Once again, we set the time travel dial back to 1984. Say ‘Hello” to Lionel Richie, but please resist the urge to ask him if you are the one he is looking for because you would not be the first to ask him that predicable questions.
It was on this day 40 years ago that ‘Hello’ hit #1 on the U.S. Pop, R&B and Adult Contemporary charts. It was the second single from his album ‘Can’t Slow Down’, and along with ‘All Night Long’ it helped ‘Can’t Slow Down’ win the 1984 Grammy for Album of the Year.
Consider this. ‘Can’t Slow Down’ is the top selling album ever released on the Motown label. When one sifts through the list of timeless recordings that Motown has offered through the years this is a staggering feat.
For ‘Hello’, Lionel Richie harkened back to an old theme in his writing. He reflected on his own vulnerabilities. In this case, shyness. In interviews, Lionel Richie has stated that as a young man he was attracted to the beautiful woman all around him, but he considered himself too shy to approach them. Instead, he retreated into his own mind and thought;
Hello, is it me you’re looking for.”
The idea for a song took root, but for years he was not able to complete it to his satisfaction, until a very innocent exchange inspired him and gave him a sense of validation.
In 1981-’82, Lionel Richie was working on his first solo album, which followed his time in The Commodores. His long-time producer, James Anthony Carmichael dropped by his home for a visit. When Carmichael arrived, Richie was sitting at his piano and jokingly said;
Hello, is it me you’re looking for.”
Carmichael was struck by the phrase and instinctively responded with;
Finish that song”
Richie briefly resisted, thinking it was corny but all it took was a little push.
By the time I finished the verse, I fell in love again.”
He kept on writing from the perspective of his younger self and when it was done, he was reasonably satisfied, but still somewhat reluctant. Even though it was written for his solo debut it ended up on the cutting room floor. By the time Richie was ready to record ‘Can’t Slow Down’, his wife Brenda, who loved the song persuaded him to add it to the new recording. This is important because Brenda was also the inspiration for ‘Three Times a Lady’.
Lionel and Brenda were college sweethearts, and were married from 1975 through 1993. The 18-year marriage came to a tumultuous end when Brenda caught Lionel and his mistress Diane Alexander having an affair at her Beverly Hills apartment.
The acrimony in Richie’s life existed long before the demise of his marriage. He was accused of plagiarizing ‘Hello’ by a Long Island song writer named Marjorie Hoffman White.
Based on the advice of a musicologist, White launched a lawsuit stating that ‘Hello’ had used the same melody as her song ‘I’m Not Ready to Go’. The suit sought one million dollars in compensatory damages and requested that Richie halt production and distribution of his recording, and share any future royalties. Here is the story. This is from a YouTube channel called ‘All About Stuff’.
Unfortunately, I was unable to find the song.
In the end, Lionel Richie was found to be not guilty.
The next part of the ‘Hello’ story is the popular video which could be described as divisive. Some find it romantic and heart wrenching, while others feel it is insipid and unwatchable.
In the video, Lionel Richie is depicted as a teacher named Mr. Reynolds who becomes infatuated with a blind pottery student named Laura. As the video develops it is revealed that Laura has created a perfect clay model of Richie (Reynolds) head. In other words, although blind, Laura felt the same way as Mr. Reynolds, and both had been inhibited by their own shyness. It is certainly a nice story, and relatable in a ‘Hallmark’ sort of way. Interestingly, the woman who played ‘Laura’ was indeed named Laura Carrington, and went on to play Dr. Simone Ravelle-Hardy on General Hospita, in the late ‘80s.
Lionel Richie was not convinced that this storyline was a good idea, and made his concerns known to producer Bob Giraldi. The response was definite.
You’re not creating the story, I am.”
Back to the point raised earlier that speaks to the divisiveness of the ‘Hello’ video; in a poll of 8000 music fans conducted by UK-MTV ‘Hello’ had the dubious distinction of being selected the worst video of all time, but in an interview for the book ‘I Want My MTV’ Bob Giraldi was resolute.
I came up with the idea of a blind girl and Lionel as a teacher. ‘Hello’ is one of the top videos ever.”
He put a stamp on this opinion when in response to Lionel Richie’s observation that the bust created by Laura didn’t look enough like him, he rolled his eyes and simply retorted that Richie needed to keep in mind that the creator was visually impaired.
