

There were few more successful R&B songwriters and voices more recognizable in the '80s than Lionel Ritchie. Fresh off a blockbuster outing with his funky band the Commodores, he was the new hit king of Motown and, after recording his wildly popular debut, he was under significant pressure to outdo himself. Which is exactly what he did on follow-up tunes like "Hello," "All Night Long," and six other magical numbers. These songs would become more than mere hit records; they'd become the soundtrack for much of the '80s.