THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

684-Lionel Richie-Truly.

1982-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 2.08. The Argentinian football player Lionel Messi is named after Lionel Richie, you learn something new everyday.

Lionel Richie was born Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. on June 20th, 1949, in Tuskegee, Alabama, United States, with record sales estimated to be around 100 million, he is one of the best selling artists of all time. Prior to choosing a life in music, Lionel Richie was a talented tennis player, and had considered pursuing that as a career, he had also considered becoming a priest, but ultimately decided he was not ‘priest material.’ In 1968 he became a co-founder of the American Soul, and Funk group the ‘Commodores,’ as a singer and saxophonist. After recording one song with ‘Atlantic Records’ they moved on to ‘Motown Records,’ initially as a support act to ‘The Jackson 5’ (see also best songs 249 and 137.) The Commodores eventually found success at ‘Motown,’ initially with uptempo ‘Funk’ tracks, but they achieved their greatest commercial success in the latter half of the 1970’s, with the ballads written and sung by Lionel Richie. Richie would stay a member of the ‘Commodores’ until leaving to pursue a solo career in 1982.

The solo discography of Lionel Richie includes 11 studio Albums released between 1982-2012, and 42 singles issued between 1981-2012, there are also six official compilation Albums, and four live Albums available. In America on Billboard, two of his studio Albums have reached Number 1, including his 1983 Album ‘Can’t Slow Down,’ which has now sold in excess of 20 million copies worldwide. Lionel Richie has achieved 16 American Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hits, with five of those tracks making Number 1, including ‘Truly.’ In the UK, he has had 20 top 40 hits, with ‘Hello,’ reaching Number 1 in 1984. Other notable songs written by Lionel Richie include the Billboard Number 1 hit,’Endless Love,’ his 1981 duet with Diana Ross. He also wrote ‘Lady,’ which when recorded by the American Country singer Kenny Rogers, (1938-2020) topped the Billboard chart in 1980, and at the time of writing is the 60th best selling single of all time on that chart. As a songwriter Lionel Richie’s greatest success came in 1985 when he co-wrote the charity single ‘We Are the World’ with Michael Jackson, (1958-2009) which has gone on to sell in excess of 20 million copies, and at the time of writing is the eighth-best-selling physical single of all time.

‘Truly’ was the debut solo single from Lionel Richie, and was the first of three singles released from his self titled debut solo Album from October 1982. ‘Truly’ was written by Lionel Richie, and co-produced by Richie, and his long term collaborator James Anthony Carmichael. ‘Truly’ is a ballad in much the same style as ‘Three Times a Lady,’ (1978-Billboard & UK Number 1) and ‘Still,’ (1979-Billboard Number 1 & UK Number 4) which he and Carmichael had written and produced for the ‘Commodores.’

James Anthony Carmichael was born on September 14th, 1941, in Gadsden, Alabama, United States, since the early 1960’s he has worked as an arranger, and music producer. Carmichael’s work in the 1960’s included collaborating with the American singing duo of ‘Bob & Earl,’ (see also best songs 696) and alongside Fred ‘Sledge’ Smith (1933-2005) at ‘Mirwood Records,’ they arranged and produced the 1967 Bill Cosby Billboard Number 4 hit ‘Little Ole Man (Uptight, Everything’s Alright.’) In the late 1960’s Carmichael began working on a freelance basis with ‘Motown’ artists in Los Angeles, which included the Four Tops, the Miracles, and the Supremes. In 1974 he was approached by the ‘Commodores,’ and agreed to work with them, after receiving assurances that he would be given production responsibilities on their recordings. Carmichael stayed with the ‘Commodores’ for the next seven years, before leaving them to join forces with Lionel Richie and his burgeoning solo career.

‘Because I’m truly, truly in love with you, girl. I’m truly head over heels with your love. I need you, and with your love, I’m free, and truly, you know you’re alright, with me.’