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Machine Gun is the debut studio album by The Commodores, released on July 22, 1974, on Motown Records.[3]

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Machine Gun
Studio album by The Commodores
Released	July 22, 1974
Recorded	1972–74
Studio	Motown Recording Studios, Hollywood, California
Genre	Funk, R&B
Length	36:06
Label	Motown
Producer	James Anthony Carmichael, Commodores, Jeffrey Bowen, George Tobin, Gloria Jones, Pam Sawyer, Clayton Ivey, Terry Woodford
The Commodores chronology
Machine Gun (1974) Caught in the Act (1975)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	B+[2]

Singles

The titular lead song has Milan Williams on clavinet, which led the Motown executive Berry Gordy to name the song "Machine Gun" as the clavinet work reminded him of gunfire.^{[citation needed]} The title track peaked at number 7 on the US Billboard R&B Singles charts, while reaching number 22 on the US Billboard Pop Singles charts. As a single "Machine Gun" also reached No. 20 on both the UK Singles chart and the Canadian RPM Pop Singles chart.[4][5]

The second single to be released, "I Feel Sanctified", reached number 12 on the R&B charts, and concerns a man spiritually blessed by his girlfriend's love. The song has Ronald LaPread on bass guitar, while Lionel Richie and William King contributed horn arrangements. The tune has an a cappella introduction with three-way harmonization.

Track listing

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Machine Gun" (instrumental)	Milan Williams	2:43
2.	"Young Girls Are My Weakness"	William King, Ronald LaPread	2:42
3.	"I Feel Sanctified"	Lionel Richie, Jeffrey Bowen, Ronald LaPread, Walter Orange, Milan Williams, Thomas McClary	3:30
4.	"The Bump"	Milan Williams	4:11
5.	"Rapid Fire" (instrumental)	Milan Williams	3:08

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"The Assembly Line"	Gloria Jones, Pam Sawyer	5:10
2.	"The Zoo (The Human Zoo)"	Gloria Jones, Pam Sawyer	3:16
3.	"Gonna Blow Your Mind"	Thomas McClary, Walter Orange, Milan Williams	6:09
4.	"There's a Song in My Heart"	Lionel Richie	2:38
5.	"Superman"	Lionel Richie	2:39
Total length:			36:06

[3]

Personnel

Commodores

• Lionel Richie – vocals, saxophones, keyboards
• Milan Williams – keyboards, guitars
• Thomas McClary – vocals, guitars
• Ronald LaPread – bass
• Walter Orange – drums, vocals, percussion[3]
• William King – trumpet, percussion

Production

• Producers – James Anthony Carmichael (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 & 10); Commodores (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 & 10); Jeffrey Bowen and George Tobin (Track 3); Gloria Jones and Pam Sawyer (Tracks 6 & 7); Clayton Ivey and Terry Woodford (Track 9).
• Arrangements – James Anthony Carmichael (Tracks 1-5, 8 & 10); Commodores (Tracks 1, 2, 4-8 & 10); George Tobin (Track 3); Gloria Jones (Tracks 6 & 7); Clayton Ivey and Terry Woodford (Track 9).
• Horn arrangements on Track 3 – James Anthony Carmichael
• Effects – Cal Harris
• Photography – Jim Britt[3]

Charts

Year	Chart positions
	US R&B	Aus[6]	NZ	US Pop
1974	22	37	27[7]	138

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[8]	Gold	20,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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