^No. It hasn't been sent out to radio and I haven't seen anything that makes it clear whether or not this will get proper treatment as a radio release.
According to MediaBase/AllAccess.com, the song is currently being played on two AC stations (WLTW New York & KOST Los Angeles). WLTW played it 8 times and KOST played it 11 times in the past week (Feb. 17-23).
It's getting a tiny bit of airplay on country radio as well but not enough to chart. No adds date.
It's funny that it's getting played on AC...wasn't the whole point of this for Lionel to make a country duets album? Only about 5 weeks til the album comes out, and it seems like this might only be a digital single. Maybe it will chart in the 50's but I don't see it doing much unless Mercury gives it an adds date and actually promotes it to radio. I haven't heard anything on that front yet.
Lionel Richie sings “Endless Love” with Shania Twain on his new CD, Tuskegee. Photo by Alan Silfen, courtesy of UMG Nashville.
Lionel Richie and Shania Twain teamed up to record Lionel’s “Endless Love” for his Tuskegee album, out March 26. They reunited to film a beautiful video, set at a beach side home in the Bahamas. Lionel spends much of the video inside the home, watching moving pictures on the wall of Shania on the beach, riding her horse and spending time on the dock.
The light colors throughout the video and the easy, carefree relationship shown between Lionel and Shania when Lionel emerges from the house to meet her on the beach bring the song’s timeless lyrics to life.
Country darling Shania Twain replaces Diana Ross on the updated version of Lionel Richie’s 1981 ballad ‘Endless Love.’ It’s a modern redo of a classic song, and in the video, Twain and Richie express intense emotion and passion, so much so that you’d think they were actually a couple. The singers emanate genuine fondness for one another and both are incredibly expressive with their eyes, hands and voices throughout the entire span of the clip.
They are separate at first, with Twain’s scenes shot in black and white. She is riding a stallion on a beach while singing. Richie is in color, hanging out inside a bright, white home with a large piano. Images of Twain singing appear in the photos and screens on the wall behind him, so it’s as though they are in the same room. It’s a very cool convention; she’s there, even when she’s not really there.
Each singer emotes while singing their parts and it’s very believable. Twain, dressed in white and wearing a cowgirl hat, comes to life and blooms in color when she and Richie meet behind the house. It certainly suggests that love makes you feel alive. Twain is actually riding the horse through the ocean at that point. How dreamy!
They embrace and sing while facing each another in the flesh. Images of the the singers clenching their fists and touching their chests appear on the inside screens. It’s quite a romantic couple of minutes.
This new version of ‘Endless Love’ appears on Richie’s ‘Tuskegee,’ where he partners with an array of country acts.
I could see Lionel Richie doing country back in the day. Deep River Woman was about as country as it comes. But now? It seems and feels desparate. Especially given Lionel Richie's multiple attempts to get hits again. Anything from taking "Long Long Way to Go" from Def Leppard back in 2002, to dance remixes that failed, to mentoring on the Voice etc, etc.
I'll give it to him for working hard, but it makes me wonder why he's so desparate to become relevant again? Is he out of money or something?
I could see Lionel Richie doing country back in the day. Deep River Woman was about as country as it comes. But now? It seems and feels desparate. Especially given Lionel Richie's multiple attempts to get hits again. Anything from taking "Long Long Way to Go" from Def Leppard back in 2002, to dance remixes that failed, to mentoring on the Voice etc, etc.
I'll give it to him for working hard, but it makes me wonder why he's so desparate to become relevant again? Is he out of money or something?
If that's the case, EVERYONE in the pop/rock field must be going broke, because they are crossing over to country.
That's rather shocking, actually. Considering that new Brad Pasiley, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, and Eric Church albums in the last 12-18 months sold less than that. I think Jason Aldean's and Kenny Chesney's last albums sold around the 200k mark.
Is Lionel really that popular? Who is buying this album? Its gotten 0 exposure on country radio...and while a bunch of country fans are no doubt buying it, the songs are just pop songs re-recorded. And for Jason Aldean fans, for example, he's only on one track.
I just don't get it, really. If Lionel can do this, why can't core country artists sell more? Lionel hasn't been big on ANY format for many, many years now...his last album to crack the top 5 on the Billboard 200 came back in 1986. This is all so...strange.
Post by ctryfan1980 on Apr 3, 2012 19:50:25 GMT -5
When Reba did her "Duets" album in 2007 she opened like near 400,000 the first week. She never did that on any of her solo albums before in her prime, or since! Sometimes duet albums can do strange things. I know "Because of You" helped, but Kelly was still coming off her disasterous "My December" era and Reba was coming off her disasterous #60 peaking "Love Needs A Holiday."
That's rather shocking, actually. Considering that new Brad Pasiley, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, and Eric Church albums in the last 12-18 months sold less than that. I think Jason Aldean's and Kenny Chesney's last albums sold around the 200k mark.
