Let's Get Serious (Jermaine Jackson album)
Encyclopedia
Let's Get Serious is an album by Jermaine Jackson
, released in 1980. It reached #6 on the Billboard 200
and #1 on the Top R&B
chart. The title track peaked at #1 on the soul charts. This is Jermaine's most successful album to date.
, who pumped out three great songs, including what would be the title to Jermaine's next album and first single, "Let's Get Serious". Jermaine would oversee the other tracks on the album. The formula worked, and Jermaine finally scored a hit.
, and Jackie Jackson
on background vocals. But when Jermaine's brothers left for Epic Records
, this original version was shelved. Four years later, Stevie dug it out and remixed/overdubbed the track for Let's Get Serious and removed Michael and Jackie's vocals.
Jermaine Jackson
Jermaine La Jaune Jackson is an American singer, bassist, composer, a member of The Jackson 5, older brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson and occasional film director...
, released in 1980. It reached #6 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and #1 on the Top R&B
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
chart. The title track peaked at #1 on the soul charts. This is Jermaine's most successful album to date.
Reception
After splitting with his brothers, The Jacksons, Jermaine recorded three solo albums that, while sounding good, didn't score any major hits. Needing a hit, he enlisted the aid of family friend and labelmate Stevie WonderStevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, who pumped out three great songs, including what would be the title to Jermaine's next album and first single, "Let's Get Serious". Jermaine would oversee the other tracks on the album. The formula worked, and Jermaine finally scored a hit.
Track list
Personnel
- Drums: Stevie WonderStevie WonderStevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, Dennis Davis, Ed GreeneEd Greene (musician)Ed Greene is an American drummer and session musician.An early recording in 1971 has him as a member of the Donald Byrd Group, together with Thurman Green Harold Land Bobby Hutcherson Joe Sample and Wilton Felder , among others....
, Ollie E. BrownOllie E. BrownOllie E. Brown is an American drummer, percussionist and record producer. A prolific session musician, Brown has performed on over a hundred albums in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Brown was also half of the American dance-pop duo Ollie & Jerry, which had a Top 10 hit with "Breakin'..... - Percussion: Emil Radocchia, Gary Coleman, Gene Estes, Paul Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Earl DeRouen
- Bass: Nathan WattsNathan WattsNathan Lamar Watts, born 1954 in Detroit, Michigan is an American session bass guitar player, best known for his work with Stevie Wonder from the 1970s to the present...
, Eddie Watkins, Scott Edwards, Jermaine Jackson - Synth Bass: Gary Scott
- Keyboards: Stevie Wonder, Greg PhillinganesGreg PhillinganesGreg Phillinganes is an active session keyboardist in Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of Cass Technical High School, Detroit Michigan....
, Joe SampleJoe SampleJoseph Leslie "Joe" Sample is an American pianist, keyboard player and composer.He is one of the founding members of the Jazz Crusaders, the band which became simply The Crusaders in 1971, and remained a part of the group until its final album in 1991 .- Biography :Sample began playing the piano...
, Kevin Bassinson, Jermaine Jackson - Clavinet: Isaiah Sanders
- Guitars: Stevie Wonder, Ben Bridges, Rick Zunigar, Paul Jackson, Tim May
- Trumpet: Larry Gittens
- Handclaps: Nathan Watts, Earl DeRouen, Abdoulaye Soumare, Keith Harris, Reggie Wiggins, Dick Rudolph
- Arrangements: Stevie Wonder, Jermaine Jackson & Don Peake
Production
- Produced By Stevie WonderStevie WonderStevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
(Tracks 1, 2, and 6), and Jermaine Jackson (the rest) - Executive Producers: Berry Gordy Jr., Hazel Jackson
- Engineers: Abdoulaye Soumare, Bob Harlan, Bob Robitaille, Cal Harris, Frank Kramer, Gary Olazabal, Ginny Pallante, Jane Clark, John Mills, Russ Terrana, Steve Miller
Trivia
The track "You're Supposed to Keep Your Love for Me" was originally recorded in 1975, possibly for the aborted Do Unto Others album, and featured Stevie Wonder, Michael JacksonMichael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, and Jackie Jackson
Jackie Jackson
Sigmund Esco "Jackie" Jackson is an American singer and musician, a member of The Jackson 5, and the second child in the Jackson family.-Life and career:...
on background vocals. But when Jermaine's brothers left for Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
, this original version was shelved. Four years later, Stevie dug it out and remixed/overdubbed the track for Let's Get Serious and removed Michael and Jackie's vocals.
Charts
| Year | Album | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
||
| 1980 | Let's Get Serious Let's Get Serious (Jermaine Jackson album) Let's Get Serious is an album by Jermaine Jackson, released in 1980. It reached #6 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top R&B chart. The title track peaked at #1 on the soul charts... |
6 | 1 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
US Dance |
||
| 1980 | "Let's Get Serious" | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| "You're Supposed to Keep Your Love for Me" | 34 | 32 | — | |