R-E-S-P-E-C-T...it ain't Aretha

Rolling Stone Does It Again…

I am a lover of music and I have no limits with regards to what I will or won’t listen to.  Rolling Stone has created a list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and I’m personally disappointed yet again.  When I think of the word “greatest”, it defines unbelievably great, no competition, golden, perfection and sets the standard for music.

I’m bias; I love Marvin Gaye’s music and am a huge fan of Michael Jackson’s work including Thriller and everything that came before it.  Marvin and Michael were two wildly successful artists from the Motown stable that had such a huge impact on the world during the early 70’s.  Although both artists achieved adoration during their careers, the material they left behind is thought provoking and everlasting.

Rolling Stone suggests that Marvin Gaye’s lp, What’s Going On ranks #6, while Michael Jackson’s Thriller ranks #20.  Can you say, WITW?  Short for “what in the world”!  Marvin Gaye’s (WGO lp) was released into the universe into 1971 and the story behind the lp is absolutely unbelievable.  Berry Gordy, the president/CEO of Motown did not want to release the album and kept it on the shelf for 1 full year before he was forced to do something.  A good friend of mine whom promoted records for Motown in the early years remembers taking WGO to radio stations.  No one wanted to hear it, everyone thought it was trash.  One night he took the WGO 45rpm to a radio station in Philadelphia and recommended the DJ play the record.  Oddly enough, overnight, the song became a hit in Philadelphia and spread like wildflower.  He remembers the orders coming into the sales department for the WGO single and Berry Gordy learning a huge lesson.  The WGO album is such a pivotal album for the entire country to grab on to.  It contains elements of social, political and spiritual fuel.  It was one of the first records in which each song transitioned into the next, which is why most DJ’s wouldn’t play it because they weren’t prepared to stop the record at the right time.   WGO also is one of the first Motown lp’s which was conducted by a full orchestra.  An album ahead of its time that once was ranked #4 by Rolling Stone and has now fallen to #6.  How is that possible?  The message is still relevant 42 years later.

Michael Jackson’s Thriller lp ranks #20.  Something is terribly wrong.  I can’t take anything away from The Beatles who still hold the #1 spot with their Sergeant Pepper lp, but come on Rolling Stone, MJ smashed the industry with this lp and put plenty of people back to work in the music business.  Pay your respects to MJ, he changed the direction of music, video and record sales.  Have you forgotten that MJ still holds the record for units sold with Thriller?  Have we forgotten the Thriller video pushed the creative envelope?  Have we forgotten that MTV wouldn’t play MJ’s video Billie Jean?  At some point, they recognized they weren’t being fair and look at what happened, MTV’s viewership increased.  Have we forgotten MJ still holds the record for Grammy’s received from the Thriller lp.  I could go on…but who’s really listening? 

Oh by the way...just a side note Michael's Thrill lp has no historical review from Rolling Stone like Marvin's 1971 review by Vince Aletti from 1971. Hmmmm???

Until next year…