An archive classic from 2018:
Quincy Jones was not too convinced of the capabilities of the Beatles. “They were the worst musicians in the world,” he said “New York Magazine”. The conversation with him took place on the occasion of a Netflix documentary. In the interview, he says about the Fab Four: “They Were no-playing Motherfuckers.”
The 84-year-old producer drummer Ringo Starr judges the worst out of the quartet: “Ringo? Please don’t speak to me! ”Jones remembers the recordings for his version of“ Love is a Many Splendoured Thing ”from the 1970 solo album“ Sentimental Journey ”.
The drummer was sent into the coffee break because it would have taken forever for the little things forever. Then you quickly brought the jazz drummer Ronnie to the studio who took over the recording. Ringo came back and then judged: “It didn’t sound bad.” Quincy Jones: “Yes, motherfucker, because that doesn’t come from you either.” After all, Jones was a great guy.
But even on U2, the “thriller” producer does not give good hair. He didn’t like the band’s last works. “I love Bono from the bottom of my heart, but too much pressure is on U2.”
But also Marlon Brando (“did it with everyone and everything”) and even protégé Michael Jackson gets his fat away.
Musician and producer Quincy Jones has in one Interview with the “Hollywood Reporter” described his first encounter with Michael Jackson.
The King of Pop was only 12 years old at the time, but already very determined: “We were in Sammy Davis Haus and he told me when we decided to record ‘The Wiz’: ‘You have to help me find a producer. I am ready to record my first solo album. ‘”
“He could even copy Elvis”
Jones continued: “He knew how to do his homework, regardless of whether it was Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly or James Brown. He could even copy Elvis. “The King of Pop ‘just say what can you say.”
At that time, Quincy Jones Co-produced the soundtrack for “The Wiz” (1987), the film adaptation of the musical “The Wizard of Oz”. In addition to stars like Diana Ross, young Michael Jackson was represented here. Quincy Jones worked with the musician for “The Wiz” for the first time.
Later the production of his multi -award -winning albums “Off The Wall” (1979), “Thriller” (1982) and “Bad” (1987) was to follow. The two combined a long -term cooperation.
Elvis Presley a racist?
Quincy Jones has been awarded 28 Grammys in his career as a producer. With the “King of Rock’n’roll” he would not have wanted to work together. In the same interview, he said that Elvis Presley was a racist:
“I wrote for Tommy Dorsey, oh god, at that time it was in the fifties. And Elvis came in and Tommy said ‘I don’t play with him’. He was a racist … – now I keep my mouth. But every time I saw Elvis, he was coached by Otis Blackwell, who taught him how to sing. “