Uploaded March 2016 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
"Machine Gun", as their first single from the debut studio album of the same name by American funk/soul band The Commodores 1974, peaked at #7 on the R&B charts, while reaching #22 on the overall pop charts. 1974 marked the first signs of Disco, as R&B was morphing into something with a little more boogie, and this song is a great instrumental example of that sound. The song was going to be called 'The Ram' and actually had lyrics, however, since most others were getting across with synthesizer instrumentals, they should follow that vein with this one. With the use of a Clavinet, an electrically amplified clavichord, Motown executive Berry Gordy changed name to "Machine Gun" because it reminded him of gunfire. Unlike subsequent Commodores albums, Machine Gun has only funk music and is devoid of slow-paced ballads. The six-man band, with notable individuals such as Lionel Richie, apparently derived their name from a random pick from a dictionary. Though nominated for several Grammy Awards, their only win came in 1986 for the song "Nightshift".
"Machine Gun", as their first single from the debut studio album of the same name by American funk/soul band The Commodores 1974, peaked at #7 on the R&B charts, while reaching #22 on the overall pop charts. 1974 marked the first signs of Disco, as R&B was morphing into something with a little more boogie, and this song is a great instrumental example of that sound. The song was going to be called 'The Ram' and actually had lyrics, however, since most others were getting across with synthesizer instrumentals, they should follow that vein with this one. With the use of a Clavinet, an electrically amplified clavichord, Motown executive Berry Gordy changed name to "Machine Gun" because it reminded him of gunfire. Unlike subsequent Commodores albums, Machine Gun has only funk music and is devoid of slow-paced ballads. The six-man band, with notable individuals such as Lionel Richie, apparently derived their name from a random pick from a dictionary. Though nominated for several Grammy Awards, their only win came in 1986 for the song "Nightshift".
