Back on the Block

by Quincy Jones

Overview

Having let eight years pass since his last A&M album, Quincy Jones made his debut on his own label with his most extravagant, most star-studded, most brilliantly sequenced pop album to date -- which could have only been assembled by the man who put together "We Are the World." Jones was one of the first establishment musicians to embrace rap, and one of the first to link rap with his jazz heritage; it's hard not to be moved by the likes of Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, James Moody, Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Zawinul, Sarah Vaughan, and George Benson electronically appearing on "Birdland" and trading brief licks with the likes of Kool Moe Dee and Big Daddy Kane on "Jazz Corner of the World." Later, jazz buffs would vilify Jones for not taking fuller advantage of this one-time constellation of jazz stars, but at the time, it seemed like a marvelous dialogue between the old and the new. Of course, as he well knew, celebrating jazz history is not the surest route to a blockbuster hit record, so there are plenty of radio-friendly urban pop productions here, with Herbie Hancock and George Duke on keyboards, and Siedah Garrett and 12-year-old Tevin Campbell on vocals. Despite the presence of an enthused Ray Charles, Chaka Khan, and the Brothers Johnson, the overly busy techno remake of "I'll Be Good to You" doesn't cut the Johnsons' original -- nor does "Tomorrow." Ultimately the most popular track would be the most tedious for the jazz listener, "The Secret Garden," with a parade of smooth soul balladeers producing make-out music at length. Yet Back on the Block remains a strikingly durable piece of entertainment, and in hindsight, a poignant signpost of the changing of the guard. ~ Richard S. Ginell