Is Lionel really that popular? Who is buying this album? Its gotten 0 exposure on country radio...and while a bunch of country fans are no doubt buying it, the songs are just pop songs re-recorded. And for Jason Aldean fans, for example, he's only on one track.
I just don't get it, really. If Lionel can do this, why can't core country artists sell more? Lionel hasn't been big on ANY format for many, many years now...his last album to crack the top 5 on the Billboard 200 came back in 1986. This is all so...strange.
Lionel Richie was on the Home Shopping Network and they claimed sales of 20,000.
Post by ALEX GONE WILD on Apr 4, 2012 9:56:57 GMT -5
Since when do you have to be big on radio to have an album sell well? There are plenty of other artists who don't get much radio play that still go on to have albums sell well.
Since when do you have to be big on radio to have an album sell well? There are plenty of other artists who don't get much radio play that still go on to have albums sell well.
I never said that it was necessary. You must've missed the part where I also said that Lionel hasn't had a top 5 album on the Billboard 200 since 1986. Yeah, he's really been a regular seller over the years.
I guess it just must be the duets album concept, but I still find it shocking since I figured a lot of people would just purchas individual tracks from it...ie, the Kenny Chesney fans would buy the Kenny/Lionel duet, the Jason Aldean fans would buy the Jason/Lionel duet, etc.
Congrats to MERCURY NASHVILLE artist LIONEL RICHIE as his album “Tuskegee” sold 198,892 units in its first week, making him #2 on the SOUNSCAN Top 200. He was beat only by MADONNA’s “MDNA,” which sold 358,653.
“Tuskegee” is LIONEL’s first Country album and features duets with many Country artists like LUKE BRYAN, LITTLE BIG TOWN and KENNY ROGERS. This is LIONEL’s best highest-charting album since 1986 and the best-selling debut by any Country artist this year.
“I am ecstatic!” RICHIE said. “These songs are like my children, so I am overwhelmed that they are being embraced by several generations of music lovers. I am so grateful to all of my duet partners for bringing their own distinctive styles and personalities to this album and interpreting these songs in fresh new ways.
Chairman/CEO of UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP NASHVILLE LUKE LEWIS added, “It is gratifying to see consumers react this way to a collection of timeless songs, great performances and an outstanding marketing effort by the UMG team.”
The album also debuted at number one on CANADA’s Top Album chart and reached the Top 10 Album Charts in the UNITED KINGDOM, DENMARK, HOLLAND and SWEDEN.
The following is an excerpt from a Billboard article that mentions the debut week sales for Lionel Richie's "Tuskegee" CD:
Lionel Richie appears for a second time on Country Albums, as duets set "Tuskegee" (Mercury/UMGN) opens atop the chart with 199,000 copies sold, good for a No. 2 start on the Billboard 200. That's the biggest opening week for a country album since Taylor Swift's "Speak Now" opened with more than one million copies in November 2010, however Scotty McCreery's "Clear as Day" began with 197,000 copies last fall. Richie's "Can't Slow Down" rose to No. 55 on Country Albums in 1984, driven by "Stuck on You," which peaked at No. 24 on Country Songs that year.
Post by countryhistorian on Apr 5, 2012 10:43:43 GMT -5
When are we getting a listening party thread for Tuskegee? I seem to see quite a few of those threads. Lately, they have been disappearing. P.S.: The Boot is reporting that Lionel Richie is gearing up for another country album. Good. I hope it does well for him.
^Well, if someone has Mediabase access they can post the listening parties. But otherwise it is kinda tough, unless people can find the studio versions on YouTube. Kevin59 usually posts the Mediabase links over at CCT and I bring them here, but he hasn't posted any MB links there recently so I'm not sure if the tracks just aren't being uploaded, or if he lost MB access or something like that.
Universal Music scores its third #1 in a row as Nicki Minaj's projection increases a little today. Here's how it looks headed into the Easter weekend:
*Nicki Minaj (Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Republic) 215-235k Adele 21 (XL/Columbia) 155-165k *Rascal Flatts (Big Machine) 110-120k Lionel Richie (Mercury Nashville) 100-110k One Direction (Syco/Columbia) 70-80k The Hunger Games soundtrack (Universal Republic) 45-50k *Marvin Sapp (Verity) 45-50k *Of Monsters & Men (Universal Republic) 45-50k Madonna (Interscope) 40-45k Shinedown (Atlantic) 35-40k Kelly Clarkson (19/RCA) 27-30k Now 41 (Capitol/EMI) 27-30k Luke Bryan (Capitol Nashville/EMI) 24-27k Shake It Up: Live 2 Dance (Hollywood) 24-27k Gotye (Fairfax/Universal Republic) 24-27k Adele 19 (XL/Columbia) 22-25k *Alabama Shakes (ATO) 21-24k Bruce Springsteen (Columbia) 21-24k Whitney Houston Greatest Hits (RCA) 21-24k
*Debuts (4/5p)
The total for Lionel's 2nd week may be higher (or lower) than listed above.
