“Too Hot Ta Trot” by The Commodores

The Commodores dropped this underappreciated groove nugget in November of 1977. The band definitely delivered the funk on this rousing cut. Walter Orange handles lead-vocal duties, serving up ample helpings of gritty funk in the process. The track features blazing guitar licks, a wicked beat, brawny bass and super-charged horn charts.

The band was on fire during this period. Earlier that year, they released their hugely successful self-titled fifth album, which contains the classic hits “Easy” and “Brick House.” And they were selling out large venues across the country and abroad, thrilling audiences with their dynamic brand of Southern-fried funk and Lionel Richie’s superb balladry. 

“Too Hot Ta Trot” was written by all six Commodore members. It was co-produced by James Anthony Carmichael and the Commodores. It topped Billboard's R&B singles chart, peaked at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100, and climbed to #38 on the UK singles chart.

The Commodores performed “Too Hot Ta Trot” in the 1978 disco comedy Thank God It’s Friday, which starred Donna Summer, Debra Winger and Jeff Goldblum. It was also a studio single from their album Commodores -- Live! (November 1977). It had a strong showing on the charts, peaking at #3 on the Billboard 200 album chart and #2 on Billboard’s R&B album chart. It also saw significant chart action in other parts of the world: The Netherlands (#7),  New Zealand (#8), Canada (#26) and the UK (#60).

“Too Hot Ta Trot” was also included on the Commodores’ 2001 compilation album Anthology.

The band lineup at the time they recorded “Too Hot Ta Trot” was Walter Orange (drums, vocals and keyboards), Ronald LaPread (bass and trumpet), Lionel Richie (vocals, saxophone, piano and drums), Milan Williams (keyboards, trombone and rhythm guitar), Williams King (trumpet, rhythm guitar, synthesizer and vocals) and Thomas McClary (lead guitar). 

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