It was an absolute joy listening to Narada talk about those studio sessions, I didn’t want him to stop, well done once again Quest’ on another stellar interview, so much musical history to unpack here, just brilliant!
I interviewed Narada for a class assignment when I attended WMU in Kalamazoo back in the late 70s. He was in town for a concert and I was working for the college newspaper; comp tickets were sent to the newspaper office, and I pitched the interview idea to my professor. One of my life's regrets is that I didn't think to get that interview back from my professor. 😞 I'd love to have it for my clip book! Narada was very easy to interview, as pleasant and charming then as he is today. He answered all my questions, and gave me a couple of Sri Chinmoy's books. It's been a real pleasure to see his career blossom as it has. Thank you, Questlove, for this video.
Ive been following this brotha long before his producing so many (now) legendary acts. His drumming has always been epic on everything especially on Teena Marie's Out On A Limb; amazing.
Wow!! Quest love really knows the history that led to Funk which is my genre as a child growing up in the 70's. " I should have loved you " was a funky song. But I really came to appreciate narada Michael Walden when he started producing Stacy lattisaw.
What a brilliant interview. This is how it is done! Mr. Walden is so dynamic and bigger than life, and I truly believe some of the magic of the performances he talks about are due to the environment and vibe he created around people, and the respect he gave. He's just riveting to listen to. Questlove and team were also tops here - bringing the knowledge, the lore, the energy, and the passion. 🔥
Questlove 🥁 Thanks to you and Narada Walden 🥁🎼🎶 for this enlightening " innérview " with one of the renown premier drummers of the Fusion Era 🎶🎵 Michael really gave a lot of insight into his life and his trajectory of his musical Journey. I'm a drummer 🥁 born and raised in Detroit and my musical influence is my father Donald Webb who was a session drummer for all kinds of Music groups including some Motown sessions, My late father's Slingerland 5 piece Drum kit 🥁 which Im still playing today. Growing up in Detroit with a father who was a musician we consumed every kind of music 🎼🎶 from Motown R&B and Soul, Blues, Musical Show Tunes, Jazz and all the vocal 🎤🎶🎵 artist like Billie Holiday Sarah Vaughan 🎤 Nancy Wilson 🎤 Gospel music Mahalia Jackson and Opera music 🎼🎶 Lentine Price 🎤. Michael Walden 🥁🎼🪘 has been a iconic influence for me as a Drummer 🥁 after he took over the seat from Billy Cobham 🥁 then when Michael first album came out I listened to it and my initial response was slitted as much as I felt that this music is Soulful I felt like he had left behind the intensity of what he was playing with Mahavishnu John McLaughlin 🎸🎼🎶. Having followed Michaels musical Journey I came to appreciate the depth of his musical talent 🥁 🎹. Surely for Us who know, Michael Walden 🥁 deserves his Flowers 🌺 for his well deserved Recognition 👑
Stellar and killer interview once again. The depth and love in Narada's recollections alone bring you right back to the space and time, even if you weren't actually there. What a time. Now, based on the Tevin episode where he alluded that Narada videotapes his session, you forgot to probe that question. I understand though as that in itself would incur another couple of hours and a whole extended episode. Next one but amazing job!
Narada Michael Walden's work with the Mahavishnu Orchestra to me, is him at the top of his game. Explosive drummer. "Visions of the Emerald Beyond" is God-sent.
Thanks for doing this... Narada was one of my most listened to artist/producers in my teenage years.. strangely I think I got to know him first from his work with Stacy Lattisaw more than his own work...I think...
The "Pride of Kalamazoo" as far as musicians go. I remember his first album, as well as seeing him at the Back Door, with was a bar there. Some of the people that I knew would play with him. And then he came to Cali. and the rest is history. BTW I think I listen to the album 10,001.
I was an engineer at United Sound Systems when Narada was there cutting Aretha and George Michael, the console in the studio they used was a Neve 8108 which was located in Studio "B" in the front. I'm not sure about the API in Q-Tip's studio referenced in the video? Prior to the Neve in the "B" room there was an Auditronics. There was a custom Flickinger Custom console in the "A" room which was later replaced by a Neve 8048 until they closed in 2000.
questlove didn't have to bring out narda's personality, cause he's like this all time time when it comes to discussing music. but as always, questlove knows how to get the artists going. much respect to you amir.
