Quincy Jones: Making Michael

Quincy Jones: Making Michael examines the professional relationship between legendary producer Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson during their creative peak in the 1970s and 80s. The book focuses on their collaboration across three albums: Off The Wall, Thriller, and Bad. Author Daryl Easlea draws from interviews, studio sessions, and industry accounts to document the production process and artistic decisions that shaped these groundbreaking records. The text includes technical details about recording methods, song arrangements, and the innovative blend of pop, rock, and R&B that defined their sound. The narrative tracks Jones and Jackson's initial meeting through Studio 54, their rapid ascent as a producer-artist team, and the complex dynamics of their partnership. Easlea provides context about the music industry of the era and the cultural impact of their work. The book reveals how two artists at the height of their powers pushed creative boundaries and transformed popular music. Their collaboration demonstrates the impact of trust, artistic vision, and technical expertise in creating lasting cultural touchstones.

Readers note this book focuses more on Quincy Jones's production work than Michael Jackson's artistry. Many found value in the technical details about recording sessions and studio dynamics during the creation of Off The Wall, Thriller, and Bad. Liked: - Behind-the-scenes accounts of song development - Coverage of Jones's influence on arrangements - First-hand quotes from musicians and engineers Disliked: - Surface-level treatment of Jackson's contributions - Repetition of information found in other books - Limited new insights or revelations - Some factual errors noted by longtime fans One reader on Goodreads wrote: "Good for production details but misses the deeper story of their creative partnership." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (86 ratings) Amazon UK: 4.1/5 (31 reviews) Amazon US: 3.8/5 (42 reviews) Most agreed the book works better as a record of Jones's production techniques than a definitive account of his collaboration with Jackson.

Michael Jackson: The Magic, The Madness, The Whole Story by J. Randy Taraborrelli This biography details Jackson's life and career through hundreds of interviews with family members and music industry figures who shaped his path to stardom.

Thriller: The Musical Life of Michael Jackson by Nelson George The book examines Jackson's creative process and musical innovations through his most successful period, with focus on studio sessions and songwriting partnerships.

Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation by Jeff Chang The text chronicles the evolution of hip-hop music production and the producers who transformed the music industry during the same era Quincy Jones shaped pop music.

The Producer: John Hammond and the Soul of American Music by Dunstan Prial This biography follows legendary music producer John Hammond's career and his impact on multiple genres through his work with artists from Billie Holiday to Bob Dylan.

Hitmaker: The Man and His Music by Tommy Mottola The memoir provides an insider's perspective of music production and artist development from a producer who, like Jones, helped shape multiple decades of popular music.

🎵 Prior to producing Michael Jackson's solo albums, Quincy Jones first worked with Michael on "The Wiz" (1978), where Jones served as musical supervisor and conductor. 🎸 During the recording of "Thriller," Quincy Jones encouraged Michael Jackson to include Eddie Van Halen for the guitar solo on "Beat It," despite Michael's initial reservations about mixing rock and R&B. 🌟 Daryl Easlea interviewed numerous musicians and technicians who worked on Michael Jackson's albums, including some who had never spoken publicly about their experiences before. 🎼 The book reveals that "Billie Jean" was mixed 91 times before Quincy Jones was satisfied with the final version—an unprecedented level of perfectionism for that era. 📀 The partnership between Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson produced three consecutive albums that broke records: "Off the Wall" (1979), "Thriller" (1982), and "Bad" (1987), collectively selling over 150 million copies worldwide.