É a Maior
Marlene
1970
Why This Album Matters
Released in 1982, Michael Jackson's Thriller is an unquestionable landmark in music history, redefining industry standards and global pop. The album stands out for a masterful fusion of genres, exploring pop, rock, post-disco and funk, as well as incorporating softer styles such as contemporary music and R&B, creating an accessible yet sophisticated sound. It is a work that not only consolidated Michael Jackson as a singular artist, but also propelled pop music to new heights of expression and reach. Considered by many to be the greatest and best album in history, Thriller is notable for its innovation in music promotion. It pioneered the use of music videos as unprecedentedly successful promotional tools, with cinematic productions for tracks such as "Billie Jean", "Beat It" and the title track, which transformed MTV and the very perception of what a music video could be. Jackson's vision for the record, where each song was conceived as a 'killer', culminated in a cohesive yet diverse work that captured the imagination of millions. Musically, the album refined the strengths of its predecessor, Off the Wall, balancing dance and rock tracks with calm, soul-laden ballads, while lyrically exploring themes of paranoia and supernatural elements, adding unusual depth to the pop repertoire of the time.
Context
The years leading up to the release of Thriller were a period of transition and an intense quest for independence for Michael Jackson. Following the acclaimed and commercially successful Off the Wall, which sold over 20 million copies, Jackson, despite the success, felt lonely and undervalued by the music industry. He expressed frustration with the perceived 'under-performance' of Off the Wall for not winning the Album of the Year award, declaring that 'this may never happen again'. At 21 years old, the artist revealed his desire to become the biggest star in show business and the wealthiest, confronting the racial prejudice he felt existed in the industry, such as Rolling Stone magazine's refusal to put him on its cover. This backdrop of personal determination and aspiration for maximum recognition shaped the mindset behind the creation of Thriller, an album conceived to break down barriers and exceed all expectations.
Recording
The recording of Thriller reunited Michael Jackson and producer Quincy Jones, in a partnership that had already borne fruit with Off the Wall. They worked on approximately 30 songs, nine of which were selected for the final record. The sessions took place at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California, with a budget of 750,000 dollars, a considerable sum for the time. The recording process began on 14 April 1982, with the notable collaboration of Jackson and Paul McCartney on "The Girl Is Mine", and was completed on 8 November 1982. Several members of the band Toto contributed to the album. Jackson was the songwriter and co-producer of four essential tracks: "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", "The Girl Is Mine", "Beat It" and "Billie Jean", and his creative approach included dictating lyrics into a sound recorder and singing from memory. The relationship between Jackson and Jones, although productive, had moments of tension, with Jackson frequently rehearsing dance steps alone and both dissatisfied with the initial results, which led them to remix each track weekly until they achieved the desired perfection. The production of the track "Billie Jean" featured Jackson's insistence on keeping its long intro, which inspired him to dance, while for "Beat It", Jones and Jackson sought a rock guitarist who would appeal to all tastes, finding Eddie Van Halen. The title track, initially conceived as "Starlight" or "Midnight Man" by Rod Temperton, was re-named "Thriller" due to its marketing potential. For the song's final spoken word, Jones invited actor Vincent Price, who recorded his part in just two takes, with Temperton writing the verses in the taxi on the way to the studio.
Songs
Musically, Thriller is predominantly a funk and post-disco album, but with a broad sonic palette. Steve Huey of AllMusic noted that the record 'refined the strengths of Jackson's previous album, Off The Wall', balancing dance and rock songs with pop ballads and tracks closer to soul music. The album features ballads such as "The Lady In My Life", "Human Nature" and "The Girl Is Mine", funk songs like "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", and disco pieces like "Baby Be Mine" and "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)". "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" stands out for a bass and percussion backdrop, culminating in a climax inspired by an African chant, lending it an international flavour. "The Girl Is Mine", a duet with Paul McCartney, explores the lyrical dispute between two friends over a woman. Tracks like "Billie Jean" and "Thriller" itself delve into themes of paranoia and supernatural imagery, marking a transition to darker narratives in Jackson's work. Lyrically, "Billie Jean" addresses a fan's paternity claim, while "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" criticises gossip and the media. The title track, in turn, incorporates a range of sound effects, from creaking doors to dog howls, creating an immersive atmosphere of terror. "Beat It" presents itself as an homage to the musical West Side Story, being Jackson's first crossover track to achieve great success, with an anti-gang message. "Human Nature", co-composed by Steve Porcaro of Toto, is an introspective and melancholic ballad. Jackson's vocal abilities are a highlight of the album; he demonstrates an extraordinary vocal range, sliding into a surprising falsetto and using his characteristic 'vocal hiccup' to evoke diverse emotions, from sadness to excitement, or fear. Biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli described "The Lady In My Life" as the moment Jackson 'managed to sing with a sensual voice used in soul music after his years at Motown'.
