“Body Heat” (album) by Quincy Jones (1974)
After a music career of twenty years Quincy Jones finally made it on the map as a solo musician. Previously he had enjoyed big success producing and composing arrangements for Leslie Gore, Count Basie, Ray Charles, Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie and countless others. But it wasn’t until 1974 that he finally made it into the top ten with one of his own albums. “Body Heat,” his 24th studio album made it up to #6 on the US album charts as well as #1 on the Jazz charts and his first to reach #1 on the R&B charts. His highest charting album before that was 1969’s “Walking In Space” and 1971’s “Smackwater Jack” each reaching #56 on the US album chart.
"Boogie Joe The Grinder"
What was it that made “Body Heat” more successful than it’s preceding albums? Could it have been Quincy’s decided embrace of a more urban sound? Maybe it was the inclusion of Minnie Riperton and Al Jarreau performing “If I Ever Lose This Heaven.” Could it have been the momentum Q had been working up beginning in 1969 with his album “Walking In Space”? Whatever it was “Body Heat” struck a chord with the music listening public and rallied Q to that day when he joined with Michael Jackson to produce the super mega-hit “Thriller.”
Quincy Jones (1974)
QUINCY JONES
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