Producer/composer/conductor/artist Quincy Jones (middle) played an instrumental role in the careers of many musical icons.
More than a man died when Quincy Delight Jones, Jr. passed away on Nov. 4 at the age of 91.
Jones represented 20th century pop culture from Frank Sinatra to Count Basie to Ray Charles.
For generations, it seemed like he had his hands on everything from jazz to movies to television to R&B to hip-hop.
Jones made Michael Jackson a global phenomenon.
He made Will Smith a television star.
The legendary composer and producer made Oprah Winfrey a movie star.
And he almost made Tupac Shakur his son-and-law before his untimely death in 1996.
A man with such a resume cannot be truly honored in one RegalMag.com article.
However, the online publication will do its best to honor him by highlighting 10 of his best produced/helmed albums of all time.
- “Body Heat” by Quincy Jones—The legendary jazz musician might go down as the greatest composer in history. But he also deserves credit for choosing some of the most talented artists to perform on his projects. For his 1974 album “Body Heat,” Jones assembled a roster of musicians that included Herbie Hancock, Minnie Riperton, Wah Wah Watson, Hubert Laws and Al Jarreau. The title track, “Everything Must Change,” “Boogie Joe The Grinder” and “If I Ever Lose This Heaven” still jam to this today.
- “Light Up The Night” by The Brothers Johnson—Around the time Jones started to work with Michael Jackson, he ended his working relationship with The Brothers Johnson. In fact, recordings to “Light Up The Night” took place around the same time Jackson recorded his “Off the Wall” album. Although The Brothers Johnson had some huge hits before with “Strawberry Letter 23” and “I’ll Be Good To You,” their 1980 album featuring the hit “Stomp” exemplified funk perfection. Songwriter Rod Temperton wrote “Treasure” and “All About Heaven.” The Jones-Temperton tandem made “Light Up The Night” like a companion album for Jackson’s solo breakthrough project.
- “The Wiz Soundtrack” by Various Artists—Who knew when Michael Jackson got the role of the Scarecrow in “The Wiz” that it would be the beginning of a musical partnership that would make history in the coming years? But the album began to show what Jackson could do as an adult solo star with songs like “You Can’t Win” and “Ease on Down the Road” with Diana Ross. Despite Jackson showing glimpses of solo superstardom, “The Wiz” was all about Ross. And how could it not be with classic performances like “Home” and “Believe in Yourself.”
- “Miles & Quincy Live at Montreaux” by Miles Davis and Quincy Jones—A live album by jazz legends like Miles Davis and Quincy Jones is automatic greatness. The album represented the first time the duo performed on stage together and the legends did not disappoint. From “Boplicity” to “Blues for Pablo” to “Summertime,” the album released in 1993 represented jazz excellence.
- “Q’s Jook Joint” by Quincy Jones—One thing that “Q” consistently did was keep his hands on the pulse of pop culture. How else could he seamlessly pass through jazz, R&B and hip-hop? By 1995, Jones’ son QDII had become an in-demand hip-hop producer by collaborating with artists like 2Pac. QDIII’s hip-hop sensibilities probably aided his father with “Q’s Jook Joint.” The album featured artists like Billy Eckstine, Dizzy Gillespie, Queen Latifah, Babyface, Brandy, Chaka Khan, Tone Loc, Kid Capri, Heavy D and Gloria Estefan. Standout tracks on the album include “You Put a Move on My Heart” featuring Tamia and “Heaven’s Girl” featuring R. Kelly, Aaron Hall, Charlie Wilson, Naomi Campbell and Ronald Isley.
- “Back on the Block” by Quincy Jones—If you thought the 1989 “Back on the Block” album featuring the classic song “The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction)” featuring Barry White, El DeBarge, James Ingram and Al B. Sure would make Regal’s list, “sho ya right.” That classic line still gets love from R&B fans 35 years later. But Q never made a one-hit wonder album. “Back on the Block” also featured a remake of The Brothers Johnson’s “I’ll Be Good to You” featuring Ray Charles and Chaka Khan and a star-making performance from Tevin Campbell with “Tomorrow.” If fans used their Visa or Master Card on this album to paraphrase Charles, it was money well spent.
- “The Dude” by Quincy Jones—The super-producer gets much credit for launching the adult solo career of Michael Jackson. But people should not forget what Jones’ handiwork did for James Ingram’s career. Some of the best R&B ballads of the early 1980s came via “The Dude” album. “Just Once” and “One Hundred Ways,” both featuring vocals by Ingram, are two of the most beautiful love songs a person could ever hear. The album also featured up-tempo jams like “Ai No Corrida” featuring Dune.
- “Bad” by Michael Jackson—Movie franchises often get the label of trilogy when the franchise has produced three great films. But the MJ/Q partnership should receive the label of trilogy as well. By 1987, the musical landscape was beginning to change with the advent of hip-hop and New Jack Swing. However, the hitmaking duo had not stopped doing their thing thanks to classics like “Man in the Mirror,” “The Way You Make Me Feel” and “Smooth Criminal.”
- “Off the Wall” by Michael Jackson—Genius is an understatement when “Off the Wall” is not the best album that someone produced. But the Jackson-Jones connection was so prolific from 1979-1987 that an album that featured songs like “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough,” “Rock With You” and “She’s Out of My Life” gets the silver medal. Despite not getting the gold in the Q-Lympics, the album changed the trajectory of Black music and guaranteed that critics would no longer see Jackson as the child lead singer of the Jackson 5. He would forever be an icon thanks to this album.
- “Thriller” by Michael Jackson—“Off The Wall” made Jackson an icon. But “Thriller” made him the “King of Pop” and hands-down, the greatest entertainer off all time. When its predecessor did not receive the awards that Jackson and Jones had hoped for, Jackson set out to make the most successful album of all time. And with Jones behind the boards, he did just that. Kids whose parents were not even born in 1982, know the lyrics to songs like “Billie Jean” and “Beat It.” And the title track is still the go-to song every Halloween.
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