( CNN ) -- Lionel Richie is back and ready to hit the stage . The crooner is gearing up for his `` All The Hits All Night Long '' North American tour , which kicks off Wednesday in Hollywood , Florida . CNN caught up with Richie at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles during the singer 's final rehearsals for the 19-date tour . It 's there the music legend advised fans not to be fooled by the tour 's name . `` If they 're waiting for all night long , let me tell you , I gave that up a long time ago , '' Richie told CNN . `` I always used to say to them , all night long went all night long when 'All Night Long ' was out . Now it 's down to a fierce 30 minutes , but if you want anything after that , I can pretty much guarantee an hour-45 to two hours solid . '' Richie promises the tour will be a mix of classic hits and fan favorites , ranging from his Commodores days to his 2012 release , `` Tuskeegee . '' To keep fans on their toes , the hit maker has a list of 14 songs to choose from each night . Richie compares planning out his shows to coaching a professional sports game . `` It 's like going to a football game and you know the plays , '' he said . `` So when I call out a different play , they 'll go to it . '' Richie 's last album found him recreating his biggest hits as collaborations with some of country music 's top names . Who does he want to jump on stage with him during this tour ? The list is extensive . `` Bruno Mars . Come on Bruno , where are you ? Sting . I could do Kenny Chesney any day of the week . Tim McGraw . I 'm sure these guys were in the Commodores at some time . I just have to go back to see if their pictures were there , because they 're so familiar . The beautiful part about it is that the one thing they say to me when they meet me is , ' I know every song . ' '' With Mars confirmed to perform at the 2014 Super Bowl halftime show , Richie has no doubts the 27-year-old will do a great job . `` My boy is going to kill it . Are you kidding ? '' Richie said . `` Listen , Bruno is the real deal . And what I love about him the most is that he 's a songwriter . He 'll take care of business . I 'm not worried . '' As a music industry veteran , Richie has some sage advice for those up-and-comers who resort to shock tactics when hitting the stage . `` I 've always said this -- this is my little anecdote -- but once you start taking off your clothes , that means you 've got to have a hit record , '' he said . `` You 've got to back it up with something . My philosophy is -- I 'm the other way around . Give me the hit record first and you do n't have to take off your clothes . Taking off the clothes means , ' I need that hit record . ' '' The `` Hello '' singer admits he 's still surprised to see younger fans in the crowds at his concerts . `` There are days I have to stop , blink , and turn around just for a moment to say , 'OK , that 's right , it has been that long , ' '' Richie said . `` There was the 21-year-old in the front row when the Commodores started and there 's the 21-year-old in the front row now . '' `` The greatest thrill of this to me is what started out to be just , 'Can we meet some girls on campus at the university ? ' ended up being a career , and the songs still work . The music 's been around long enough where the next generation is taking possession of it . ''
Richie kicks off his new tour Wednesday in Hollywood , Florida . He says it will be a mix of classic hits and fan favorites . Richie says young artists are going for shock value .