Lionel Richie

Stepping away from The Commodores, this release signaled a move toward the soulful ballads that would define his work for the coming decade. The hit song Truly showcased a new vulnerability and marked his transition into a prominent solo performer.

Motown facilitated a transition into a crisp, early-eighties style, pairing lush arrangements with a polished approach. The record produces a sound that feels both large and intimate, providing a template for the sophisticated radio hits that would follow in his catalog.