Legacy
Thriller was not only a tremendous commercial success, but also a cultural phenomenon with an unparalleled legacy. Acclaimed by fans and critics alike, it won a record-breaking eight Grammy Awards in 1984, including the coveted Album of the Year. The record topped the charts in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and several other nations, becoming, in just one year, and remaining, the best-selling album of all time, with over 66 million copies sold globally. In the United States, it sold over 33 million copies, a historical record at the time. All seven singles from the album reached the top 10 in the US, with "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" leading the Billboard Hot 100. Thriller broke down prejudices and racial barriers in pop music, driven by Jackson's iconic performances on MTV and his White House meeting with President Ronald Reagan. The revolutionary music videos for "Billie Jean", "Beat It" and "Thriller" were constantly broadcast on MTV, with the video for the title track often cited as the 'greatest music video of all time', setting a new standard for visual art in music. The lasting impact of Thriller is evidenced by its constant appearances on 'best albums' lists: it was ranked 20th among Rolling Stone's 500 greatest albums of all time in 2003, and first among Slant Magazine's 'best albums of the 1980s' in 2012. The record was included in the National Recording Registry of the US Library of Congress, and its eponymous music video, in the National Film Registry. Even after Jackson's death in 2009, the album continued to break records, selling over 100,000 copies and making Jackson the first artist to sell over one million song downloads in a week. Its legacy continues to be celebrated with special re-releases, such as Thriller 25 and the forthcoming Thriller 40, showcasing its enduring relevance and influence.
Rankings
Tracks
Credits
Arthur Verocai
Novelli
Films
Books
Analyses
Marlene - É A Maior! (1970) | Toque Musical
toque-musicall.com
Selando então 2019, vamos com este disco "É a maior! com Marlene" que é literalmente um show. Um show criado por Fauzi Arap e Hermínio Bello de Carvalho, trazendo a extraordinária Marlene, que mesmo já longe dos tempos áureos do rádio continuava a fazer sucesso.
Vitrola Review | Marlene - É a Maior! - Alataj
alataj.com.br
O disco conta com interpretações fabulosas de composições de Mário Lago, Caetano Veloso, Luiz Gonzaga e Humberto Teixeira, Marcos e Paulo Sérgio Valle, Milton Nascimento e outros que repousam sobre as cadeiras cativas da imortalidade da música popular brasileira.
Coisas de Ledesma: O momento prazer e raiva de Marlene, a maior
viledesm.blogspot.com
Hoje, um CD que repousava há meses junto a outros e ainda lacrado me chamou. É de 1970, chama-se É a Maior!, gravação de um show da cantora Marlene. E Marlene, para mim, é meio mistério.
Marlene - É a Maior! - Ouvir todas as 10 músicas
ouvirmusica.com.br
Venha ouvir "A Onda", "Para o Inferno Ou Para o Céu / Se É Pecado Sambar / Mustang Cor de Sangue / Lata D'água / Cansado de Sambar / País Tropical / Meu Pai Amarrou Meus Olhos / Tropicalia (medley)", "Fez Bobagem / Recenseamento / Uva de Caminhão (medley)" e muitas outras músicas do álbum Marlene - É a Maior!!
Blog da Música Brasileira: 1970 - É A Maior - Marlene
blogdamusicabrasileira.blogspot.com
Ontem não consegui postar, mas pra compensar, postarei dois álbuns hoje. Assim, o primeiro deles é este, "É A Maior", de Marlene, uma das mais consagradas cantoras brasileiras de todos os tempos.
Discogs
É a Maior – Discogs
discogs.com