Post here if you worked on Michael Jackson's DANGEROUS album

[author]

Originally Posted by Resonater

Well, we all have our various likes and dislikes, so no problem.

However, from simply a production and engineering perspective, I think these records will stand for the rest of time as some of the finest sonic treats ever.

I certainly don't question the sound, no sane person would do that.

And when I said I never *understood* Mr. Jackson's songs, I meant just that. It was not an euphemism for something less nice. I just don't get them.

But I can't stop looking at this dancer. It's one of the rare cases where you SEE music and feel it in your own body without hearing it.

[JBaptista68]

Awesome stories. No matter what you thought of the man, (or were told by the overzealous media), his musical talent could not be denied.

[illacov]

Originally Posted by robmix

Bruce and I were talking about walking to the studio everyday in NYC, and what routes we took. Michael looked at us and said we were so lucky to be able to do that. He couldn't walk down the street without being harassed. It was a sad moment for all of us.

The studio crew got free tickets to the Janet show so we all went right from work one night. About halfway through the show we see this dude with a long beard, dressed in robes dancing in the aisle behind. I mean really dancing . . . it was Mj in disguise. Kind of like the costume Chevy Chase wears in Fletch while roller skating.

This made me cry. In complete honesty it made me want to hug my sister. Damn this is so tragically poetic.

Imagine having to deal with something like that and yet still, don a disguise just to see your family member.

Has anybody gone to see their kid at a recital? Or seen their kid sister do a piano solo at their school? My God, Michael was so right. Sometimes we are the fortunate ones.

May Peace Be Upon You Michael.

Peace
Illumination

[butterfly]

............Fantastic stuff gents, real privelage to read this stuff. Thanks for sharing your priceless memories with us.

[plexisys]

About the same time MJ was working with John at Image they were also doing stuff at Westlake. I remember sitting around the office talking with Matt Forger plenty of times and Matt saying "I've never seen anyone with this kind of work ethic and skills".

[larry b]

John, Robmix,

FANTASTIC STORIES!

Thanks so much for sharing them with us...

[malaclypse]

awesome stories guys! thanks for sharing. a lot of people seem to have forgotten that Michael was insanely talented! he will always be remembered

[glissando]

Great personal stories. Working on the highest end projects with the highest end people is something most of us aspire to. You guys certainly were pushed hard on those records.

[bcgood]

Thank You

[FFTT]

Thank you so much for sharing this.

[drBill]

Threads like this one are perhaps the #1 reason to peruse Gearslutz.

[piotr]

Dear John, Rob,

Just wanted to say: thank you very much for posting your stories. I have read your texts out loud to my wife and younger daughter (12) and they were both moved. Thank you for providing us with the opportunity to have this glimpse of MJ: as a great artist with amazing skills, work ethic, and another human being. This was a much appreciated perspective, balancing out the slanted, mediated image we see from TV.

Respectfully,
p.


PS
Moments like this make it worth while sifting though hundreds/thousands of meaningless posts in the gearslutz universe...

[Resonater]

By the way, to elaborate a bit on the Notorious B.I.G. session, it was kinda like this. Michael used to call people to ask them to participate on albums. It was interesting knowing that nearly anyone on the planet would come to the phone if it were Michael calling. Anyway, I heard rumors that B.I.G. was going to come, and I was excited about that! I knew that I would be the one to record that, as I had recorded nearly all of that tune, "This Time Around".

So, Dallas and I were expecting him any minute, and pretty much on time, Notorious strolls in. He was quite an imposing figure when he walked in, as he was quite popular at the time. I had no idea what to expect from him in terms of attitude, but he seemed nice when he walked in. No problem. But almost immediately, he blurted out, "Yo, Dallas, can I meet Mike?" To which, Dallas replied that he thought so. Biggie went on to talk about how much this opportunity meant to him, as Michael was his hero. Anyway, Dallas tells him that we're going to lay down the rap first, so Biggie heads in the booth, we get some headphone levels and get ready to start recording.

So, we hit the big red button (on a Sony 3348 machine), and away we go. During his first take, Dallas and I looked at each other, because it was spot on. wow. I was impressed, and so was Dallas. We listened back, and Dallas was like, "Wow, I think we got it". As I recall, we took another take for good measure, but I'm fairly certain that we ended up using the first take. So, Notorious comes in, and asks if he can meet Michael now. We sent word to the back room where Michael was working that Biggie was finished and wanted to meet him.

Simply for security, Michael's security would enter and make sure that no one was in the room that shouldn't be, and once that was confirmed (it was just me, Biggie and Dallas), Michael came in. Biggie nearly broke out in tears...I could tell how much this meant to him. Well, Michael could have this effect on anyone, even the most hardcore rappers! Biggie was tripping up on his words, bowing down and telling Michael how much his music had meant to him in his life. Michael was, as always, very humble and kept smiling while Biggie just went on and on how much he loved Michael. I watched Biggie just become this big butterball of a man, and it was really very sweet to witness. After all, we are all just people.

