The Greatest Night In Pop
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In early 1985, amidst the American Music Awards’ glitz and glamour, something extraordinary took place at A&M Recording Studios in Hollywood.
Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson had conceived an idea - a song to raise awareness about African poverty: “We Are the World,” an anthem of unity and hope.
Originally, Richie wanted to collaborate with Stevie Wonder, but fate had other plans. On January 28, 1985, over 40 music icons, including Cyndi Lauper, Hall & Oates, Bruce Springsteen, Huey Lewis, Willie Nelson, Tina Turner, and the Jacksons gathered to record it.
The recording session lasted 12 hours, with most artists trusting Richie and Jackson’s vision without hearing the song first.
Producer Quincy Jones, orchestrated a symphony of talents, making sure each soloist’s part fit their vocal range perfectly.
Ray Charles commanded respect in the room, ensuring that the session remained focused.
“Ray Charles, being who he was, commanded a certain deference and respect from everyone, even though he didn’t assert himself in any weird way,” Oates says.
Dylan seemed uneasy about singing a melody, as he wasn’t known for his melodic style; but he found his own way to handle it.
Kenny Rogers wanted to collect everyone’s autographs. He recounted, “After we completed the song and recognized its exceptional quality, I grabbed a piece of sheet music from the recording session and began asking people to sign it. I’ve since framed it, and it proudly hangs on the wall in my Atlanta home.”
“We Are the World” was released on March 7, 1985, and has sold over 20 million copies and raised more than $75 million through the non-profit organization USA for Africa to combat poverty in Africa.
Netflix has released a preview for “The Greatest Night in Pop,” a fresh documentary exploring the creation of the 1985 charity single “We Are the World.”
The trailer offers glimpses of previously unseen moments from Jim Henson’s studio, along with interviews featuring Bruce Springsteen, Smokey Robinson, Cyndi Lauper, Dionne Warwick, and Huey Lewis, among others.
The film premieres on Netflix on January 29.
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