Lionel is still doing promotional appearances - including "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and "The Talk." Also, as mentioned above, this weekend is Easter weekend.
CDs such as this one due indeed to sell very well and attract tons of admirers from other genres; as Carlos Santana said after his triumphant-and-then-some-return to the music world and radio with the international smash 'Smooth', 'If Eric Clapton asks you if he can play guitar on your CD, 'Are you going to say no?
If there's one thing that singers and musicians alike have respect for, it's top notch songwriters, and during the eighties, when top 40 radio exploded in popularity behind stations such as KIIS and WHTZ, as well as jocks such as Rick Dees & Scott Shannon, the format was ruled by songwriters, and Richie was among the very best and most prolific songwriters of the decade alongside such equally prolific songwriters as Don Henley, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Daryl Hall, John Mellencamp, & Michael jackson, as well as members of pioneering bands including Genesis, The Police, Eurthymics, Dire Straits & tons of others.
Every one of those collaborators on Lionel's new CD either grew up listening to (or their parents) or knew that Richie wrote Kenny Rogers's 1980 megasmash 'Lady', and certainly jumped at the chance to participate in contributing to a project such as this from a songwriter with a very rich tradition of writing stellar songs.
There were undoubtedly no shortage of folks wanting to participate in Reba's previously mentioned tribute CD, as well as the exceptional tribute CD to Barbara Mandrell in 2006.
Consequently, if Richie is indeed serious about doing another country CD, the list of folks wishing to participate will undoubtedly be long and loaded with more country stars, and even a few more legends.
If it hadn't been for our sorry economy, this CD could have easily sold twice what it did last week; all things considered, that's a terrific opening week.
Last Edit: Apr 7, 2012 20:54:03 GMT -5 by Marv - Back to Top
Kenny Chesney and Lionel Richie Photo Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
LAS VEGAS -- With a smile on his face and a swagger in his step, Lionel Richie truly enjoyed himself at the all-star tribute concert in his honor Monday night (April 2) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. And for older music fans who grew up listening to his pop hits, the show could've gone on all night long.
Titled ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends in Concert, the special airs April 13 on CBS. The mutual admiration between Richie and his duet partners was evident throughout the three-hour taping. There was almost a visible glow emanating from the stage. To paraphrase a famous lyric, that's why it's easy to just sit back and enjoy the music.
Without giving too much away, it's fair to say the show didn't follow a rigid structure. Sometimes Richie delivered his hits without a singing partner, which satisfied his longtime fans. At other times, country stars like Jason Aldean, The Band Perry and Martina McBride serenaded Richie, who was occasionally seated in the audience, with their own versions of his hits.
Still, the collaborations brought out the best in everyone. Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Jennifer Nettles, Rascal Flatts and Darius Rucker offered memorable duets with Richie, and nobody could keep their hands off of each other. Although none of them have known Richie for long, there's an obvious chemistry there. Those five artists are among the country stars appearing on Richie's Tuskegee, which debuted on the country albums charts at No. 1 this week.
In addition to paying musical tribute, Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum and Kenny Rogers shared their own amusing anecdotes about Richie's music, which brought a lighthearted element to the show. In addition, his daughter Nicole Richie spoke highly of her father in a short speech while Richie himself said he was tickled to finally sing live for his family.
"Now they get to see what I do for a living!" he teased.
Shania Twain did not make a surprise appearance to sing "Endless Love" with Richie, although they have released a music video for the romantic song. However, for this show, Sara Evans and pop star Marc Anthony stepped in for a compelling duet of the enduring ballad.
Meanwhile, Big & Rich couldn't resist their own rendition of Richie's signature party anthem, even though the duo decided to inject a little bit of "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" into the mix.
Richie didn't seem to mind. By then he was running with the night, and everyone in the brick house was cheering him on.
It looks like we have another horse race for #1 next week as Adele and Nicki Minaj battle it out for the post-Easter lead. Based on midweek reports, we're giving Adele the slight nod, giving her a 24th week at the top. Here's how it looks headed into the weekend:
Adele (XL/Columbia) 85-95k Nicki Minaj (YM/CM/Universal Republic) 80-90k One Direction (Syco/Columbia) 67-72k *Monica (RCA) 57-62k Lionel Richie (Mercury Nashville) 50-55k *Bonnie Raitt (Slipstream) 45-50k Rascal Flatts (Big Machine) 40-45k *Hoodie Allen (Hoodie Allen) 35-40k Gotye (Fairfax/Universal Republic) 28-32k The Hunger Games (Universal Republic) 27-30k Of Monsters & Men (Universal Republic) 27-30k *Trip Lee (Reach) 24-27k *Prince Royce (TOS/Atlantic) 22-25k *Counting Crows (Collective Sounds) 22-25k Madonna (Interscope) 22-25k Luke Bryan (Capitol Nashville/EMI) 21-24k Alabama Shakes (ATO) 20-23k
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