Narada has always been my favorite producers along with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and La Reid and Babyface but NMW was the best who wrote and produced for so many artists in the 80s more so in the 90s. Those hits from Whitney, Aretha, Mariah, Ojays, Regina, Kenny G, Jermaine Stewart, D"atra Hicks, Patti Austin/ Labelle, Clarence Clemons, George Benson. This is why Narada has been my soundtrack of my 1980s. Fun fact: Aretha, Whitney, Angela, Kenny, Dionne, Jermaine all those artists Clive Davis for Arista. Thanks Quest.
to be great you must have a story like: I wanted to get better so bad, I tried to cut off my left arm. OR, I tried to make my self blind lol..smh "...i decided never to let anyone outwork me" - mj
Re: ?uest's comment about African spirituality, Christianity has a presence on the African continent that pre-dates its arrival in Europe and colonialism by centuries, especially in North-East Africa. It's therefore also part of 'African spirituality'. The continent as we know is vast and there are multiple traditions. It's not all about animism.
It was an absolute joy listening to Narada talk about those studio sessions, I didn’t want him to stop, well done once again Quest’ on another stellar interview, so much musical history to unpack here, just brilliant!
RIGHT!??
I interviewed Narada for a class assignment when I attended WMU in Kalamazoo back in the late 70s. He was in town for a concert and I was working for the college newspaper; comp tickets were sent to the newspaper office, and I pitched the interview idea to my professor.
One of my life's regrets is that I didn't think to get that interview back from my professor. 😞 I'd love to have it for my clip book! Narada was very easy to interview, as pleasant and charming then as he is today. He answered all my questions, and gave me a couple of Sri Chinmoy's books. It's been a real pleasure to see his career blossom as it has. Thank you, Questlove, for this video.
absolute GOLD, thank you so much for giving us mere mortals the chance to hear all those stories and learn from the GREATS 🙏
That compliment is why we do this...
Always loved Narada’s work on Sister Sledge’s underrated album All American Girls!
I grew up on Narada Micheal Walden 1979 album The Dance of Life
Great album. Played it surrounding this interview.
Thanks for a great Interview! Man, Narada has to write a book - so many people over so many different musical genres...
We would buy it right now...
Ive been following this brotha long before his producing so many (now) legendary acts. His drumming has always been epic on everything especially on Teena Marie's Out On A Limb; amazing.
This is amazing bc Quest has the driest personality and Narada has the most energy on the planet 😂. Thanks for this. A true legend
This incredible man needs to write his autobiography!!! I can listen to him forever!! SO much knowledge and history!!
Wow!! Quest love really knows the history that led to Funk which is my genre as a child growing up in the 70's. " I should have loved you " was a funky song. But I really came to appreciate narada Michael Walden when he started producing Stacy lattisaw.
What a brilliant interview. This is how it is done! Mr. Walden is so dynamic and bigger than life, and I truly believe some of the magic of the performances he talks about are due to the environment and vibe he created around people, and the respect he gave. He's just riveting to listen to. Questlove and team were also tops here - bringing the knowledge, the lore, the energy, and the passion. 🔥
Questlove 🥁 Thanks to you and Narada Walden 🥁🎼🎶 for this enlightening " innérview " with one of the renown premier drummers of the Fusion Era 🎶🎵 Michael really gave a lot of insight into his life and his trajectory of his musical Journey.
I'm a drummer 🥁 born and raised in Detroit and my musical influence is my father Donald Webb who was a session drummer for all kinds of Music groups including some Motown sessions, My late father's Slingerland 5 piece Drum kit 🥁 which Im still playing today.
Growing up in Detroit with a father who was a musician we consumed every kind of music 🎼🎶 from Motown R&B and Soul, Blues, Musical Show Tunes, Jazz and all the vocal 🎤🎶🎵 artist like Billie Holiday Sarah Vaughan 🎤 Nancy Wilson 🎤 Gospel music Mahalia Jackson and Opera music 🎼🎶 Lentine Price 🎤.
