Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 26, 2026

Dancing on the Ceiling

Dancing on the Ceiling is the third solo studio album by American singer Lionel Richie, released by Motown on August 5, 1986. The album was originally to be titled Say You, Say Me, after the Academy Award-winning track of the same name, but it was renamed after Richie rewrote several songs for the album. Released to generally positive reviews, the album – Richie's second with session guitarist Carlos Rios – topped the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 4 million copies. Following Dancing on the Ceiling and the consequent Outrageous tour, Richie went on a long hiatus, not releasing an album of entirely new material for another ten years.

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Dancing on the Ceiling
Studio album by
Lionel Richie
ReleasedAugust 5, 19861
Recorded1985–1986
Studio
Genre
Length46:27
LabelMotown
Producer
Lionel Richie chronology
Can't Slow Down
(1983) 		Dancing on the Ceiling
(1986) 		Back to Front
(1992)
Singles from Dancing on the Ceiling
  1. "Say You, Say Me"
    Released: October 19852
  2. "Dancing on the Ceiling"
    Released: July 1986
  3. "Love Will Conquer All"
    Released: September 1986
  4. "Ballerina Girl" / "Deep River Woman"
    Released: November 1986
  5. "Se La"
    Released: March 1987

Dancing on the Ceiling is the third solo studio album by American singer Lionel Richie, released by Motown on August 5, 1986.3 The album was originally to be titled Say You, Say Me, after the Academy Award-winning track of the same name, but it was renamed after Richie rewrote several songs for the album. Released to generally positive reviews, the album – Richie's second with session guitarist Carlos Rios – topped the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 4 million copies. Following Dancing on the Ceiling and the consequent Outrageous tour, Richie went on a long hiatus, not releasing an album of entirely new material for another ten years.

Background and recording

Richie rose to prominence as a member of the Commodores in the late 1970s, but after tensions arose in the band, he left in 1982. His first two solo albums were runaway successes: Lionel Richie (1982) sold 4 million copies, while Can't Slow Down (1983) sold 10 million, and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.4

Recording for Dancing on the Ceiling began in 1985. "Say You, Say Me" was used in that year's film White Nights for which it had won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.5 Work on the album was done while Richie was finalizing his work with "We Are the World".6

During early production, the album was intended to be titled Say You, Say Me4 and released in December 1985.6 However, Richie found that he did not "want to do those songs" owing to the social conditions he saw, and began rewriting it "to express what [he] felt the world was boxing itself into".6 Ultimately, the album's title was changed to Dancing on the Ceiling, as the titular song was Richie's next single.4 Recording for the album took over a year and a half,7 and Richie stated that he tried to include a mixture of sounds.6

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar8
The Village VoiceB+9
The Washington Post(mixed)10

Dancing on the Ceiling has generally received positive reviews. Anthony Decurtis, reviewing in Rolling Stone, gave the album a positive review, writing that it "sets an impressive standard for mainstream pop craft", encompassing Richie's "finest qualities".11 He especially praised the track "Say You, Say Me", but found "Ballerina Girl" a "virtual anthology of Richie's worst saccharine excesses".11 Los Angeles Times critic Robert Hilburn found that "We Are the World" had left Richie "with a deeper sense of social purpose, and his attempts to infuse that sense into his traditional approach brings a tension to the new album that makes Dancing on the Ceiling his most satisfying collection."12

Robert Christgau of The Village Voice ranked the album a B+. He found that it provided "lulling, almost mantralike entertainment" with "a knack for tune that puts [Richie] over the fine line between lulling and boring". His criticism centered on "Ballerina" for its mawkishness and lack of interest in some of the faster songs.9 Meanwhile, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic retrospectively gave Dancing on the Ceiling four out of five stars, summarizing the album as "a solid, enjoyable affair" but a "comedown" after Richie's previous albums, with its songs generally longer than necessary and the lyrics mixing "silliness ... and sappiness".8

Chart performance

The album sold 4 million copies in the US4 and it became the first album to be simultaneously certified gold, platinum, double platinum, and triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America since the institution established double platinum in 1984.13 In South Africa, initial shipments were 60,000 prerelease units.14 To promote the album Richie went on an Outrageous 40-city concert tour, entitled "Outrageous". The first concert was in Phoenix, Arizona.7

Dancing on the Ceiling peaked at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 200. The title track was the album's second biggest single, reaching No.2 in the US and No.7 in the UK Singles Chart, falling behind "Say You, Say Me"'s earlier performance. Other Top 10 singles from the album include "Love Will Conquer All" (US No.9, UK No.45) and "Ballerina Girl" (US No.7, UK No.17). Meanwhile, "Deep River Woman" reached No.10 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart.15

Legacy

Following the success of Dancing on the Ceiling, Richie withdrew almost entirely from the music industry for six years, which Steve Huey of AllMusic suggests was "quitting while he was ahead".4 He released a compilation album – with some new material – entitled Back to Front in 1992, with his first all-new release, Louder Than Words, following in 1996. As of 2013, none of his successive albums have been as successful as Lionel Richie, Can't Slow Down, and Dancing on the Ceiling.4 A remastered edition of Dancing on the Ceiling was released in 2003, featuring four bonus tracks.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Lionel Richie, except where noted. All tracks are produced by Lionel Richie and James Anthony Carmichael, except "Night Train (Smooth Alligator)," produced by Narada Michael Walden.