Michael finally asked to hear what we had done, and we popped it up on the big speakers and let her go. Michael LOVED it and was excited to tell Biggie that! "Oh, let's hear it again", I recall Michael saying, and we listened again. Michael just loved it...and thanked Biggie for coming all the way from Philadelphia. Biggie asked rather sheepishly whether he could get a photo, and Michael agreed. A shot was taken, we listened again, and Michael thanked Biggie. Michael said goodbye and stepped out, leaving Biggie standing there looking completely stunned.

It will always remain a great, great memory.

[RKrizman]

Amazing stories. Thanks, guys, for bringing all this to life.

-R

[los marbles]

It's great to get a glimpse of the real MJ here.

Muchly appreciated.

[larry b]

Keep it comin'!

I'm with Dr.Bill that this is the clear #1 reason to read GS. Stories like these motivate me far beyond any discussion of the latest mic pre or how all DAW's null out.

thumbsupthumbsup

[DontLetMeDrown]

Thank you so much everyone!

[zvenx]

Many thanks for the stories John and Rob.
rsp

[CorkyTart]

This is second hand information.... I have a friend who worked with MJ about 10 years ago and he mentioned that you would not understand the talent this guy had until you worked with him. He also said that his voice was powerful enough to break microphones. In fact, I believe (I'm not positive) he said Mike broke one.

[neilio]

i did a whole album with dallas, he has some good stories about mj, and really everything, not my place to tell so i wont...

great stuuf resonator and robmix.

[Kenny Gioia]

Originally Posted by robmix

I was fortunate enough to work with MJ early in my career.

Thanks for sharing Rob. You are truly lucky to have had such a wonderful and rare experience.

[5down1up]

thx a lot & keep it coming !

[drBill]

Originally Posted by larry b

I'm with Dr.Bill that this is the clear #1 reason to read GS. Stories like these motivate me far beyond any discussion of the latest mic pre or how all DAW's null out.

thumbsupthumbsup

Now hold on there.....not so fast big guy. Nulling tests....that's exciting stuff!!!!

[3rdeyeKnight]

MJ's energy was channelled through these stories-You guys tell it so well, the words put me right there in the studio with him. That's as close as I'll ever get and that's just perfect.

I've read each and every post here on GearSlutz regarding MJ, and though some of 'em made me want to respond, I chose to hold my peace. However, I'm left with no choice, but to say what's been said above, and most of all....

... to say, thank you for sharing.

[h4nc0]

What an amazing thread! Thanks for sharing.

[RawBeanZen]

Gearslutz needed this thread today.

Truly.

[larry b]

Originally Posted by drBill

Now hold on there.....not so fast big guy. Nulling tests....that's exciting stuff!!!!

Yeah thats a good point. I get my panties all up in a tizzy anytime anyone starting talkin' word clocks too. Man thats some seat-of-the-pants stuff right there.


Sorry, back to the MJ stories!

thumbsupthumbsup

[vonrichter]

The fabulous stories related on this thread really made my day.

[Sqye]

.

i would just like to say HUGE thank you's to both of you -

...Rob Hoffman [RobMix] and John [Resonator/last name?] for taking the time to share your wonderful and touching life experiences working with MJ - with us here at GS.

it means so much to me, and obviously to many here - to get a glimpse into a few professional experiences and intimate moments with a guy who inpired so many of us - for so many years!

those records were KILLER!!!...so much talent from all aspects that helped shape them - as was said - from writing, arranging, performing, production, recording and mixing and mastering - truly records that DEFINE some of the BEST years in pop music EVER!!

...i mean, these were not the b-sides and second bills - these were THE RECORDS!!

those early Michael Jackson records were the REASON so many of us got INTO pop music today!
...they are LEGENDARY!!!

when i was 11 years old, i would lie awake listening to off the wall tracks on my little white plastic radio shack AM radio under my pillow...it inspired me like nothing else!..exciting, joyful tracks!

and i totally agree that this is one of the most VALUABLE aspects of gearslutz (all made possible by jules and his fabulous mods - thanks guys!)

...again, thanks - and cheers to you both, Rob and John - for taking the time with us!


and - not to be greedy, but if there's anyone else - i know we'd love to hear more!!..

...i'm sure bruce is probably out of the question, at this point - but hey, you never know, right...?
....BRUCE!!!!???...maybe he'll do his own thread here, one day!
...i know there are some great session stories with MJ from Bruce when he did his Q&A here!

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/bruce-swedien/


thank you AGAIN, guys!!!....you ROCK!!...

.

[Hide]

This thread is really, really nice!!
Thank you so much for telling great stories!!
Now I just miss MJ...........