The Story Behind the Song: Quincy Jones 1989 monster hit song Secret Garden featuring Al B. Sure!, James Ingram, El DeBarge and Barry White has a very interesting genesis. The song was inspired by Nancy Fridays book The Secret Garden. After Jones read the book, he made an uneducated guess about what women want and/or need from a relatio ship with a man. It unfolded into a one-act play with four characters: 1. Mr Sensitive, portrayed by Al B. Sure!, with the opening line I want to read your mind. 2. Mr Poet, portrayed by James Ingram, with I know a melody that we could sing together. 3. Mr.Erotic Animal, portrayed with such coviction by El DeBarge, starting with the lyric I need to be with you, let me lay beside you. Lastly, Mr. Father Figure, portrayed by Barry White, with Ill take good care of you. Jones says This is a song that was a picture in my mind long before it was a song. It was misty, ethereal, sensuous, totally seductive. It came together in the wee small hours of the night before we recorded it with El DeBarge, Siedah Garrett and Rod Temperton and I were finally able to fit all of the elements of the puzzle together. Once we got it, we really got it. The songs musical motor and sensual mood were provided by Greg Phillinganes, John Robinson, Neil Stubenhaus and Steve Lukather. We used only traditional instrumentation: Fender Rhodes 73, Fender Bass, guitar and drums. With so much synthesizer in the sounds of the late 80s, these real instruments sounded as new and fresh as the swirling string parts by Jerry Hey.
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 01:08:09 +0000
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