Everyone invlolved with the Thriller album are genius, but we must acknowledge what a brilliant musician and artist Rod Temperton was. He was more of a backstage guy, but without him we would miss a lot of hits and magnificent arrangements.
At this level I don’t think you play by memory. You just play what comes up in your head and directly translate that to chords. That’s how I do it anyway. Although I don’t have the level of this guy by far. Playing the baseline and the chords would have me struggled.
@@vandenhengel978 I know this from dance. I am - kind of semi professional - and I remember old choreography not my "remembering" - my body just recreates the moves somehow... I think body memory is a big thing also for musicians. I had the same effect when I learned the drums. I did not remember a piece but my hands just played it. It is magical. 🙂
@@webweib8271 A musician can hear the chords. Greg, like many people, has known this song for many years. He knows what chords are playing when he hears a song. Especially since in modern music not 50 chords are used. The chords in Thriller, Billie jean... are very familiar and quite basic. The only possible difficulty is to find the exact way the chord was played and possible enrichments (the same chord can be played in different ways) on the day of the recording. This is all the easier for him as he was the musical director and keyboardist of the Bad Tour. So he played Thriller, Billie jean... hundreds of times between rehearsals and concerts. And that's not specific to Greg. A lot of young musicians play all the parts just by ear. Otherwise, you can easily find the sheet music on the web. Look up Dr mix who recreated all of Thriller and there are others. It's just like everyone else with writing. We learned years ago and we recognize thousands of words... Even words you haven't written in years, you remember how to write them.
Keep in mind that Greg Phillinganes not only played on the album recordings, but he would have played these songs many times, on many live performances and tours, for years after the original. He owns that stuff! ❤️ Simply a legendary player.
Geniuses, right before our very own eyes. You gentlemen are so abundantly incredible. Michael 🎤 was one of a kind, he inspired me within my music creation singing/ production, and songwriting. We owe so much to him and also to you great men too. I truly look forward to more fabulous videos....... Much love to you all 💝
He's a musician, he hear the chords like you read a book. Many persons can play thriller chords. I learn this chords when I was teenager. It's not impressive, it's just normal.
I think that Michael was full of musical experiences growing up and he listened and enriched his ear and heart by later arranging and creating the same with his colleagues on his projects in modern pop production. So, for today's copy paste workers in music production, there is not enough benefit from the genius heritage from the previous millennium, except for quality and creative ones based on experience and own vision, as always in art regardless of style. Talent, experience, creation and own expression, and at higher levels, readiness or a habit with subconscious acceptance of cooperation and recognition of the creatively high level of each member on the project. From these youtube videos of yours, one can see and hear that all of you, like Michael, are unique, quality and the level of cooperation is at an enormously high level, that is why you are a historical legacy in the modern pop music production and industry.
You have to understand...as a poor uneducated consumer of pop music. We never,ever imagined all the labor and layering...and imagination that was put into our favorite tunes. Just...by viewing this little scenario with Greg and friends...that just the non hits are all works of art. Music...is truly a language...we all seem to hear it...but,so few can speak it. All that complicated tapestry of lyrics,harmonies,rhythms,pitch,sonatas and arias. We just get the gut reactions...but,these tunes are monumental in the eras of our lives. Thanks to all music makers!! Across all genres...we are all indebted to you.
Funny to see Greg try to remember the chord voicing to Thriller. It's also interesting to see how simple the Thriller patch is from the Jupiter-8. BTW, thanks for moving these videos to YT!
I'm so grateful to have been born in a world at a time when i could listen to such marvellous music, MJ, Greg, Rob, Q, and all you guys who made this album. And thanks to the man above for blessings x
Wow, just absolute WOW! Anthony and Steven, thank you so, so much for this series. I was a young pro keyboardist on the road when Thriller came out. I was in awe, of everything. The songs, the sounds, the production - every detail. I soon after went to college and it became my soundtrack walking around campus. Focusing in on every detail, hearing all the work that Greg and Anthony did regarding the sounds and parts, just everything. It became a masterclass in how to write and record pop music in it's own right, and without any further instruction. It was, I think, as close to a perfect pop album as you can get (maybe in a tie with Steely Dan's Aja on that one). The fact that Michael set out to make the world's best pop album speaks to his vision. Music video also helped him at just the perfect time to take Thriller to the stratosphere. Sorry I'm rambling, just so many memories, and I had nothing to do with it except for one big thing - I was a student of this record and of Quincy's The Dude, as well as a keyboard player, DJ and songwriter. I took this masterclass you all baked up. That and many more from that era. Music speaks it's own language, and well-produced tracks are each a class of their own. I just can't thank you all enough for doing this series, sharing your secrets, loving what you do, and sharing that love. It just all speaks to the next level effort that everyone put in on that record. I could go on, but I won't. Peace and love and well wishes to you and crew and all involved. ♥🎹☮
WOW...just...WOW. Definitely illustrates how great musicianship & great tools make a big difference. I guess we will never get another classic album again based upon how things are done at present.
