A brief mention was made here about Michael Jackson's contributions to "We Are the World," the song he co-wrote with Lionel Richie bringing awareness about widespread famine in Africa. It was a night of serious artistic overload, a collection of talent that may never come close to being replicated.
USA for Africa recording session: Piecing the song together
Jackson didn't attend the American Music Awards on January 28, 1985, so he could prepare some vocal parts to steer the other singers in the right direction. A couple of days before, producer Quincy Jones, with some assistance from Richie, made the final call over who would get a solo line and who would pair up.
Couplings like Paul Simon with Kenny Rogers, or Tina Turner with Billy Joel, were unique, never-before-seen collaborations. Bruce Springsteen, in the thick of his massive Born in the U.S.A. success, growled through his lyrics and traded jabs with Stevie Wonder at the tail end of the song. It also turned out to be a showcase for Ray Charles in the all-together-now conclusion.
Even entertainment superstars have their share of difficulties working in groups. Confusion arose over whether the lyric should read "better day" or "brighter day." Alternative choruses were suggested, notably by Jackson himself, which were then abandoned. Lines were flubbed. And the biggest distraction was an accidental instrument: Cyndi Lauper's jewelry.
Such is the case when 45 musicians try to rehearse and record at 3 in the morning. But they fought through it and resolved all those concerns in a partnership so culturally significant that everyone wanted each other's autograph afterward.
The work from that session paid immediate, extraordinary dividends. "We Are the World" enjoyed a rapid rise to number one and became a global phenomenon throughout the spring of 1985. It then won four Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
We Are the World album: Springsteen, Prince and more
The We Are the World album, which has effectively gone out of print, contained some choice songs and live recordings.
- Chicago's offering, "Good for Nothing," was the last time fans ever heard Peter Cetera with the legendary group.
- Tina Turner delivered a searing performance of "Total Control," an enormously undervalued song in her catalog.
- Prince, noticeably absent from the "We Are the World" session, made up for it by slithering his way through "4 the Tears in Your Eyes."
- Huey Lewis & the News chose to include a rendition of "Trouble in Paradise" from a live show in San Francisco from February 21, 1985. It's better than the original from their debut album, thanks to sax player Johnny Colla's absolutely white-hot solo.
- And Bruce Springsteen selected an August 6, 1984 performance with his E Street Band of the Jimmy Cliff number "Trapped" that zoomed to number one on the rock chart.
Perhaps this song and this album wouldn't have been possible without Bob Geldof setting the bar with "Do They Know It's Christmas?" a month before. But one thing is for certain: Without Michael Jackson, there would be no "We Are the World."
Sources:
"We Are the World" (album liner notes)
Grammy Awards web site
