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The Commodores' sixth studio album, Natural High, is best known for the ballad "Three Times a Lady," which became a staple of adult contemporary radio and reached number one on both the pop and R&B charts. "Three Times a Lady" was their first number one pop hit, and Lionel Richie was being recognized as a major crossover star. Not everyone liked "Three Times a Lady" -- some people found the song to be much too sappy, and R&B purists argued that The Commodores were watering their music down. But even if "Three Times a Lady" isn't your cup of tea, Natural High still has a lot to offer R&B fans. "X-Rated Movie," "Such a Woman," and "I Like What You Do" are exhilarating examples of hardcore funk, and those who appreciate artists like Heatwave and the Brothers Johnson will find a lot to admire about "Fire Girl" and "Flying High" (both of which are sleek examples of the sophisticated funk style). Meanwhile, "Say Yeah" (featuring Richie) is a first-rate R&B slow jam. Whatever your opinion of "Three Times a Lady" -- whether you love it or hate it -- the fact is that Natural High has more plusses than minuses and was a generally respectable, if imperfect, addition to The Commodores' catalog.

The Commodores navigated the musical seas from soulful funk to pop ballads to become the premier R&B-pop group of the late '70s and early '80s. They had so many hits in so many styles, Rolling Stone called them 'the Black Beatles." Commodores hits like "Brick House," "Three Times A Lady," "Still," "Easy" and "Nightshift" remain among the most popular and recognizable songs of the era.

Its six original members (Richie, Milan Williams, Ronald LaPread, William King Jr., Thomas McClary, Walter "Clyde" Orange) met at Alabama's Tuskegee Institute in 1968, choosing their name by randomly dropping a finger onto a dictionary page. Building a reputation as a hard funk party band, in 1971 the group won an audition for the coveted opening slot for a major Jackson 5 tour. As Motown labelmates, the Commodores toured with the Jackson 5 for two-and-a-half years before they would release an album. 

The Commodores had achieved crossover pop stardom. "Sweet Love" and "Sail On" were Top 10 R&B and pop, and "Old-Fashion Love" Top 10 R&B/Top 20 pop. In the early '80s, "Lady (You Bring Me Up)" and "Oh No" also went Top 10 on both charts. But by 1982 Richie had exited. Replacing him with J.D. Nicholas, the Commodores hit once more with the #1 R&B/#3 pop "Nightshift," a tribute to legendary soul singers Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson.