The college graduates from Tuskegee, Alabama, educated millions worldwide with compelling hits, peerless musicianship and – step forward, Lionel Richie – classic American songwriting. Moreover, the Commodores nicknamed the "Black Beatles" were Motown's largest-selling act in both the '70s and the '80s and are the legendary label's only group to place three consecutive albums into the Top 3 of the Billboard pop charts. One of those signature releases was this transitional 1977 self-titled effort which yielded the trio of timeless singles "Brick House," "Easy" and "Zoom," the latter two unequivocal Richie showcases where he simultaneously takes the Commodores to new artistic and commercial heights.