Back on the Block

Back on the Block
Back on the Block
Studio album by Quincy Jones
Released	November 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
Quincy Jones chronology

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Robert Christgau	B+^[2]
Ebony	favorable^[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[4]

Back on the Block is a 1989 studio album produced by Quincy Jones.^[5] 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.

Overview[]

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 (of brazilian composers Gilson Peranzzetta and Ivan Lins)" 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.

Grammy Awards[]

At the 33rd Grammy Awards, Back on the Block won seven Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

In arranging, Jerry Hey, Quincy Jones, Ian Prince and Rod Temperton won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement for "Birdland", and Glen Ballard, Hey, Jones and Clif Magness won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) for "The Places You Find Love".

Jones also won the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance for "Birdland", and the Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical.

Bruce Swedien won the Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for his work on the album.

Ray Charles and Chaka Khan won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "I'll Be Good To You".

The Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group went to Big Daddy Kane, Ice-T, Kool Moe Dee, Melle Mel, Quincy Jones III and Jones for "Back on the Block".

Track listing[]

All tracks produced by Quincy Jones and Rod Temperton. ”Tomorrow (A Better You, A Better Me)” co-produced by Jerry Hey.

#	Title	Writer(s)	Arranger(s)	Time
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

Charts[]

Weekly charts[]

Chart (1989-1990)	Peak position
Austrian Albums Chart^[6]	19
Dutch Albums Chart^[7]	38
German Albums Chart^[8]	5
New Zealand Albums Chart^[9]	24
Norwegian Albums Chart^[10]	16
Swedish Albums Chart^[11]	26
Swiss Albums Chart^[12]	21
UK Albums Chart^[13]	26
US Billboard 200^[14]	9
US Top Contemporary Jazz Albums	1
US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums^[15]	1

Certifications[]


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)^[16]	Gold	50,000^{^}
Japan (RIAJ)^[17]	Gold	100,000^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[18]	Gold	100,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[19]	Platinum	1,000,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Personnel[]

Adapted credits from the liner notes of Back on the Block.^[20]