Michael Walden 🥁🎼🪘 has been a iconic influence for me as a Drummer 🥁 after he took over the seat from Billy Cobham 🥁 then when Michael first album came out I listened to it and my initial response was slitted as much as I felt that this music is Soulful I felt like he had left behind the intensity of what he was playing with Mahavishnu John McLaughlin 🎸🎼🎶.
Having followed Michaels musical Journey I came to appreciate the depth of his musical talent 🥁 🎹.
Surely for Us who know, Michael Walden 🥁 deserves his Flowers 🌺 for his well deserved Recognition 👑
Thank you for this amazing interview with Narda. Totally beautiful.
11:43 The way Quest said "SOLAR Eclipse," I thought he was about to talk about Shalamar and Leon Sylvers or something. 😸
Stellar and killer interview once again. The depth and love in Narada's recollections alone bring you right back to the space and time, even if you weren't actually there. What a time. Now, based on the Tevin episode where he alluded that Narada videotapes his session, you forgot to probe that question. I understand though as that in itself would incur another couple of hours and a whole extended episode. Next one but amazing job!
FINALLY. WE ARE HERE.
The respect and enthusiasm is palpable.
Narada Michael Walden's work with the Mahavishnu Orchestra to me, is him at the top of his game. Explosive drummer. "Visions of the Emerald Beyond" is God-sent.
Such good questions. Such a god of music and spirit. Such fun. Thank you all.
Thanks for doing this... Narada was one of my most listened to artist/producers in my teenage years.. strangely I think I got to know him first from his work with Stacy Lattisaw more than his own work...I think...
The "Pride of Kalamazoo" as far as musicians go. I remember his first album, as well as seeing him at the Back Door, with was a bar there. Some of the people that I knew would play with him. And then he came to Cali. and the rest is history. BTW I think I listen to the album 10,001.
Nice context
Great interview and very educational, what a life he has led
I didn't want this episode to END
Us either...
wow!
I was an engineer at United Sound Systems when Narada was there cutting Aretha and George Michael, the console in the studio they used was a Neve 8108 which was located in Studio "B" in the front. I'm not sure about the API in Q-Tip's studio referenced in the video? Prior to the Neve in the "B" room there was an Auditronics. There was a custom Flickinger Custom console in the "A" room which was later replaced by a Neve 8048 until they closed in 2000.
AWESOME INTERVIEW
AGREED. (Thank you)
Great interview!
Thank you for tuning in
I need narada to save me 🙏🏻
questlove didn't have to bring out narda's personality, cause he's like this all time time when it comes to discussing music. but as always, questlove knows how to get the artists going. much respect to you amir.
Narada has always been my favorite producers along with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and La Reid and Babyface but NMW was the best who wrote and produced for so many artists in the 80s more so in the 90s.
Those hits from Whitney, Aretha, Mariah, Ojays, Regina, Kenny G, Jermaine Stewart, D"atra Hicks, Patti Austin/ Labelle, Clarence Clemons, George Benson.
This is why Narada has been my soundtrack of my 1980s.
Fun fact: Aretha, Whitney, Angela, Kenny, Dionne, Jermaine all those artists Clive Davis for Arista.
Thanks Quest.
Herbie hancock
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Although Narada Michael Walden produced mostly big name female artists, I felt his best work was doing most of Stacy Lattisaw's albums.
Word... some nice Stacy talk near the middle of this video... (early Part 2 in the audio)...
I think his own music was better than anything he produced.
to be great you must have a story like: I wanted to get better so bad, I tried to cut off my left arm. OR, I tried to make my self blind lol..smh "...i decided never to let anyone outwork me" - mj
There it is...
🙌🏿
Narada is from Kalamazoo and I'm from Pullman...... We were Neighbors....Who Knew
Michiganders unite!
Re: ?uest's comment about African spirituality, Christianity has a presence on the African continent that pre-dates its arrival in Europe and colonialism by centuries, especially in North-East Africa. It's therefore also part of 'African spirituality'. The continent as we know is vast and there are multiple traditions. It's not all about animism.