Nicole Richie's dad has a new CD
I think I'd just about light myself on fire if someone came up to me and said, "Oh, you're Nicole Richie's dad." Couple of reasons. First, I have no kids that I know of. Second, I'm convinced that the real axis of evil today is Nicole Richie, Paris Hilton and Kevin Federline (now that Star Jones Reynolds has been rightfully placed in a Guantanamo Bay gulag.)
Somehow, bravely, Lionel Richie manages to struggle forth. Today, the genius (ok, the voice anyway) behind "Say You, Say Me" and "Dancing on the Ceiling" is releasing a new CD -- "Coming Home" -- which according to early press reviews sounds like "vintage Richie." (That's either a good or bad thing -- but based on that, you're going to run out and buy it or just run out.)
Will the five-time Grammy winner strike gold again? To do so, he needs to find his old audience. Richie laments to the New York Times that he's known today to young music fans only as a celebrity dad: "They have no idea who I am or what I've done."
We remember, Mr. Richie! And so we give you our list of favorite tunes:
Top 5 songs -- god help me -- by Lionel Richie:
5. Penny Lover: "Girl a love like yours is hard to resist"
4. Running with the Night: "Taking every shot, we took the town"
3. All Night Long: "Were going to party, karamu, fiesta, forever"
2. Say You, Say Me: "Seems the hardest thing to do is to find a friend or two"
1. Endless Love: "Two hearts that beat as one" ... If the song is good enough for "Happy Gilmore," it's good enough for Stuck in the 80s.
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
E-mail Steve Spears:
Not really a "solo years" fan. Much rather hear Lionel with the Commodores. "Deep River Woman" may be the exception and I only like to hear it every now and again.
Posted by: Greg R. | April 09, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Lionel's career never went away. It just took a vacation in the cradle of civilization.
Posted by: Tariq Aziz | September 13, 2006 at 11:14 AM
Bloom County RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry...couldn't stop myself.
I was never a fan of Lionel. I preferred his work with the Commodores.
I do remember an award show in the 80's where he and Rick Springfield had a bit of a spat that made its way onto the stage. I thought it was pretty funny. (Springfield performed a song from his Tao album.)
Posted by: Bassnote | September 13, 2006 at 11:11 AM
I can't help but think of the old Bloom County cartoon and song "Let's run over Lionel Richie with a tank."
It was a classic....
Posted by: bluegrasswriter | September 13, 2006 at 09:25 AM
Sorry Steve - Nicole Richie is featured in Lionel's new music video for "I Call It Love". Here is the youtube link in case you're feeling masochistic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx-PJfsvR5Q
Posted by: Nabila | September 13, 2006 at 12:50 AM