Still

"Still" is the story of a couple who decide to end their marriage to save their friendship. Commodores member Lionel Richie got the idea for this song from the failing marriage of his childhood friend William "Smitty" Smith. After Smith's marriage broke up, the two buddies had a long conversation from 9 p.m. to sunrise in which they agreed that it's better to divorce as friends than stay married and hate each other.

Like "Three Times A Lady," "Still" went to #1 on the Hot 100 and R&B charts, continuing their string of hits in the late '70s. After Lionel Richie left in 1982, they had just one more big hit: "Nightshift" in 1985.

Explaining why he wrote so many ballads for the Commodores, Richie explained that there was competition in the group to write songs, and every member would present songs for each album. Since his bandmates usually wrote up-tempo songs, he would counter with ballads, as they would inevitably need a slow song or two to balance out the album.