When the star-studded charity single from USA For Africa, "We Are The World", was being recorded in 1985, producer Quincy Jones had a similar phrase posted in the studio: 'Check your egos at the door."
That didn't remove all the tension that resulted, but it helped. As did the fact that Q was friends with a significant percentage of the people involved...
In my view, the song turned out really, really badly - too many cooks in the kitchen, maybe - but I enjoyed watching a well-made documentary on how the process went. Lionel Richie was also very involved and wore many hats during the intense lead-up to the recording!
Yes- he co-wrote the actual song with Michael Jackson.
At the same time, a contingent of Canadian musical stars recorded a similar tune, “Tears Are Not Enough”. I’m not sure if that sign made an appearance in the studio there are not…
Ego good although mine has mellowed a lot with age. Less stress too.
It's a little cringey to read stuff I wrote only a year ago but there's this
https://newsletter.wirepine.com/p/how-much-ego-is-too-much
All my old writing is awful to me, but I also kind of like reading it anyway. I'm like, "there's someone smart in there!"
"Leave your Igor at the door." - Dracula Convention 2025.
"Leave your ego at the door.”
When the star-studded charity single from USA For Africa, "We Are The World", was being recorded in 1985, producer Quincy Jones had a similar phrase posted in the studio: 'Check your egos at the door."
That didn't remove all the tension that resulted, but it helped. As did the fact that Q was friends with a significant percentage of the people involved...
In my view, the song turned out really, really badly - too many cooks in the kitchen, maybe - but I enjoyed watching a well-made documentary on how the process went. Lionel Richie was also very involved and wore many hats during the intense lead-up to the recording!
Yes- he co-wrote the actual song with Michael Jackson.
At the same time, a contingent of Canadian musical stars recorded a similar tune, “Tears Are Not Enough”. I’m not sure if that sign made an appearance in the studio there are not…