Quincy Jones – lead vocals (track 1), choir conductor (7), handclaps (2, 6, 9), drums (6), drum machine (2), M1 pads (10)
Gerald Albright – alto saxophone solo (tracks 10, 12)
Nadirah Ali – background vocals (track 3)
Maxi Anderson – background vocals (track 7)
George Benson – guitar solo (tracks 8–10)
Peggi Blu – sampled background vocals (track 7)
Michael Boddicker – drum machine (track 2), M1 pads (10), synth pads (10), synth programming (4, 7, 9)
McKinley Brown – background vocals (track 12)
Ollie E. Brown – percussion (track 12)
Jorge Calandrelli – synth strings (track 13)
Tevin Campbell – lead vocals (tracks 2, 12)
Ray Charles – lead vocals (track 4)
Paulinho da Costa – percussion (track 10, sampled on 7)
Andraé Crouch – vocal arranger, choir conductor, background vocals (tracks 2, 7)
Sandra Crouch – choir conductor (track 2), background vocals (2, 7)
Miles Davis – trumpet solo (tracks 8–9)
El DeBarge – lead and background vocals (track 14)
George Duke – keyboard solo (track 11), Fender Rhodes solo (10)
Chad Durio – backing vocals (track 12)
Sheila E. – timbales solo (track 11)
Nathan East – bass guitar (track 9)
Geary Lanier Faggett – background vocals (track 7)
Vonciele Faggett – background vocals (tracks 2, 7)
Ella Fitzgerald – lead vocals (tracks 6, 8–9)
Kenneth Ford – background vocals (track 12)
Jania Foxworth – background vocals (track 12)
Siedah Garrett – lead vocals (tracks 3, 6–7, 11), background vocals (tracks 3, 11, 14, sampled on 7, additional on 4), choir director (12)
Tammi Gibson – background vocals (tracks 2, 7)
Dizzy Gillespie – trumpet solo (tracks 8–9)
James Gilstrap – background vocals (track 4)
J. C. Gomez – African percussion (track 2)
Jackie Gouche – background vocals (track 7)
Gary Grant – trumpet (track 9)
Reginale Green – background vocals (track 12)
Herbie Hancock – keyboard solo (tracks 3, 7, 10), synth pads (10)
Alex Harris – background vocals (track 12)
Howard Hewett – sampled background vocals (track 7)
Jerry Hey – trumpet (track 9), additional keyboards (7)
Jennifer Holliday – sampled background vocals (track 7)
Pattie Howard – sampled background vocals (track 7)
Ice-T – rap (track 2)
James Ingram – lead vocals (track 14), additional background vocals (4), sampled background vocals (7)
Jesse Jackson – narrator (track 2)
Paul Jackson Jr. – sampled guitar (track 7)
Al Jarreau – vocals (track 6)
George Johnson – guitar (track 4), sampled background vocals (4)
Louis Johnson – Moog synth bass (tracks 2, 4), bass guitar (2, 4, sampled on 7), sampled background vocals (4)
Tiffany Johnson – background vocals (track 12)
Jean Johnson-McRath – background vocals (tracks 2, 7)
Big Daddy Kane – rap (vocals) (tracks 2, 8)
Randy Kerber – keyboards (track 12), sampled keyboards (7), sampled synthesizer (7)
Chaka Khan – lead vocals (tracks 4, 7)
Michael Landau – sampled guitar (track 7)
Rhett Lawrence – Fairlight bass and analog guitar synthesizer (track 7)
Edie Lehman – background vocals (tracks 6, 7)
Steve Lukather – guitar (tracks 12, 14)
Clif Magness – sampled background vocals (track 7)
Harvey Mason Sr. – drums (track 4)
Donovan McCrary – background vocals (track 12)
Howard McCrary – background vocals (tracks 2, 7)
Bobby McFerrin – vocals, additional percussion (track 6)
Melle Mel – rap (track 2)
Kool Moe Dee – rap (tracks 2, 8)
James Moody – alto saxophone solo (tracks 8–9)
Perry Morgan – background vocals (tracks 2, 7)
David Paich – keyboards (tracks 4, 10, additional on 7)
Phil Perry – additional background vocals (track 4)
Tyren Perry – background vocals (track 12)
Greg Phillinganes – keyboards (tracks 2, 4, 10–11), Fender Rhodes (12, 14)
Steve Porcaro – synth programming (tracks 2, 4, 7, 10)
Ian Prince – keyboards (tracks 3–4, 9–11), vocoder (6), background vocals (3)
Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone (track 9)
John Robinson – drums (tracks 12, 14, sampled on 7)
Derrick Schofield – background vocals (track 7)
Caiphus Semenya – background vocals (track 2)
Shane Shoaf – background vocals (track 12)
Alfie Silas – background vocals (tracks 2, 7)
Neil Stubenhaus – synth bass (track 12), bass guitar (14)
Rose Stone – choir director (track 12), background vocals (2, 7)
Bill Summers – percussion (track 8, African on 2, additional on 7), hindewhu
Al B. Sure! – lead and background vocals (track 14)
Bruce Swedien – recording engineer (all tracks), mixing (all tracks), kick & snare drums (tracks 4, 14)
Take 6 – background vocals (tracks 1, 6, 10)
Rod Temperton – drum machine (tracks 1–2), handclaps (2, 6, 9)
Ian Underwood – handclaps (tracks 2, 6, 9), synth programming (3–4, 10)
Luther Vandross – sampled background vocals (track 7)
Sarah Vaughan – lead vocals (tracks 6, 8–10)
Mervyn Warren – background vocals (tracks 1, 6, 10), voices (5)
Dionne Warwick – sampled background vocals (track 7)
Barry White – lead vocals (track 14)
Larry Williams – saxophone (track 9), keyboards (9, 13–14, sampled on 7), sampled synthesizer (7), synth programming (3–4, 11, 13–14)
Syreeta Wright – sampled background vocals (track 4)
Charity Young – background vocals (track 12)
Michael C. Young – synth programming (track 9)
Joe Zawinul – synthesizer solo (tracks 2, 8), sampled synthesizer (9)

References[]

