Dancing on the Ceiling: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A long-playing record of the album Dancing on the Ceiling. This object is comprised of a long-playing record (a) recorded by Lionel Richie, an album jacket (b) and a paper sleeve (c). The vinyl disc (a) has a round blue and white label. The bottom two-thirds of the label is blue with white text. The top third depicts a road map around the Detroit area in blue and white. Superimposed over the map is the word [MOTOWN] in rainbow colors. The jacket (b) cover depicts a photographic image of Richie shown from the waist up. He wears a white coat over a white button-down shirt layered over a grey shirt. His right arm is held across his middle. Across the top margin, in white, text reads [LIONIEL RICHIE]. In the upper right corner next to the Richie’s head in multicolored letters is the text [Dancing / on the / Ceiling]. The jacket opens like a book to reveal a full-length photographic image of the Richie, spread across the two leaves. He is wearing a long grey overcoat over white pants and white button-down shirt and a grey shirt. He wears off-white loafers. He stands with his feet apart and his hands in his pockets. The back of the jacket shows Richie wearing the same long gray overcoat over white shirt and pants. He stands with his eyes closed and his left hand in the air. There is a list of songs along the bottom half of the jacket’s left margin. The paper sleeve (c) has a white background with pale blue text on both the front and back. The text is arranged in columns and is lyrics to the songs and album production information. The album's release number is 6158 ML.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1986
• Published by: Motown Record Corporation, American, founded 1959
• Recorded by: Lionel Richie, American, born 1949
• Produced by: James Anthony Carmichael, American, born 1941
• Produced by: Narada Michael Walden, American, born 1952
• Type: record covers
• Type: long-playing records
• Medium: (a. record): vinyl with ink on paper
• Medium: (b. jacket): ink on paper
• Medium: (c. sleeve): ink on paper
• Dimensions: Diameter (a. record): 11 7/8 in. (30.2 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (b. jacket): 12 1/4 × 12 1/4 in. (31.1 × 31.1 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (c. sleeve): 11 7/8 × 11 7/8 in. (30.2 × 30.2 cm)
• Place made: United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Popular music
• Topic: Rhythm and blues (Music)
• Topic: Singers (Musicians)
• Object number: 2015.189.28abc
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © 1986 Motown Record Corp. Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.