louder Than Words"(1995) and "Time."(1998). Although this collection doesn't represent these efforts, if you are a fan this genre, they are also worthy of a listen.

"Truly-The Love Songs" serves as a the ultimate collection honoring the artisic balladry of this masterful singer and songwriter in the expression of his journey seeking love. These are some of the best love songs ever conceived and performed! If you are a fan of smooth, sexy, satisfying soul music, then this collection is for you!