^ AllMusic review
^ Christgau, Robert (February 6, 1990). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
^ Ebony review
^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 380.
^ Allmusic - Back on the Block > Overview
^ "Austrian Albums Chart - February 25, 1990". Austrian Album Charts (in German). Hung Medien.
^ "Dutch Albums Chart - June 2, 1990". dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien.
^ Hung, Steffen. "Back on the Block". charts.nz. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
^ "Quincy Jones - Back on the Block". charts.nz. Hung Medien.
^ "Quincy Jones - Back on the Block". norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien.
^ "Quincy Jones - Back on the Block". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien.
^ "Quincy Jones - Back on the Block". hitparade.ch. Hung Medien.
^ "UK Albums Chart - February 11, 1990". UK Albums Chart. Official Charts Company.
^ "Billboard 200 - February 3, 1990". Billboard.
^ "Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums - February 3, 1990". Billboard.
^ "Canadian album certifications – Quincy Jones – Back on the Block". Music Canada.
^ "Japanese album certifications – Quincy Jones – Back on the Block" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved June 8, 2020. Select 1990年2月 on the drop-down menu
^ "British album certifications – Quincy Jones – Back on the Block". British Phonographic Industry.Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Back on the Block in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
^ "American album certifications – Quincy Jones – Back on the Block". Recording Industry Association of America.
^ Back on the Block (booklet). Quincy Jones. Qwest. Warner Bros. 1989. 926 020-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[1] AllMusic review

[2] Christgau, Robert (February 6, 1990). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved October 9, 2013.

[3] Ebony review

[RS-4] The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 380.

[5] Allmusic - Back on the Block > Overview

[6] "Austrian Albums Chart - February 25, 1990". Austrian Album Charts (in German). Hung Medien.

[7] "Dutch Albums Chart - June 2, 1990". dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien.

[Hung-8] Hung, Steffen. "Back on the Block". charts.nz. Retrieved 1 August 2018.

[9] "Quincy Jones - Back on the Block". charts.nz. Hung Medien.

[10] "Quincy Jones - Back on the Block". norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien.

[11] "Quincy Jones - Back on the Block". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien.

[12] "Quincy Jones - Back on the Block". hitparade.ch. Hung Medien.

[13] "UK Albums Chart - February 11, 1990". UK Albums Chart. Official Charts Company.

[14] "Billboard 200 - February 3, 1990". Billboard.

[15] "Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums - February 3, 1990". Billboard.

[CanadaQuincy_JonesBack_on_the_BlockalbumCertRef-16] "Canadian album certifications – Quincy Jones – Back on the Block". Music Canada.

[JapanQuincy_JonesBack_on_the_BlockalbumCertRef-17] "Japanese album certifications – Quincy Jones – Back on the Block" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved June 8, 2020. Select 1990年2月 on the drop-down menu

[United_KingdomQuincy_JonesBack_on_the_BlockalbumCertRef-18] "British album certifications – Quincy Jones – Back on the Block". British Phonographic Industry.Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Back on the Block in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.

[United_StatesQuincy_JonesBack_on_the_BlockalbumCertRef-19] "American album certifications – Quincy Jones – Back on the Block". Recording Industry Association of America.

[20] Back on the Block (booklet). Quincy Jones. Qwest. Warner Bros. 1989. 926 020-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

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show v t Ella Fitzgerald
Discography Awards
Studio albums	Ella Sings Gershwin Songs in a Mellow Mood Lullabies of Birdland For Sentimental Reasons Miss Ella Fitzgerald & Mr Gordon Jenkins Invite You to Listen and Relax Sweet and Hot Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book Ella and Louis Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers & Hart Song Book Ella and Louis Again Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book Like Someone in Love Ella Swings Lightly Porgy and Bess Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book Get Happy! Ella Fitzgerald Sings Sweet Songs for Swingers Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas Hello, Love Ella Fitzgerald Sings Songs from "Let No Man Write My Epitaph" Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Song Book Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! Rhythm Is My Business Ella Swings Brightly with Nelson Ella Swings Gently with Nelson Ella Sings Broadway Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Jerome Kern Song Book Ella and Basie! These Are the Blues Hello, Dolly! Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Song Book Ella at Duke's Place Whisper Not Brighten the Corner Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas 30 by Ella Misty Blue Ella Things Ain't What They Used to Be (And You Better Believe It) Ella Loves Cole Take Love Easy Fine and Mellow Ella and Oscar Fitzgerald and Pass... Again Lady Time Dream Dancing A Classy Pair Ella Abraça Jobim The Best Is Yet to Come Speak Love Nice Work If You Can Get It Easy Living All That Jazz
Live albums	At the Opera House Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday at Newport Ella in Rome: The Birthday Concert Ella Fitzgerald Live at Mister Kelly's Ella in Berlin: Mack the Knife Ella in Hollywood Ella Returns to Berlin Twelve Nights in Hollywood Ella at Juan-Les-Pins Ella in Hamburg Ella and Duke at the Cote D'Azur Sunshine of Your Love Newport Jazz Festival: Live at Carnegie Hall The Stockholm Concert, 1966 Ella in Budapest Ella à Nice Jazz at Santa Monica Civic '72 Ella in London Montreux '75 Montreux '77 Digital III at Montreux A Perfect Match Sophisticated Lady
Other albums	Songs from Pete Kelly's Blues One O'Clock Jump Back on the Block The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books Pure Ella The Complete Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong on Verve Jukebox Ella: The Complete Verve Singles, Vol. 1 Gold
Tribute albums	Dear Ella To Ella We All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of Song
Filmography	Ride 'Em Cowboy Pete Kelly's Blues St. Louis Blues
Related	Ray Brown (second husband) Ray Brown Jr. (son) Louis Armstrong collaborations A Man and His Music + Ella + Jobim Marilyn and Ella (2008 play)
Category

