How Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson's Album Collaborations Changed Music History

Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson’s collaborations are some of the greatest in music history.

Jones, the legendary producer who died on November 3 at the age of 91, worked with many artists during his decades-long career, including Jackson, who died in 2009. Their collaborations, From the wall, Thriller and Bad can be credited with crowning Jackson the King of Pop.

According to The Hollywood Reporterthey met when Jackson was 12 years old at Sammy Davis’ house. “I need you to help me find a producer,” Jones recalled Jackson saying. – I am preparing to make my first solo album. And the rest was history.

The pair’s music releases include “Billie Jean,” “Bad,” “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” and of course “Thriller,” which became one of the best-selling albums of all time. Jones and Jackson earned nine No. 1 songs and sold millions of albums together.

Thriller won Jones a Grammy for Album of the Year along with Record of the Year for “Beat It” at the 1983 awards.

The life of Quincy Jones in photos

Their work together goes beyond Jackson’s albums. In 1985, Jones produced “We Are the World” with help from Jackson. The single helped humanitarian aid in the US and Africa and raised $75 million and took home four Grammys in 1986.

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“I promise you that in 50, 75, 100 years, the music will be remembered,” Jones said of Jackson in 2009. Los Angeles Times op-ed after his death.

“It’s no coincidence that almost three decades later, wherever I go in the world, in every club and karaoke bar, ‘Billie Jean’, ‘Beat It’, ‘Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,’ ‘Rock with You’ and ‘Thriller’.”

Jones and Jackson’s legacies alone are impressive, but together they cemented themselves in many historic ways. Here’s a look back at their subsequent collaborations.

Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones in 1984.

Bettmann/Getty

From the wall

The 1979 album, considered a turning point in Jackson’s career, included hits such as “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” from the wedding — a six-minute song that was unusual for radio stations, according to IndieWire — and “Rock with You.”

“Quincy Jones produced it and we had a ball,” Jackson said of the album in an interview with Blues & Soul via Rolling Stone. “It was the smoothest album I’ve ever been a part of. There was so much love, it was amazing. Everyone worked together so easily.”

Jones’ expertise helped Jackson define his musical style apart from his famous family band, The Jackson 5. “The ballads were what made From the wall Michael Jackson album,” Jackson said via Rolling Stone. “I did ballads with him [my] brothers, but they were never too keen on them and did them more as a concession to me than anything else.”

“Michael moved from the realm of bubblegum pop and planted his flag at the heart of the musical pulse of the ’80s,” Jones wrote in Weather in Los Angeles 2009 “but what came next, I don’t think any of us were ready.”

Rolling StoneA review of the album in 1979 said that it “represents discofied post-Motown glamor at its classiest”, declaring it a “triumph”. The album credits Paul McCartney for “Girlfriend” and Stevie Wonder for “I Can’t Help It,” making his stardom even more impressive.

Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson in 2001.

Kevin Kane/WireImage

Thriller

Jones recalled that work on the 1982 album as a whole was grueling, although the album’s title track became a hit.

“When we were finishing ‘Beat It,’ we had three studios,” Jones said Rolling Stone 2009, after Jackson’s death that year. “We were Eddie Van Halen in one; Michael was in another, singing a part through a cardboard tube; and we were mixing in another. We worked five nights and five days, without sleep. And at one point, the speakers were overloaded and caught fire you!”

Despite the intense atmosphere, Jones said The Guardian in 2014, things were “as loose as possible!” working on an album. “We’d joke and have fun. Are you kidding? You’ve got to know how to have fun. If you tense up, the music will sound like nothing.” I used to say, “Always leave a little room for God to walk in the room.” ”

Thriller includes “Beat It,” “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” “Billie Jean” and “PYT (Pretty Young Thing).” Diversity reports that Thriller sold more than 110 million copies worldwide.

“Where lesser artists need a string section or a heavy synth sound, Jackson only needs to sing to convey deep, heartfelt emotion,” Rolling Stone he said of Jones’ production of the 1983 album.

Jackson also won eight Grammys for Thriller, including album of the year and album of the year, and broke through globally.

Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson in 1983.

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getto

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Bad

For the 1987 album, Jones took inspiration from Jackson’s life for their final collaboration. “All the turmoil [in Jackson’s life] started to develop, so I said I think it’s time for him to make a very honest album by writing all the songs. I suggested it for Bad,” Jones said Rolling Stone in 2017.

“I loved it every time we went into the studio, and that was a lot. We used to stay up five days and nights without sleep when we were playing.” He added. “They carried out other engineers on stretchers. I smoked 180 cigarettes a day. I don’t smoke anymore.”

Jackson was 29 years old at the time and embarked on his first solo concert tour that year.

According to VH1, Jackson reportedly wrote 60 songs for the album, but Jones talked him into making an 11-song album. It spawned songs like the catchy pop songs “Smooth Criminal” and “The Way You Make Me Feel” along with more soulful songs like “Man in the Mirror”.

“Mr. Jackson and his longtime producer Quincy Jones have crafted synth-driven arrangements that are crisp yet pack a solid punch,” The New York Times he said of the album in 1987. “Amidst the modern electronica, there’s a taste of older soul music, with the undulating groove and bluesy harmonies of ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’ and the gospel fervor of ‘Man in the Mirror.’ ”

”Bad does not tend to emotional extremes so much as Thriller“, the publication’s review added. “It’s a well-made, infectious dance record from an enigmatic pop star.”

Bad it has sold an estimated 45 million copies worldwide.

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Source: HIS Education