In the Pocket (Commodores album)

In the Pocket is the ninth studio album by the American R&B/Funk group the Commodores, released by Motown Records in 1981.

In the Pocket
Studio album by Commodores
Released	June 22, 1981
Studio	Web IV (Atlanta, Georgia) A&M (Hollywood, California) Hitsville West (Hollywood, California)
Genre	Soul
Length	36:27
Label	Motown
Producer	James Anthony Carmichael, Commodores
Commodores chronology
Heroes (1980) In the Pocket (1981) Love Songs (1982)
Singles from In the Pocket
"Lady (You Bring Me Up)" Released: June 1981 "Oh No" Released: September 1981 "Why You Wanna Try Me" Released: March 5, 1982 (UK) "Lucy" Released: October 8, 1982 (UK)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Boston Globe	(favourable)[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[3]
Stereo Review	(favourable)[4][5]
The Village Voice	B−[6]

It is the last Commodores album to feature Lionel Richie, as he left the band to start a solo career the following year. The bulk of the album was recorded at Web IV Recording Studio in Atlanta, Georgia.^[7] This album contained two hit singles, "Lady (You Bring Me Up)" (U.S. No. 8) and "Oh No" (U.S. No. 4).

Track listing

Side One

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Lady (You Bring Me Up)"	Shirley Hanna-King, Harold Hudson, William King	4:46
2.	"Saturday Night"	Hudson, Thomas McClary	5:00
3.	"Keep on Taking Me Higher"	Hudson, McClary	5:19
4.	"Oh No"	Lionel Richie	2:51

Side Two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Why You Wanna Try Me"	David Cochrane, Richie	4:36
2.	"This Love"	Walter Orange	5:15
3.	"Been Loving You"	Orange	3:52
4.	"Lucy"	Richie	4:48

^[7]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1981) Peak position Australia Albums (Kent Music Report)[8] 48 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[9] 21 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[10] 45 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[11] 25 UK Albums (OCC)[12] 69 US Billboard 200[13] 13 US Top R&B Albums (Billboard)[14] 4

Year-end charts Chart (1981) Position US Billboard 200[15] 97 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[16] 46

Certifications

Country	Organization	Year	Sales
United States	RIAA	1981	Platinum (1,000,000)[17]

Personnel

Commodores

• Lionel Richie – vocals, pianos, keyboards, saxophones
• Milan Williams – keyboards, vocals
• Thomas McClary – vocals, guitars
• Ronald LaPread – bass, vocals
• Walter Orange – drums, vocals, percussion^[7]
• William King – trumpet

Additional personnel

• David Cochrane – keyboards, guitars, saxophones
• Harold Hudson – keyboards, trumpet, vocals
• Darrell Jones – guitars
• James Anthony Carmichael – horn and string arrangements
• Gene Page – rhythm arrangements (4, 8)

Production

The bulk of the album was recorded at Web IV Recording Studio in Atlanta, Georgia.^[7]

• Commodores – producers, arrangements
• James Anthony Carmichael – producer, arrangements
• Calvin Harris – recording, mixing
• Jane Clark – additional engineer
• Tommy Cooper – assistant engineer (1–3, 5–7)
• Ed Seay – assistant engineer (1–3, 5–7)
• Richard Well – assistant engineer (1–3, 5–7)
• Skip Cottrell – assistant engineer (4, 8)
• Bernie Grundman – mastering
• Johnny Lee – art direction, design
• David Alexander – photography
• Suzee Ikeda – project manager

References

1. Henderson, Alex. "Commodores: In the Pocket". AllMusic.
2. Cromonic, Richard (13 August 1981). "REVIEWS / RECORD; COMMODORES; IN THE POCKET; MOTOWN". Boston Globe. p. 1. ProQuest 294066701.
3. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 157.
4. Garland, Phyl (December 1981). "Commodores: In The Pocket" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Vol. 46, no. 12. Stereo Review. p. 84.
5. Garland, Phyl (December 1981). "Commodores: In The Pocket" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Vol. 46, no. 12. Stereo Review. p. 85.
6. Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide Album Commodores: In the Pocket". robertchristgau.com. Village Voice.
7. Commodores: In the Pocket. Motown Records. 1981.
8. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 72. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
9. "Dutchcharts.nl – Commodores – In The Pocket" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
10. "Charts.nz – Commodores – In The Pocket". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
11. "Swedishcharts.com – Commodores – In The Pocket". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
12. "Commodores | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
13. "Commodores, TLP". Billboard. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
14. "Commodores, BLP". Billboard. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
15. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1981". Billboard. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
16. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1981". Billboard. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
17. "Commodores: In The Pocket". riaa.com. RIAA.