show v t Grammy Award for Album of the Year
1959–1979	The Music from Peter Gunn – Henry Mancini (1959) Come Dance with Me! – Frank Sinatra (1960) The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart – Bob Newhart (1961) Judy at Carnegie Hall – Judy Garland (1962) The First Family – Vaughn Meader (1963) The Barbra Streisand Album – Barbra Streisand (1964) Getz/Gilberto – Stan Getz & João Gilberto (1965) September of My Years – Frank Sinatra (1966) A Man and His Music – Frank Sinatra (1967) Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Beatles (1968) By the Time I Get to Phoenix – Glen Campbell (1969) Blood, Sweat & Tears – Blood, Sweat & Tears (1970) Bridge over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel (1971) Tapestry – Carole King (1972) The Concert for Bangladesh – George Harrison & Friends (1973) Innervisions – Stevie Wonder (1974) Fulfillingness' First Finale – Stevie Wonder (1975) Still Crazy After All These Years – Paul Simon (1976) Songs in the Key of Life – Stevie Wonder (1977) Rumours – Fleetwood Mac (1978) Saturday Night Fever – Various Artists (1979)
1980–1999	52nd Street – Billy Joel (1980) Christopher Cross – Christopher Cross (1981) Double Fantasy – John Lennon & Yoko Ono (1982) Toto IV – Toto (1983) Thriller – Michael Jackson (1984) Can't Slow Down – Lionel Richie (1985) No Jacket Required – Phil Collins (1986) Graceland – Paul Simon (1987) The Joshua Tree – U2 (1988) Faith – George Michael (1989) Nick of Time – Bonnie Raitt (1990) Back on the Block – Quincy Jones and Various Artists (1991) Unforgettable... with Love – Natalie Cole (1992) Unplugged – Eric Clapton (1993) The Bodyguard – Whitney Houston (1994) MTV Unplugged – Tony Bennett (1995) Jagged Little Pill – Alanis Morissette (1996) Falling into You – Celine Dion (1997) Time Out of Mind – Bob Dylan (1998) The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill – Lauryn Hill (1999)
2000–2019	Supernatural – Santana (2000) Two Against Nature – Steely Dan (2001) O Brother, Where Art Thou? – Various Artists (2002) Come Away with Me – Norah Jones (2003) Speakerboxxx/The Love Below – Outkast (2004) Genius Loves Company – Ray Charles & Various Artists (2005) How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb – U2 (2006) Taking the Long Way – Dixie Chicks (2007) River: The Joni Letters – Herbie Hancock (2008) Raising Sand – Robert Plant & Alison Krauss (2009) Fearless – Taylor Swift (2010) The Suburbs – Arcade Fire (2011) 21 – Adele (2012) Babel – Mumford & Sons (2013) Random Access Memories – Daft Punk (2014) Morning Phase – Beck (2015) 1989 – Taylor Swift (2016) 25 – Adele (2017) 24K Magic – Bruno Mars (2018) Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves (2019)
2020–present	When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? – Billie Eilish (2020) Folklore – Taylor Swift (2021)