OT: Quincy Jones R.I.P. (1933-2024)

[zephonic]

The Wiz is much maligned, but I honestly feel Q did some of his best orchestral work there. My mom took me to see that when I was like six or so, and it blew me away. It was the first non-classical music I ever heard. Years later my aunt had the soundtrack on a cassette and I played that non-stop, such a gem.

 

 

 

[AROIOS]

2 hours ago, tapes said:

 

But there are more than three, I think? 😀 Albums like Mellow Madness (1975), Body Heat (1974), You’ve Got It Bad, Girl (1973), and even Sounds…and Stuff Like That (1978). They all have ”pop-soul songs” of the day with a variety of singers. And of course Back On The Block (1989) and Q’s Jook Joint (1995). 

Yup, I should have been more specific. His 70's albums didn't do much for me. The Dude was his first album that got me hooked. Then came BOTB and QJJ, both of which I loved.

[tapes]

5 hours ago, zephonic said:

The Wiz is much maligned, but I honestly feel Q did some of his best orchestral work there. My mom took me to see that when I was like six or so, and it blew me away. It was the first non-classical music I ever heard. Years later my aunt had the soundtrack on a cassette and I played that non-stop, such a gem.

 

 

 

 

The story goes that Q ”hated” doing The Wiz, but would do it as a favor for Sidney Lumet. And it’s on the set where he met Michael. MJ asked for suggestions on who could produce his solo album. Q offered to do it himself - although the label thought he could be ”too jazzy” 😄. The result was Off The Wall in 1979. 

 

I still have the soundtrack as well, on double vinyl with the poster…

[zephonic]

Yes, that is in his autobiography.

 

 

But Tschaikovsky felt the same way about “The Nutcracker”!

[tapes]

A bit more keyboard-related, "Tell Me A Bedtime Story (Now)" (the Herbie Hancock instrumental tune with vocals and lyrics) from the album Sounds...and Stuff Like That!. The cover in itself is great, it has that gorgeous Quincy vocal/production magic sheen on it, but the wild part is Herbie's Rhodes solo which Harry Lookofsky transcribed and then orchestrated for strings to play note for note! 😄 

 

 

[zephonic]

Yeah, the first time I heard that one my jaw was on the floor! I love playing the original but Q did something great with it.

[marino]

 

Probably not his best album, but somehow, I'm fond of "Back on the Block", because it was the soundtrack of a specific moment of my life... regardless, rest in peace, sweet colossus of jazz, soul and pop. Music would desperately need another giant like you... but sadly, nobody even slightly comparable in sight.

 

 

[zephonic]

Yes, that record was a big influence at a pivotal time in my life.

[allan_evett]

What an amazing life. And the level of craft and soul he brought have been a constant inspiration.  Thank you, Mr. Jones!

 

[Bill H.]

13 hours ago, tapes said:

 

The story goes that Q ”hated” doing The Wiz, but would do it as a favor for Sidney Lumet. And it’s on the set where he met Michael. MJ asked for suggestions on who could produce his solo album. Q offered to do it himself - although the label thought he could be ”too jazzy” 😄. The result was Off The Wall in 1979. 

 

I still have the soundtrack as well, on double vinyl with the poster…

 

And Sidney Lumet only got the job because John Badham - the original director - quit. And he quit because Diana Ross - then in her 30s - muscled her way into the lead role of Dorothy. Apparently she was no one's first choice, but she got to the money man - producer Rob Cohen - and he got it done. 

 

The Wiz was the most expensive film musical up until that time, and was a huge failure at the box office. It got Quincy and Michael together though - definitely a good thing. 

 

Tawdry details can be found here:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wiz_(film)

[cedar]

On 11/5/2024 at 2:46 AM, tapes said:

A bit more keyboard-related, "Tell Me A Bedtime Story (Now)" (the Herbie Hancock instrumental tune with vocals and lyrics) from the album Sounds...and Stuff Like That!. The cover in itself is great, it has that gorgeous Quincy vocal/production magic sheen on it, but the wild part is Herbie's Rhodes solo which Harry Lookofsky transcribed and then orchestrated for strings to play note for note! 😄 

 

 

 

Wow! I never heard this version of one of my favorite tunes.  Very cool.

 

[tapes]

21 hours ago, marino said:

 

Probably not his best album, but somehow, I'm fond of "Back on the Block", because it was the soundtrack of a specific moment of my life... regardless, rest in peace, sweet colossus of jazz, soul and pop. Music would desperately need another giant like you... but sadly, nobody even slightly comparable in sight.

 

 

 

 

BotB has a ton of good. Yes, it sounds very "1989" with its synth horn stabs, and the raps are hopelessly dated (and "polite", in a way), but overall it's very very good.

 

The fact that he was able to pull off a cohesive album with a cast that included at least Miles, Dizzy, Zawinul, Benson, Herbie, Ella F., Sarah V., Big Daddy Kane, Ice-T, Al. B Sure, Take 6, James Ingram, El DeBarge, Ray Charles, Tevin Campbell, Barry White, Bobby McFerrin...and who knows who else - was an incredible feat! Winning Album of the Year, by the way.

 

"One Man Woman" with Siedah Garrett is an incredible track! I also like the new version of "Birdland", and the Brothers Johnson remakes ("Tomorrow" and "I'll Be Good To You"). The accappella tune ("Wee B. Doinit") with Bobby McFerrin is fun. "Secret Garden" is the quintessential 90's R&B slow jam, no doubt about it.

 

My favourite track is probably "The Places You Find Love" with Siedah and an African choir.

[tapes]

Regarding BotB, there was also a documentary in 1990 called "Listen Up! The Lives of Quincy Jones", shot during the making of the album. It's more like a generic Q biography with mostly talking head interviews, but they interviewed pretty much most of Q's friends and colleagues, including MJ and Sinatra, and all the folks on the album.

 

It's worth hunting down for. They also had a coffee table book with it (which I have 😄), which also included a soundtrack CD. The doc was briefly on YouTube, but got pulled down.

 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102315/

[tapes]

20 hours ago, allan_evett said:

What an amazing life. And the level of craft and soul he brought have been a constant inspiration.  Thank you, Mr. Jones!

 

 

I was just thinking about this, sort of. Surely he'll get tributes of all kinds (at least at the Grammys), but when you think about it - he was also a master of putting together these highest quality concerts with multiple artists, inaugurations and all kinds of specials, in his own unique way. Who could do justice to the man himself, in his way, and all the things he managed to do in his life? Literally from the big band stand to a movie soundtrack to Thriller. Phillinganes and/or David Foster will probably get the call, though.

[ProfD]

15 minutes ago, tapes said:

Who could do justice to the man himself...Phillinganes and/or David Foster will probably get the call, though.

There is no shortage of living talent capable of pulling off a tribute to Quincy Jones. 

 

The hardest part will be deciding who does not get included in the tribute ensemble.😎

[MAJUSCULE]

1 hour ago, tapes said:

 

I was just thinking about this, sort of. Surely he'll get tributes of all kinds (at least at the Grammys), but when you think about it - he was also a master of putting together these highest quality concerts with multiple artists, inaugurations and all kinds of specials, in his own unique way. Who could do justice to the man himself, in his way, and all the things he managed to do in his life? Literally from the big band stand to a movie soundtrack to Thriller. Phillinganes and/or David Foster will probably get the call, though.

 

Heard someone say that Q's greatest instrument was his telephone. He knew who to call at all times, and no one would ever dare turn him down. He'd get the right people in the room and stand back to let the magic happen.