On Tuesday night, before his weekly Jazz Show on Radio Two, Jamie said to Simon Mayo that he was paying tribute to Quincy Jones on the eve of his 85th birthday. Mayo asked him about the comments Quincy made about that pop group - you know the one - and his response was “He's Quincy Jones, he can say what he likes” and “Good for him.”
There's been lots of discussion on social media along the lines of what has Quincy Jones ever done for us? Apart from the Jazz, like Dizzy and many others, aside from some of the most memorable theme tunes ever, like Heat of the Night and Ironside, apart from the small matter of Frank Sinatra, aside from the Brothers Johnson, Patti Austin and Benson, apart from Miles' return to the music he made with Gil Evans shortly after his death, what did Q ever do for us to compare to the Beatles?
Ben E king once said that Black America couldn't compete with the Beatles and their haircuts. Maybe if we'd had Michael Jackson.
Q and MJ destroyed them at their own game with Off the Wall and Thriller.
Steve T.
5 comments :
To our BSH ‘prog rock’ correspondent: And I Love Her, Anytime at All, Don’t Let Me Down, Eleanor Rigby, A Hard Day’s Night, I Feel Fine, I Saw Her Standing There, Nowhere Man, Paperback Writer, She Loves You, Something, This Boy, Twist and Shout, Yer Blues and You’re Going to Lose That Girl…unsurpassed vocal harmonies; Lennon’s definitive rock vocals on Twist and Shout; the lyrics ‘Well she was just seventeen, You Know What I Mean’ and ‘You’re going to lose that girl’ – more wonderful vocal harmonies. Your honour, I rest my case.
"You’re Going to Lose That Girl…unsurpassed vocal harmonies"
Unsurpassed vocal harmonies?! I suggest a course of LHR; Man Tran; 4 Freshmen or the Boswell/Andrews Sisters.
I think having a dig at prog rock is unfair... It's more related to jazz than anything the beatles ever did. Also "unsurpassed vocal harmonies?" Really? It's generally pretty standard pop harmony. Check out some more serious music for unsurpassed harmonies... and some serious rock for "definitive rock vocals"
John
I recall Andy Sheppard doing And I love Her and being surprised that it worked (I believe Lance saw Roland Kirk do it). Shortly after I heard Vanessa Feltz play it on the radio (you're in good company believers) and realised how terrible the vocals were.
The only rock record they ever made was Tomorrow Never Knows and George Martin had the decency to distort the silly voice.
Impressions, Dells, OJays, Chilites, Tops, Temps, Blue Magic, Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes, Dramatics, Spinners, Whispers, Soul Children, Facts of Life, Temprees, Isleys, Abyssinians, Heptones, Culture, Black Uhuru, Maytals, Wailers etc. etc.
Ironically, all the kiddies pop groups knew their place, just their screaming fans didn't and by the Gallaghers they'd become all things to all people. But singers? Really?
Manhattan Transfer; you're not as stupid as I look. Considered a bit novelty where I come from but one of them does a brilliant job duetting with Leon Ware on Why I came to California. Check out Dr Buzzards Original Savannah Band (though not for vocal harmonies)for the real thing (where I come from) but you may think THEM a little novelty. Still haven't got LHR but I'll no doubt kick myself.
Yes are playing Sage tonight so expect loads of Jazz influenced guitar, extended passages, difficult time signatures and lots of other techniques shamelessly plundered from Jazz and classical music.
Incidentally, Steve Howe has recently called Quincy Jones' comments pathetic, so he should know his place and know better. Beatles fans aren't about to start buying Yes records Steve; they like the karaoke music and only buy the other music the media tells them to buy; so Bob Dylan, Pet Sounds, Bowie and punkrock (on vinyl).
Moments, Manhattans, Main Ingredient, Delfonocs, Techniques, Paragons, Melodians, Alton Ellis and the Flames etc. etc.
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