Side one
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Dancing on the Ceiling"
  • Richie
  • Carlos Rios
  • Michael Frenchik
4:30
2."Se La"
5:22
3."Ballerina Girl" 3:38
4."Don't Stop"
  • Richie
  • John Barnes
7:43
Side two
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
5."Deep River Woman"  4:35
6."Love Will Conquer All"
  • Richie
  • Phillinganes
5:40
7."Tonight Will Be Alright"  5:06
8."Say You, Say Me"  4:00
Total length:40:32
CD/cassette bonus track
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
9."Night Train (Smooth Alligator)"
4:59
Total length:46:54
2003 reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
10."Dancing on the Ceiling" (12" version) 
  • Richie
  • Rios
  • Frenchik
7:10
11."Se La" (12" remix by Steve Thompson & Michael Barbiero) 
  • Richie
  • Phillinganes
8:12
12."Don't Stop" 
  • Richie
  • Barnes
9:40
13."Love Will Conquer All" (Remix by Shep Pettibone)
  • Richie
  • Weil
  • Richie
  • Phillinganes
7:01
Total length:79:01

Personnel

Credits lifted from the album's liner notes.16

Musicians

  • Lionel Richie – lead vocals, rhythm arrangements (1–3, 5–8), vocal arrangements (1–8), choir arrangements (2), arrangements (4), keyboards (6–8), drum machine (6)
  • John Barnes – acoustic piano (1), synthesizers (4), Synclavier (4), arrangements (4)
  • Michael Boddicker – synthesizers (1–3, 5–9)
  • Carlos Rios – synthesizers (1), guitars (1, 2, 7), rhythm arrangements (1), acoustic guitar (8)
  • Steve MacMillan – door creek effects (1)
  • Ken Caillat – sound effects (1)
  • Tom Jones – sound effects (1)
  • Greg Phillinganes – keyboards (2, 5, 7, 8), synthesizers (2, 6), drum machine (2, 6), rhythm arrangements (2, 6), Minimoog bass (8)
  • Michael Lang – keyboards (3)
  • Neil Larsen – keyboards (3)
  • Preston Glass – synthesizers (9)
  • Cory Lerios – synthesizers (9)
  • Tim May – guitars (3, 5, 7, 8)
  • Charles Fearing – guitars (4)
  • Louis Shelton – guitar solo (5)
  • David Cochrane – guitars (6)
  • Eric Clapton – guitar solo (7)
  • Steve Lukather – guitars (8)
  • Vernon "Ice" Black – guitar solo (9)
  • Neil Stubenhaus – bass guitar (1)
  • Nathan East – bass guitar (2, 3, 6)
  • Joe Chemay – bass guitar (5, 7)
  • Abraham Laboriel – bass guitar (8)
  • Randy Jackson – bass guitar (9)
  • John Robinson – drums (1, 8)
  • Paul Leim – drums (2, 3, 5–7), drum machine (8), additional drums (9)
  • Narada Michael Walden – drums (9), drum programming (9), arrangements (9), vocal arrangements (9)
  • Paulinho da Costa – percussion (2, 4, 6–9)
  • Sheila E. – percussion (4)
  • James Anthony Carmichael – horn arrangements (1, 7), rhythm arrangements (1–3, 5–8), string arrangements (3, 5, 8)

Background vocals

  • Maxi Anderson (Tracks 1, 2)
  • Billie Barnum (Tracks 1, 2)
  • Melinda Chatman (Tracks 1, 2)
  • David Cochrane (Tracks 1, 2)
  • Kevin Dorsey (Tracks 1, 2)
  • Karen Jackson (Tracks 1, 2)
  • Marlena Jeter (Tracks 1, 2)
  • Fred Law (Tracks 1, 2)
  • Janice Marie (Tracks 1, 2)
  • Richard Marx (Tracks 1, 2, 7)
  • Rick Nelson (Tracks 1, 2)
  • Brenda Richie (Tracks 1, 2)
  • Anita Sherman (Tracks 1, 2)
  • Karen Siegel (Tracks 1, 2)
  • Alfie Silas (Tracks 1, 2)
  • Phyllis St. James (Tracks 1, 2)
  • Stephanie Taylor (Tracks 1, 2)
  • Deborah Thomas (Tracks 1, 2, 7)
  • Carmen Twillie (Tracks 1, 2)
  • Julia Waters Tillman (Tracks 1, 2, 7)
  • Maxine Waters Willard (Tracks 1, 2, 7)
  • Leslie Smith (Track 2)
  • Lionel Richie (Track 4)
  • Suzee Ikeda (Track 4)
  • Marva King (Tracks 4, 6, 9)
  • Alabama (Track 5)
  • Kitty Beethoven (Track 9)
  • Jennifer Hall (Track 9)

