"You Are" | ||||
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Single by Lionel Richie | ||||
from the album Lionel Richie | ||||
A-side | "You Are" | |||
B-side | "You Mean More to Me" | |||
Released | January 1983 | |||
Format | 7" (45 rpm) | |||
Recorded | 1981 | |||
Genre | Disco-dance | |||
Length |
5:05 4:05 (7") |
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Label | Motown | |||
Songwriter(s) | Lionel Richie Brenda Harvey Richie |
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Producer(s) | Lionel Richie James Anthony Carmichael |
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Lionel Richie singles chronology | ||||
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"You Are" is the title of a popular song from 1983 by the singer-songwriter Lionel Richie. "You Are" was written by Richie and his then-wife, Brenda Harvey Richie. It appears on his self-titled debut solo album, which came out in 1982. Resuming where he left off with D-flat major tunes with Commodores' "Sail On", "Still" and "Truly".
Released as the follow-up single to his number-one hit song "Truly", "You Are" reached the top five on three major Billboard music charts. On the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart, the song spent two weeks at number four in early 1983. It peaked at number two on the R&B chart and spent six weeks at number one on the adult contemporary chart. In the United Kingdom, the song reached number 43 on the British pop chart.
"You Are" is a romantic song, although it has a more upbeat arrangement than many of Richie's slower ballads, including a horn section. Before achieving popularity for his own music, singer Richard Marx was a studio musician who can be heard singing backing vocals on "You Are" as well as other songs from Richie's debut album. Kenny Rogers and Jimmy Connors are also heard on backing vocals.