Sail On (song)

"Sail On"
Single by Commodores
from the album Midnight Magic
B-side
  • "Thumpin' Music" (US)
  • "Captain Quick Draw" (UK)
Released27 July 1979 [1]
GenrePop
Length5:32
LabelMotown
Songwriter(s)Lionel Richie
Producer(s)James Anthony Carmichael, Commodores
Commodores singles chronology
"Flying High"
(1978) 		"Sail On"
(1979) 		"Still"
(1979)

"Sail On" is a Commodores song written by Lionel Richie from their 1979 album Midnight Magic. Released as the first of three singles from the album, it was produced by both Commodores and James Anthony Carmichael. The song reached the top ten on both the US and UK music charts that same year. Richie later recorded the song with Tim McGraw for 2012's Tuskegee.[2]

Cash Box described it as "a sparkling ballad."[3] Billboard called it "a surprising country flavored ballad" and said that "the subdued backing featuring prominent guitar and keyboards and the slick country intonations to Lionel Richie's vocal carry the melody."[4] Record World called it a "beautiful, country-colored ballad."[5]

  1. ^ "Sail On : Commodores". Dutchcharts.nl.
  2. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Tuskagee". Allmusic. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  3. ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. August 11, 1979. p. 15. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  4. ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. August 11, 1979. p. 74. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
  5. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. August 11, 1979. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-11.