The two invisible men from Michael Jackson's heyday.....

[Bruce Swedien]

The two invisible men from Michael Jackson's heyday.....

The other day I read the following in an industry magazine:

The two invisible men from Michael Jackson's heyday were engineer Bruce Swedien, who would often record as many as 100 (yes, 100) tracks, using various musicians, and assemble a thick, Phil Spector-ish wall of sound that gave Jackson's work a uniquely meaty feel (and still does- Swedien is Jackson's engineer).

The other invisible man was a guy named Rod Temperton. Temperton— a man most people have never seen, so he could be, like, at the supermarket buying Cheerios and you'd never know— is the killer writer of such mega hits as Heatwave's Always And Forever, James "How'd HE Ever Get This Deal?" Ingram's ubiquitousmonster hit Just Once, and hundreds of other major pop hits.

I’ve never thought of Roddy and myself as “Invisible”. Perhaps so, though....

Bruce Swedien

[willylumplumps]

i'd take invisibility to make those sounds anyday.

[masmit]

Originally Posted by Bruce Swedien

The two invisible men from Michael Jackson's heyday.....

I’ve never thought of Roddy and myself as “Invisible”. Perhaps so, though....

Bruce Swedien

Well, invisible to the general public...what they call 'back-room boys'.

All the other back-room boys know who you are, though!

Best,

Mark

[Mikey MTC]

Apart from the obvious inaccuracy that Rod didn't actually write Just Once, what's the deal with the mag ragging on James Ingram? That guy's voice is insane!

The story I've read (which I'm sure Bruce can confirm or deny) was that James was the demo/scratch vocalist for "Just Once" used by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, who REALLY wrote the song. When Quincy heard the demo he obviously appreciated the lack of need to change the vocalist.

But hey - enough of my Quincy stories.

Back to Bruce!

[Rev. Robb]

100 tracks, is that true? If so, what songs?

[Petermix]

Speaking of rumors, I also read that you (Bruce) had to remix (mix recalls?) "Billie Jean" 99 times because MJ was so specific in his the way he wanted the song to sound. So what's the 411 on that?

[Bruce Swedien]

Originally Posted by Mikey MTC

Apart from the obvious inaccuracy that Rod didn't actually write Just Once, what's the deal with the mag ragging on James Ingram? That guy's voice is insane!

The story I've read (which I'm sure Bruce can confirm or deny) was that James was the demo/scratch vocalist for "Just Once" used by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, who REALLY wrote the song. When Quincy heard the demo he obviously appreciated the lack of need to change the vocalist.

But hey - enough of my Quincy stories.

Back to Bruce!

Mikey...

Who would dare rag on one of the greatest voices in "POP" music, James Ingram?

Yes, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, wrote "Just Once". And James Ingram sang the demo vocal. TRUE STORY... That's how Quincy and I found this incredible song, and incredibly nice guy, top-drawer vocalist, James Ingram. Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil sent us the demo of "Just Once". Quincy and I listened to it, looked at each other and said, "What A Great Song!!!" AND, what a great singer!!!

Here's a little James Ingram story.... When we were working on "Just Once", in order for James to have uninterupted time to learn the song properly, and vocalize on "Just Once", he drove his Volkswagen, all by himself, all over Los Angeles with the track for "Just Once" in his cassette player in the dashboard of his little VW, singing his heart out!!!

True Story!!!

Bruce Swedien