An unstoppable Motown ballad made its transatlantic conquest on March 24, 1984, earlier than topping the American pop chart on Might 12 that yr. The Lionel Richie ballad “Whats up,” written by the previous Commodores lead singer with James Anthony Carmichael, loved a six-week run on the UK summit earlier than beginning a two-week run atop the Sizzling 100.
The track additionally loved a three-week reign on the Billboard R&B chart and 6 on the grownup modern checklist, throughout a interval when Richie might do no incorrect. Not dangerous for a composition which he had determined to not use on his first, self-titled solo album. Lionel was additionally considering of passing it up for the second, Can’t Sluggish Down. Then his spouse Brenda insisted he embrace it.
After debuting within the UK at No.25 after which climbing to No.5, “Whats up” raced to No.1, unseating Nena’s “99 Purple Balloons.” Richie thus consolidated his place as Motown’s hottest star of the mid-Eighties. However he wasn’t the label’s solely artist with a global hit on the time. Rockwell, the son of Motown founder Berry Gordy, was additionally within the UK charts with “Any person’s Watching Me,” which featured vocals by each Michael and Jermaine Jackson.
Lionel’s solely solo UK No.1 single
For all of the enduring success loved by Lionel Richie around the globe over greater than 40 years, “Whats up” stays his solely solo UK chart-topping single. Can’t Sluggish Down can be his solely No.1 studio album. However he did obtain one other British bestseller in 1992, with the Again To Entrance compilation. Then in July 2015, his Definitive Assortment with the Commodores raced to the highest within the wake of Lionel’s Glastonbury Pageant efficiency, almost 12 years after it first charted.
Hearken to the 80s Basic Hits playlist.
“Whats up” was the seventh-bestselling single of the UK chart yr, and Can’t Sluggish Down the No.1 album. The ballad additionally topped the charts in Holland, Switzerland, Eire, Australia, and elsewhere. Within the US, it took over on the Sizzling 100 peak from Phil Collins’ “Towards All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now).”
Purchase or stream “Whats up” on the album Can’t Sluggish Down.