Product Details

Release Date:	08/09/2005
Label:	Quest/Umg
UPC:	0602498837887
Rank:	2213

Tracks

1. Prologue (2 Q's Rap)
2. Back on the Block
3. I Don't Go for That
4. I'll Be Good to You
5. The Verb to Be
6. Wee B. Doin' It
7. The Places You Find Love
8. Jazz Corner of the Word
9. Birdland
10. Septembro (Brazilian Wedding Song)
11. One Man Woman
12. Tomorrow (Better You, Better Me)
13. Prelude to the Garden
14. The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Quincy Jones   Primary Artist,Handclapping,Drums (Snare),Choir Conductor,Drums,Shaker,Vocals,Cowbell,Korg M1,Clapping
Kool Moe Dee   Primary Artist,Rap,Vocals,Featured Artist
James Ingram   Primary Artist,Primary Artist,Soloist,Vocals (Background),Vocals,Featured Artist
Tevin Campbell   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Herbie Hancock   Primary Artist,Soloist,Keyboards,Synthesizer Pads
QD III   Primary Artist,Vocals
Al B. Sure!   Primary Artist,Vocals,Soloist,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Melle Mel   Primary Artist,Rap,Featured Artist
Bobby McFerrin   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Bass,Vocals,Yodeling,Percussion,Featured Artist
Mervyn Warren   Primary Artist,Vocals,Spoken Word,Featured Artist
Siedah Garrett   Primary Artist,Vocals,Choir Director,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Andrae Crouch   Primary Artist,Vocals,Choir Conductor,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Barry White   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals,Soloist,Featured Artist
Ray Charles   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Big Daddy Kane   Primary Artist,Rap,Vocals,Featured Artist
Ice-T   Primary Artist,Rap,Featured Artist
Kirk Whalum   Primary Artist,Saxophone,Featured Artist
Al Jarreau   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Take 6   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Ella Fitzgerald   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Soloist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Sarah Vaughan   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals,Soloist,Featured Artist
El DeBarge   Primary Artist,Vocals,Soloist,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Chaka Khan   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Luther Vandross   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Dionne Warwick   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Alfie Silas   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Alvin Chea   Vocals
Teddy Riley   Saxophone
Sheila E.   Soloist,Timbales
Paul Jackson, Jr.   Guitar
Jerry Hey   Keyboards,Trumpet
Louis Johnson   Bass,Vocals (Background)
Sandra Crouch   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Rod Temperton   Clapping,Handclapping
Claude McKnight   Vocals
Steve Porcaro   Synthesizer
Steve Lukather   Guitar
Ian Underwood   Clapping,Synthesizer,Handclapping
Children's Choir   Vocals (Background)
Ollie E. Brown   Percussion
Rhett Lawrence   Synthesizer
George Duke   Soloist,Keyboards,Fender Rhodes
Perry Morgan   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Clif Magness   Vocals (Background)
John "4 Daddman" Robinson   Drums
George Benson   Guitar,Vocals,Soloist
William Frank "Bill" Reichenbach Jr.   Trombone
David Thomas   Vocals
Howard McCrary   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Mark Kibble   Vocals
Peggi Blu   Vocals (Background)
Howard Hewett   Vocals (Background)
James Moody   Soloist,Saxophone,Sax (Alto)
Jim Gilstrap   Vocals (Background)
Rose Banks   Vocals,Choir Director,Vocals (Background)
Randy Kerber   Keyboards,Synthesizer
Paulinho Da Costa   Percussion
Neil Stubenhaus   Bass
Maxi Anderson   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Miles Davis   Vocals,Soloist,Trumpet
Michael Boddicker   Synthesizer
Michael Landau   Guitar
Derrick Schoefield   Vocals (Background),Vocals
Shane Shoaf   Vocals (Background)
McKinley Brown   Vocals (Background)
Charity Young   Vocals (Background)
Jean Johnson McRath   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
J.C. Gomez   Percussion,African Percussion
Larry Williams   Keyboards,Saxophone,Synthesizer
Greg Phillinganes   Keyboards,Fender Rhodes
Dizzy Gillespie   Soloist,Trumpet
Joe Zawinul   Organ,Vocals,Soloist
David Paich   Keyboards,Synthesizer Pads
Harvey Mason, Sr.   Drums
Grandmaster Melle Mel   Rap
Cedric Dent   Vocals
Syreeta Wright   Vocals (Background)
Skam   Rap
Bill Summers   Hinedewho,Percussion,African Percussion
Ian Prince   Vocoder,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Jennifer Holliday   Vocals (Background)
Nathan East   Bass
Nadirah Ali   Vocals (Background)
Phil Perry   Vocals (Background)
Tammie Gibson   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Tyren Perry   Vocals (Background)
Donovan McCrary   Vocals (Background)
Ken Ford   Vocals (Background)
Larry E. Williams   Keyboards,Saxophone
Voncielle Faggett   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Chad Durio   Vocals (Background)
Geary Faggett   Vocals
Michael Young   Synthesizer
Jania Foxworth   Vocals (Background)
Jackie Gouche   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Edie Lehmann   Vocals (Background)
Geary Lanier Foggett   Vocals (Background)
Randy Lukather   Guitar
Bruce Swedien   Drums,Drums (Snare),Special Effects
Gerald Albright   Vocals,Soloist,Sax (Alto)
George Johnson   Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Gary Grant   Trumpet
Tiffany Johnson   Vocals (Background)
Caiphus Semenya   Conductor,Vocals (Background)
Pattie Howard   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
John "J.R." Robinson   Drums
Reggie Green   Vocals (Background)
John Robinson   Drums
Alex Harris   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Rod Temperton   Producer,Arranger,Composer,Programming,Drum Programming,Vocal Arrangement,Associate Producer,Rhythm Arrangements
Sonora Sam   Composer
Allen Sides   Supervisor
Teddy Riley   Mixing
Terry Coffey   Mixing
Jerry Hey   Producer,Assistant Producer,Rhythm Arrangements,Synthesizer Arrangements,Arranger
Louis Johnson   Composer
Kool Moe Dee   Composer
Clif Magness   Arranger,Composer,Rhythm Arrangements
Steve Porcaro   Synthesizer Producer
Big Daddy Kane   Composer
Bernie Kirsh   Engineer
Ian Underwood   Programming,Synthesizer Programming
Ice-T   Composer
Kevin Becka   Engineer
Ivan Lins   Composer
Rev. Jesse Jackson   Narrator
Rhett Lawrence   Synthesizer Programming
Mick Guzauski   Mixing,Remix Engineer
Arthur Baker   Mixing
Hilton Ian Prince   Composer
Antonio Hardy   Composer
Gavin Lurssen   Mastering
Mark Kibble   Vocal Arrangement
Jon Nettlesbey   Mixing
El DeBarge   Composer
Don Cobb   Engineer
Mac Quayle   Mixing
Andrae Crouch   Vocal Arrangement
Randy Kerber   Synthesizer Programming
Siedah Garrett   Composer,Vocal Arrangement
Quincy Jones   Producer,Programming,Drum Programming,Original Concept,Vocal Arrangement,Rhythm Arrangements,Arranger,Composer
Michael Haas   Engineer
Mervyn Warren   Composer
Michael Boddicker   Programming,Drum Programming,Synthesizer Programming
Jeri Heiden   Art Direction
Matthew Rolston   Photography
Mike Wambsgans   Supervisor
Deborah Dill   Creative Services Coordinator
Lan Disparte   Design
Leslie Morris Johnson   Contractor
Larry Williams   Programming
Greg Phillinganes   Rhythm Arrangements
Garry Creiman   Supervisor
Joe Zawinul   Composer
Glen Ballard   Arranger,Composer,Rhythm Arrangements
Dana Jon Chappelle   Engineer
Bill Summers   Rhythm Arrangements
Ian Prince   Arranger,Composer,Vocal Arrangement,Rhythm Arrangements
Rail Jon Rogut   Assistant Engineer
Melle Mel   Composer
Louise Velazquez   Production Director
Sarah Abukusta   Translation
Brad Sundberg   Engineer,Technical Director
Senora Sam   Composer
Larry E. Williams   Synthesizer Programming
Miniko Jackson   Production Coordination
Michael Young   Synthesizer Programming
Margo Chase   Design
Human Bean Band   Performer
Dave Way   Engineer
Bruce Swedien   Mixing,Engineer
George Johnson   Composer
Gilson Peranzzetta   Composer
QD III   Programming,Drum Programming,Rhythm Arrangements
808 State   Remix Engineer
Caiphus Semenya   Arranger,Composer,Vocal Arrangement
Jorge Calandrelli   Composer,Synthesizer String Arrangement
Harriet Roberts   Composer
Brian VanLear   Supervisor
Gilson Peranzetta   Composer
Horace Coleman   Mixing