Lionel Richie Just Wants A Hit Record

"I Call It Love" is the first song and single on Lionel Richie's latest comeback CD, Coming Home. Since 1986's Dancing On The Ceiling, Richie has released just 4 rather anonymous albums. Good stuff can be found on these, but lack of promotion and disinterest on Richie's part led to weak sales. So what's a 50-something hit maker to do when he wants a hit? That lead song is turning into Lionel's biggest hit in 10 years. It's sly, laid back groove not only hits with the Adul R&B crowd but younger kids are responding. The rest of the CD follows a typical Richie pattern: there's the faux-reggae tune, the let's party one, the slow songs and the mid-tempo grooves. It's good stuff to my ears. Richie sounds energized by the young Producers that are helping him out. Maybe this one won't head for the cutout bins after all.