Lionel Richie, twice-divorced and currently single, says he's a lot more methodical these days when it comes to dating.

"I find myself being very cautious," Richie told the Sun while in Toronto this week, during a tour stop to promote his latest album, Coming Home.

"I used to be very spontaneous, like, 'Okay, that's gorgeous.' And now I find myself going a little slower now, a little cooler now: 'Let me figure this out.' 'Cause you're looking for a little bit more depth. A little bit more substance, as opposed to (someone) saying, 'Oh, my God, I have all your records, Mr. Richie.'"

Still, Richie says he's lucky if he gets an actual phone number, as he threatened to do from the stage on Monday night at Roy Thomson Hall.

"I'm having a wonderful time," Richie said. "But I now understand one part of the equation I forgot about. When you tour and you're single and famous, they rush you out the back door, 'Get in the car!'

"The only people that have the fun in all of rock 'n' roll are the band and crew. And I keep calling their phones going, 'Did you see the girl in the third row? Did somebody say hello to her?' 'Yeah, Lionel, we're looking for her right now (but) she's gone!' It is so funny."