moonwalker5885
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Matt Forger says, the people who worked so long and hard on the album 'Thriller' 25 years ago knew they had something special. Back then, he was in charge of the technology. His memories came back full force as Michael Jackson put together Thriller 25 - for which he was a consultant. In an interview by phone from his home in Chatsworth, California (USA) Forger tells:.
"I was contacted whenever people needed information.
I'm the person who knows where all the little elements are hidden and what the little notes in the files mean."
It reminded him very much of the recoridng of `Thriller`in the `80s when he worked closely with legendary producer Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, as well as mixing master Bruce Swedien and songwriter Rod Temperton:
"At that time, all of it was recorded to analog tape with 24 tracks. The largest of my duties was managing a system that allowed us to use as many 24-track tapes as we could on each song, to develop the layered style of music that Quincy (Jones, the producer) and Mike (Jackson) envisioned."
For example, Forger says, the song 'Thriller' used 12 tapes with 24 tracks on each tape.
"Working on the 'Thriller' album was just one of those times in my life that I was thoroughly enjoying myself. It was a very challenging time. Nothing makes you feel better after you complete hard work as when you see it achieve some degree of success. It's a rewarding feeling."
Forger says the core five's excitement with the work was validated every time Michael Jackson invited another musician to record a track.
"The list of musicians coming in to work would leave saying this is something terrific, something fantastic."
His personal favorite song was "Beat It."
"I got to work with Eddie Van Halen. But all of the songs are so good. Many of them were unique in some fashion."
Forger laughs when asked whether he tasted any of the huge financial stakes.
"I was chief engineer at the studio, so I was a salaried person. But I also did some of the session work myself, so I was able to make a little bit of money billing as a studio engineer. I did not receive any royalty. In retrospect, it's sad."
Forger continued his working relationship with Michael Jackson on the albums "Bad," "Dangerous" and "HIStory." He also was called in during 1991 to work on rereleases of Jackson's early records, and in 2004 for Jackson's boxed set "The Ultimate Collection." Until today, he remains in touch with the singer:
"I speak to him on occasion. A couple of times a year. I never know. Michael isn't a person you ever call. He'll call you."
Forger says his studio work with Michael Jackson provided him with the moment he still cherishes most in his career. He also worked on the duet between Jackson and Paul McCartney for "The Girl Is Mine."
"That was truly a moment when I felt like I was where it was happening that day. It was a special moment. I got to meet his (McCartney's) wife at that time, Linda, and (producer) George Martin, and Geoff Emerick, the man who engineered most of the most important Beatles moments."
Forger says the "Thriller" sessions taught him the importance of teamwork in the studio. Now, with his own studio, he primarily works with independent artists he thinks deserve to have their music heard.
"My belief is, the power of a recording is in the song It actually starts in the songwriting, the emotional quality that's contained in the writing. If you can capture that emotional quality, that's the thing that jumps out at you and grabs you when you listen on radio or the Internet or a disc."
"I was contacted whenever people needed information.
I'm the person who knows where all the little elements are hidden and what the little notes in the files mean."
It reminded him very much of the recoridng of `Thriller`in the `80s when he worked closely with legendary producer Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, as well as mixing master Bruce Swedien and songwriter Rod Temperton:
"At that time, all of it was recorded to analog tape with 24 tracks. The largest of my duties was managing a system that allowed us to use as many 24-track tapes as we could on each song, to develop the layered style of music that Quincy (Jones, the producer) and Mike (Jackson) envisioned."
For example, Forger says, the song 'Thriller' used 12 tapes with 24 tracks on each tape.
"Working on the 'Thriller' album was just one of those times in my life that I was thoroughly enjoying myself. It was a very challenging time. Nothing makes you feel better after you complete hard work as when you see it achieve some degree of success. It's a rewarding feeling."
Forger says the core five's excitement with the work was validated every time Michael Jackson invited another musician to record a track.
"The list of musicians coming in to work would leave saying this is something terrific, something fantastic."
His personal favorite song was "Beat It."
"I got to work with Eddie Van Halen. But all of the songs are so good. Many of them were unique in some fashion."
Forger laughs when asked whether he tasted any of the huge financial stakes.
"I was chief engineer at the studio, so I was a salaried person. But I also did some of the session work myself, so I was able to make a little bit of money billing as a studio engineer. I did not receive any royalty. In retrospect, it's sad."
Forger continued his working relationship with Michael Jackson on the albums "Bad," "Dangerous" and "HIStory." He also was called in during 1991 to work on rereleases of Jackson's early records, and in 2004 for Jackson's boxed set "The Ultimate Collection." Until today, he remains in touch with the singer:
"I speak to him on occasion. A couple of times a year. I never know. Michael isn't a person you ever call. He'll call you."
Forger says his studio work with Michael Jackson provided him with the moment he still cherishes most in his career. He also worked on the duet between Jackson and Paul McCartney for "The Girl Is Mine."
"That was truly a moment when I felt like I was where it was happening that day. It was a special moment. I got to meet his (McCartney's) wife at that time, Linda, and (producer) George Martin, and Geoff Emerick, the man who engineered most of the most important Beatles moments."
Forger says the "Thriller" sessions taught him the importance of teamwork in the studio. Now, with his own studio, he primarily works with independent artists he thinks deserve to have their music heard.
"My belief is, the power of a recording is in the song It actually starts in the songwriting, the emotional quality that's contained in the writing. If you can capture that emotional quality, that's the thing that jumps out at you and grabs you when you listen on radio or the Internet or a disc."
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