On the fourth of November of this year, the late Quincy Jones passed away at the age of 91. Luckily, he was surrounded by loved ones and accepted fans of his legacy. Quincy Jones wasn’t just a family person, superstar producer, or culture shifter, but an icon. His musical involvement with many artists as Ice-T, Lesley Gore, and Frank Sinatra is unmatched by other producers. He assisted with film/TV scores, music production, and big band orchestra. Finally, he was widely known as the key producer and arranger for some of the “highest-selling albums of all time,” including some from Michael Jackson. 

I grew up in a predominantly urban community in Asbury Park, NJ. Michael Jackson was one of the few artists that I discovered at a young age. His stage persona and elegance was indeed charismatic. His musical contributions made him a global figure in popular music. What Jackson and Quincy meant to everyone was never about the great music they produced. It was all about the cultural barriers that they were able to overcome. 

Most significant figures in African American music have never been able to achieve commercial success due to racial demographics. Not only did Jackson dominate US album sales and popularity, but he also established creative freedom. As young children, we didn’t have the ability to express ourselves or create art. There were common issues for most African Americans, such as poverty or financial struggles. People continue to overlook these problems and title them as disadvantages to prevent us from pursuing our talents. We weren’t allowed  to express our own voices whether it’s through music or art.

 Jackson contributed to breaking down those cultural barriers and allowed us to recreate such things as fashion, music, and even dancing. Even Quincy encouraged us to be more prominent in our craft by aiding Michael in becoming such a prolific figure in the cultural sphere. So, this ranking is dedicated to both artists/producers.

In this ranking, these projects will be ranked based on the album’s quality, musical engagement or “the album experience”, the structure between every song, and my overall personal enjoyment. Before we get into the ranking, I truly believe that Michael Jackson has made some lackluster projects. So I’m completely honest with my album rankings and the album experience that ties in.

 

4. E.T. The Extra- Terrestrial – audiobook (1982)

I truly believe this album is a very forgettable and less – interesting project from the duo. I already know it’s for young children to listen. Growing up, my family and I saw the movie about a million times on on-demand streaming platforms and VHS.

I think Steven Spielberg is a brilliant film director and innovator. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial will always be a beloved home movie for kids and parents alike, but we are talking about the album here. It was almost just a cash grab where Jackson narrates a storybook for 39 minutes and gets millions of dollars.

The instrumentation on the tracks is minimal and lush and matches the resonance between the film. However, this project is barely in the spotlight in Jackson’s catalog. This audiobook won a Grammy for Best Recording for Children in 1984, so it must have had some success in his entire catalog. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t peak with his other albums.

 

 

3. Thriller (1982)

Thriller remains the best-selling album of all time, having sold an estimated 70 million copies worldwide. The songs “Billie Jean” and “Thriller” have made him even more popular today. The album is very influential in the landscape of pop music. However, this album is inconsistent with his past album Off the Wall. The track-list is more of a put-together compilation of hits for commercial use. Meanwhile, some of the songs are just there without a purpose given. Jackson wanted to create an album where “every song was a killer”, but he poorly executed it.

For example, “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin” is a blazing intro track with tight grooves and bouncy synth layers of post-disco. “Baby Be Mine” has incredible vocal work and reminds me of the early stages of the Jackson 5 bubblegum soul. “Billie Jean” has the most iconic drum and bass combo in musical history, especially the music video as well. The storytelling, production, and instrumentation of “Thriller” is a definitive standout in the 80s. “P.Y.T  (Pretty Young Thing)” has glossy synthesizers and a hint of frizzy funk.

 All these tracks are good, but the deeper cuts are just slow-burners. “The Girl is Mine” sounds like a Paul McCartney written unreleased song from the Beatles’ debut album that doesn’t fit with the album’s flow.

McCartney’s theatrical and witty lyrical style is evident throughout the song. However, this shows no humor or clarity for the track. It just sounds like a 1960s satirical romcom where the two main characters are arguing about a girl they love together. “Human Nature” is a mediocre quiet-storm track; his vibrato isn’t really there. At least, the track gained an interest for hip-hop sample material such as Nas “I Ain’t Hard To Tell” and SWV “Right Here”.

Whatsoever, I think this is a solid album from the duo, and its impact is unmatched. Does it hurt to say that this isn’t Michael’s best project? Nope, this album has some great expectations but some of them just don’t exceed. Some of the greatest and redefined pop singles are on this album, but I do think this album is slightly overrated.

 

2. Bad (1987) 

Bad is the most politically charged album from the duo. Jackson took the time and dedication to provide this album with a tighter track-list and clarity in each song. This album doesn’t feel like a bundle of random songs. Conceptually, this is musically dense to his other albums. The flow of each song is more intact and works well.

The themes are centered around self-empowerment, racial identity, and world peace.

This is his most personal album as it dealt with his experiences with his persona and image as reflected in tabloids. For those who don’t  know, Jackson had a rare skin disease called vitiligo. It gathered massive attention from media outlets.

Formally, this media coverage was centered around his body image, mainly his skin. His skin began to get paler, and they attempted to accused him of bleaching his skin. From this global outrage, he wanted to move into a newer musical direction with a harder edge and fierce sound.

“Man in the Mirror” is a sweet ballad filled with beautiful gospel chords. “Dirty Diana” is one of the most uproar songs that Jackson ever wrote. “Bad” is a dance-pop anthem filled with this murderous bassline and punchy snare drums. The music video for “Bad” is one of the most iconic and greatest music videos ever filmed. I have never seen this type of choreography and fashion in the 80s this good in my entire life. “Liberian Girl” highlights every self-made woman in Liberia as self-empowering. This album is considered a staple of 1980s pop music, solidifying Jackson’s status as a global superstar and being an extension of Jackson’s influence on popular music. I will always prefer Bad over Thriller.

 

1. Off the Wall (1979)

This album is disco and funk perfection in every form. The songwriting is so immaculate and colorful. The production is phenomenal and adds so much character to his signature vocal range. The vocals are outstanding and have a lot of personality and tang within the album.

This album showcases his independent status as a solo artist to whom he didn’t want the same direction as the Jackson 5. This moment also gave Jones a breakthrough role as a producer. The songs are laced with groove-heavy funk sessions. Every song is a standout and benchmark during the disco era. “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” has a splendid horn section that matches his falsetto. “Rock with You” has this bright aurora with these jazzy guitars, shimmering flute tones, and booming claps after the end of every chorus throughout the song.

Yes, there aren’t really enough words to describe this album. It is just that good of a spectacular album from the duo.

Quincy and Jackson outdid themselves by making quality music and releasing it for their desired fans. Michael Jackson was always a key figure in most of my childhood as an inspiration for success and great music. These two men paved the way for me and other small African American children like me. They gave us opportunities to branch out in our paths in our music endeavors. 

Rest in Peace, Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson.