Back on the Block
Released August 8, 1989
Recorded 1988-1989
Oceanway Record One
Lighthouse Studios
Westlake Audio
(Los Angeles, California)
Digital Recorders
(Nashville, Tennessee)
Tarpan Studios
(San Rafael, California)
Genre
R&B hip hop new jack swing jazz
Length 57:54
Label
Qwest Warner Bros.
Producer Quincy Jones
Back on the Block is a 1989 studio album produced by Quincy Jones. The album features legendary musicians and singers from across three generations, including Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Joe Zawinul, Ice-T, Big Daddy Kane, Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, George Benson, Luther Vandross, Dionne Warwick, Barry White, Chaka Khan, Take 6, Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau, Al B. Sure!, James Ingram, El DeBarge, Ray Charles and a 12 year old Tevin Campbell.
Multiple singles were lifted from the album and found success on Pop and R&B radio, including “I’ll Be Good To You”, “I Don’t Go For That”, “The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)”, and “Tomorrow (A Better You, Better Me)” which was originally an instrumental track on The Brothers Johnson’s Look Out for #1 set. “Tomorrow” is also noteworthy for introducing a young Tevin Campbell to the music scene. Back on the Block won the 1991 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Jones’ track, Setembro (Brazilian Wedding Song) was featured on the soundtrack of the 1991 film, Boyz n the Hood. Back on the Block topped the R&B Albums chart at number-one for twelve weeks, and topped the Contemporary Jazz Albums chart as well.
Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan
Back on the Block featured the last studio recordings of jazz singers Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan.
Fitzgerald and Jones had previously worked together on her 1963 album with Count Basie, Ella and Basie!. Jones had produced three albums with Sarah Vaughan when they both worked for Mercury Records.
Track listing
All Tracks Produced by Quincy Jones and Rod Temperton.
”Tomorrow (A Better You, A Better Me)” Co-produced by Jerry Hey.
1 “Prologue (2Q’s Rap)” Big Daddy Kane, Quincy Jones 1:04
2 “Back on the Block” Jones, Rod Temperton, Siedah Garrett, Caiphus Semenya, Ice-T, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, Big Daddy Kane Rhythm by Quincy Jones, QD III, Rod Temperton & Bill Summers
Vocals by Quincy Jones & Andraé Crouch 6:34
3 “I Don’t Go for That” Ian Prince Rhythm & Vocals by Ian Prince 5:11
4 “I’ll Be Good to You” George Johnson, Louis Johnson, Sonora Sam Rhythm & Vocals by Quincy Jones 4:54
5 “The Verb To Be (Introduction to Wee B. Dooinit)” Mervyn Warren 0:29
6 “Wee B. Dooinit (Acapella Party by the Human Bean Band)” Jones, Garrett, Ian Prince Rhythm by Quincy Jones & Ian Prince
Vocals by Quincy Jones, Ian Prince, Siedah Garrett, Mark Kibble & Rod Temperton 3:34
7 “The Places You Find Love” Glen Ballard, Clif Magness
African Lyrics by Caiphus Semenya Rhythm Originally by Quincy Jones, Clif Magness & Glen Ballard
Vocals by Quincy Jones, Andraé Crouch & Caiphus Semenya 6:25
8 “Jazz Corner of the World (Introduction to “Birdland”)” Big Daddy Kane, Kool Moe Dee Rhythm by Quincy Jones & Bill Summers 2:54
9 “Birdland” Joe Zawinul Rhythm by Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton & Ian Prince
Horns by Quincy Jones & Jerry Hey 5:33
10 “Setembro (Brazilian Wedding Song)” Ivan Lins, Gilson Peranzzetta Rhythm by Quincy Jones & Greg Phillinganes
Vocals by Quincy Jones & Mark Kibble 5:05
11 “One Man Woman” Garrett, Ian Prince, Harriet Roberts Rhythm by Quincy Jones & Ian Prince 3:44
12 “Tomorrow (A Better You, Better Me)” Music by George Johnson, Louis Johnson
Lyrics by Siedah Garrett Rhythm by Quincy Jones & Jerry Hey
Vocals by Quincy Jones & Rod Temperton 4:46
13 “Prelude to the Garden” Jorge Calandrelli Synth Strings by Jorge Calandrelli 0:54
14 “The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)” Jones, Temperton, Garrett, El DeBarge Rhythm by Quincy Jones & Rod Temperton
Vocals by Quincy Jones, Siedah Garrett & Rod Temperton
Synthesizer by Jerry Hey 6:41
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