Let's Get Serious (Jermaine Jackson album)
| Let's Get Serious | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Jermaine Jackson | ||||
| Released | March 17, 1980 | |||
| Recorded | 1979-1980 at Motown Recording Studios, Hollywood, California Crystal Studios, Whitney Studios & Kendun Recorders Los Angeles, California | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 42:32 | |||
| Label | Motown Records | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Jermaine Jackson chronology | ||||
| ||||
Let's Get Serious is the sixth studio album by Jermaine Jackson, released in 1980. It reached #6 on the Billboard album chart and logged five weeks at #1 on the Top R&B chart. It achieved sales of 900,000 copies in the United States.
The title track was 1980's biggest Soul hit of the year and a Top 10 Pop hit as well. This is the most successful album of Jermaine's career.
Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Smash Hits | 7½/10[2] |
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 Wonder, 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.
It was one of the featured titles in a major Motown 20th Anniversary television, radio and print campaign. This gave the album prominent advertising benefits throughout the entire year.
Track list
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Let's Get Serious" | Lee Garrett, Stevie Wonder | 8:05 |
| 2. | "Where Are You Now" | Renee Hardaway, Stevie Wonder | 3:49 |
| 3. | "You Got to Hurry Girl" | Jermaine Jackson, Maureen Bailey, Paul M. Jackson, Jr. | 4:15 |
| 4. | "We Can Put It Back Together" | Hazel G. Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Maureen Bailey | 5:08 |
| 5. | "Burnin' Hot" | Jermaine Jackson, Jim Foelber, Phyllis Molinary | 7:50 |
| 6. | "You're Supposed to Keep Your Love for Me" | Stevie Wonder | 5:34 |
| 7. | "Feelin' Free" | Hazel G. Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Maureen Bailey | 7:59 |
Total length: |
42:32 | ||
Personnel
- Drums: Stevie Wonder, Dennis Davis, Ed Greene, Ollie E. Brown
- Percussion: Emil Radocchia, Gary Coleman, Gene Estes, Paul Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Earl DeRouen
- Bass: Nathan Watts, Eddie Watkins Jr, Scott Edwards, Jermaine Jackson
- Synth Bass: Gary Scott
- Keyboards: Stevie Wonder, Greg Phillinganes, Joe Sample, 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 Wonder (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 Jackson 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.
Charts
| Year | Album | Chart positions[3] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | ||
| 1980 | Let's Get Serious | 6 | 1 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions[4] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B |
US Dance | ||
| 1980 | "Let's Get Serious" | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| "You're Supposed to Keep Your Love for Me" | 34 | 32 | — | |
External links
References
- ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r10052/review
- ↑ Hillier, Bev. "Jermaine Jackson: Let's Get Serious". Smash Hits (May 15–28, 1980): 31.
- ↑ "Jermaine Jackson US albums chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-07-11.
- ↑ "Jermaine Jackson US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-07-11.