Through the years, Lionel Richie grew to like virtually everything about ‘Hello’ because the accolades far exceeded the negativity. Enjoy this interpretation created by Jimmy Fallon. Lionel Richie plays along, and the result is hysterical.
About the same time as Jimmy and Lionel’s hijinks were presented, discussion related to ‘Hello’ came back up again when Adele released her song, ‘Hello’. Similarities between the two songs by theme and video presentation were quickly raised. Frankly, I don’t see it. The only commonality is the song title. The Lionel Richie and Adele songs would have made a good version of an occasional Ted Tocks Covers feature known as ‘Same Title, Different Song’.
People need to just relax and enjoy the positive qualities. There is too much evil in this world to create a controversy over two very talented artists and their creativity.
To this point, how about we spend some time listening to several quality cover versions of Lionel Richie’s classic song. This is what it’s all about, as we celebrate four decades of a beautiful song.
Anyone who wants to follow a story of an artist with a fascinating trajectory need look no further than Luther Vandross. Back in 1994, Luther Vandross released an album of quality covers called ‘Songs’. This was his way of paying homage to the many artists who inspired him over a quarter century of recording, to that point in time.
Who knew that one of Luther’s first gigs was performing as part of the Sesame Street troupe, Listen My Brother’. Enjoy this video which features Vandross and his friends performing an educational song called ‘Count to 20’.
You can learn plenty, but you’ve got to learn how to count to 20.”
This is so good, but I have gone off on a tangent.
Sadly, the Music world lost this immense talent in 2005. Luther Vandross was only 54 years old.
A quarter century after Gary Puckett and the Union Gap released the insipid song ‘Young Girl’, Gary Puckett recorded ‘Time Pieces’ which is his walk through the past.
One year later in 1996, Shirley Bassey offered her cover of ‘Hello’ on the album ‘The Show Must Go On’. Ted Tocks Covers always enjoys adding Bassey to these features.
Heading into the next century we arrive in 2005 with Paul Anka and this catchy version of ‘Hello’ on his album ‘Rock Swings’. Yet another excellent recording.
Here is what I thought would be another interesting cover. This is from 2007 and it features Arne Benoni with Lynn Anderson (see ‘Cry’ and ‘I Never Promised You a Rose Garden’). Kind of uninspired. Oh well.
Always leave room on your plate for a little Richard Cheese. This is from his album ‘A Lounge Supreme’ in 2011. This transforms to swing early on and it really takes off. Tons of fun, and of course it takes a shot at the original lyrics by suggesting a more troubled subject.
Sometimes I see you passed out by my door.”
Always a fun take from Richard Cheese.
Following the controversial comparisons that arose in 2015, Demi Lovato performed this abbreviated version during the 2016 Grammys. This is too good not share.
Another Ted Tocks Covers favourite is Mike Masse who in 2019 recorded this strong cover of ‘Hello’ with his friends Rock Smallwood and Bryce Bloom. Always quality from Mike Masse.
Boyce Avenue never disappoints either. Here they are doing their own version of ‘Hello’ in 2020 and absolutely nailing it.
One other interesting fact that I discovered while writing this feature is that in 2019 Lionel Richie embarked on a business venture. He released some companion perfumes called ‘Hello’. One for men and one for women.
The mens’ was marketed with the line
A lyrical blend. Mesmerize your senses with an aromatic, alluring fragrance. Curated by iconic musician Lionel Richie, Hello, a light yet subtly enticing fougère scent infused with amber florals, is the ideal fragrance companion for the modern man.”
How do you top that?
Well, the women’s promotional tags offered this marketing tag.
Hello by Lionel Richie Eau de Parfum is described as a sensual and elegant fruity-chypre scent with floral and oriental nuances. Sweet and refreshing notes at the top of the composition include citruses, fruits and pink pepper blossom. Modern notes of jasmine and tuberose make the floral heart of the perfume, based on sweet, woody and musky aromas.”
Things went so well for this fragrance that Lionel Richie followed up ‘Hello’ with another ode to his musical catalogue.
Breathe in the aroma as you listen.
It’s easy. ‘Easy Like Sunday Morning’.
Happy Mother’s Day to all of the wonderful Mothers out there. You make the world a better place and it says here that women deserve so much better, in so many ways.
Hopefully with the help of some quality music we will be one step closer to that place.
Ted Tocks Covers 