Hoopa Hollers on "Dancing on the Ceiling":

  • James Anthony Carmichael
  • David Egerton
  • Wayne Hargrave
  • Linda Jenner
  • Steve MacMillan
  • Greg Phillinganes
  • Kathi Pogoda
  • Cheryl Pyle
  • Carlos Rios
  • Maximo Rios
  • Dave Rosen
  • Kelly Ryan
  • Wibert Terrell

Production

  • Producers – Lionel Richie (all tracks); James Anthony Carmichael (all tracks); Narada Michael Walden (Track 9).
  • Production Assistant – Brenda Harvey-Richie
  • Production Direction – Suzee Wendy Ikeda
  • Engineers – Calvin Harris (Tracks 1–8); David Frazer and Gordon Lyon (Track 9).
  • Additional Recording on Tracks 1–8 – David Egerton and Fred Law
  • Assistant Recording on Tracks 1–8 – David Egerton
  • Assistant Engineers – Karen Siegel and Mark Smith (all tracks); Dana Jon Chappelle and Stuart Hirotsu (Track 9).
  • Dimensional recording by Spherical Sound, Inc. on Track #1.
  • Mixed by Calvin Harris
  • Mix Assistants – Fred Law and Steve MacMillan
  • Mastered by Brian Gardner at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, CA).
  • Art Direction – Johnny Lee
  • Photography – Aaron Rapoport

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia — 218,00037
Belgium (BRMA)38 Gold 25,000*
Brazil — 200,00039
Canada (Music Canada)40 3× Platinum 300,000^
France (SNEP)41 2× Gold 200,000*
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)42 Platinum 20,000*
Netherlands (NVPI)43 Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)44 Platinum 15,000^
Spain (Promusicae)45 Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)46 Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)47 2× Platinum 600,000^
United States (RIAA)48 4× Platinum 4,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

References

  1. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1986/BB-1986-08-09.pdf
  2. "RIAA". Recording Industry Association of America.
  3. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1986/BB-1986-08-09.pdf
  4. Huey, Lionel Richie.
  5. Sloan, What a Feeling.
  6. Berry 1986, "Richie 'conquers all'".
  7. Moleski 1986, p. 24.
  8. Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "Lionel Richie: Dancing on the Ceiling". AllMusic.
  9. Christgau, Robert. "Lionel Richie: Dancing on the Ceiling". The Village Voice.
  10. Joyce, Mike (August 17, 1986). "Recordings". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  11. Decurtis 1986, Lionel Richie.
  12. Hilburn, Robert (August 10, 1986). "Richie Advances the Politics of Celebration". Los Angeles Times.
  13. Grein 1986, p. 5.
  14. "Richie LP Hits Big In South Africa". Billboard. September 13, 1986. p. 77. Retrieved June 1, 2020 – via Google Books.
  15. AllMusic, Dancing on the Ceiling.
  16. Dancing on the Ceiling (booklet). Motown. 1986.
  17. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 252. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  18. "Austriancharts.at – Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
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  20. "Dutchcharts.nl – Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  21. "Offiziellecharts.de – Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
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  24. "Swedishcharts.com – Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  25. "Swisscharts.com – Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  26. "Lionel Richie Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  27. "Lionel Richie Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  28. "Lionel Richie Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  29. "RPM Top 100 Albums of '86". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  30. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts 1986". offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  31. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  32. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  33. "RPM Top 100 Albums of '87". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  34. "Top Selling Albums of 1987 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  35. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1987". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
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  37. "The Majors" (PDF). Billboard. January 30, 1988. p. A-15. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  38. "International - Brussels" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 16. April 25, 1987. p. 7. Retrieved November 27, 2019 – via American Radio History.
  39. "A explosão, o musical". Jornal do Brasil. October 19, 1986. p. 54. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  40. "Canadian album certifications – Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling". Music Canada.
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  42. "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1988". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  43. "Dutch album certifications – Lional Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved July 5, 2019. Enter Dancing on the Ceiling in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1987 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
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  45. Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990 (in Spanish). Iberautor Promociones Culturales. 2005. ISBN 8480486392.
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  48. "American album certifications – Lionel Richie – Dancing on the Ceiling". Recording Industry Association of America.
Works cited

Works cited