@@matiasss550 There's nothing to be sorry about... if it's a cover, then it'a a really great cover. Pat Boone "Covered" Little Richard Aretha Franklin "Covered" Otis Redding and so on...
Many classic songs are musical works of art. People don't realise the skill and thought that goes into curating the multi layered sonic jigsaw that listeners just hear as 'the song'. I also heard some bass passing riff notes I never heard on the song b4 but realised they emphasise the clap but we just hear the end result.
Back when i was hanging out with a kid who went to music school, what he'd do if he felt he ran out of fingers was he'd drill holes in the sliders, and put piano rod through them, which would have a small rubber ball on the end ( i remember them being those sets of colored bouncy balls you could buy in bags) and he'd hang the rods over a small shelf he'd made out of the side of a server rack cabinet (looked like a comb) which would then allow him to play with his hands and use his head/teeth to move the balls to give himself effects as he needed. Much later i helped him put plug inputs for all the sliders as bypasses and made a bunch of calibrated pedals for him to use. Soul of the party, lots of jams, awesome music. People who are able to understand music at a molecular level are always eye opening to befriend.
4 months ago? UA-cam you slippin’. This should have hit my feed months ago. Better late than never because this was AWESOME! RIP to those we lost that made this happen. MJ RT BS
I am so glad youtube recommended this to me! Imagine being responsible for the greatest album of all time, and all that while being in your twenties?? How crazy is that? Greeting from Croatia!
Came across this video again and gave it another full watch. Not to get things twisted - I’m a Greg Phillinganes fan for sure. He’s a legend and a cool dude. However, it puzzles me a bit the way he reacts to all of the old gear Anthony still has in his studio. It’s almost like he’s never seen any of it before. Almost like he’s saying in his head “Wow, these things are crazy but look way too complicated for me to mess with so I’ll pass”. Granted, it has been 40 years, but Greg was a first call session keyboardist during an era where synthesizers were incredibly popular. Also, programming synthesizers is like riding a bike. A decent explanation would probably be that he was called in for record dates not because he had knowledge of cutting edge synths, but because he was strictly a player and had the most impeccable timing. It’s crazy how recording budgets used to be able to afford a luxury like that Still, hard to believe that a keyboardist back in the 1980s wouldn’t be the first one to own a basement full of synthesizers just for the hell of it. It is highly documented that Rod Temperton wrote every bit the the title track “Thriller” and is seen in photos from those sessions standing next to a Roland Jupiter 8. I guess they just told Greg “the synthesizer is all set up and ready to go so here’s the notation - go for it”
what amazing! I have a question I have the original multitrack of Wanna be Startin, it is faster than the one on the album ...pitch is the same , how..what... mystery... thanks so much for this again!
Watching these I really wish that they could get the band back together and do a Thriller tour. Replacing Michael would be impossible but they could probably find two people, a good dancer and a good singer to put a show together.
Everyone invlolved with the Thriller album are genius, but we must acknowledge what a brilliant musician and artist Rod Temperton was. He was more of a backstage guy, but without him we would miss a lot of hits and magnificent arrangements.
Yoooooo. That is so dope when he started jamming at the end playing both the synth and the bass groove. Greg Phillinganes is the truth.
He's not jamming. He's playing the parts as they were recorded. From memory. Which is awesome.
Jeeez. The skill!
I could watch these masters mess around with old synths all day. What I wouldn't give to see this whole thing uncut. HOW COOL IS GREG!?!?
It's a testament to Greg's talent that he can play all the parts by memory, over 40 years later. Astounding.
I guess it is body memory... But still impressive, no doubt.
At this level I don’t think you play by memory. You just play what comes up in your head and directly translate that to chords. That’s how I do it anyway. Although I don’t have the level of this guy by far. Playing the baseline and the chords would have me struggled.
@@vandenhengel978 I know this from dance. I am - kind of semi professional - and I remember old choreography not my "remembering" - my body just recreates the moves somehow... I think body memory is a big thing also for musicians. I had the same effect when I learned the drums. I did not remember a piece but my hands just played it. It is magical. 🙂
@@webweib8271 A musician can hear the chords. Greg, like many people, has known this song for many years. He knows what chords are playing when he hears a song. Especially since in modern music not 50 chords are used. The chords in Thriller, Billie jean... are very familiar and quite basic. The only possible difficulty is to find the exact way the chord was played and possible enrichments (the same chord can be played in different ways) on the day of the recording. This is all the easier for him as he was the musical director and keyboardist of the Bad Tour. So he played Thriller, Billie jean... hundreds of times between rehearsals and concerts.
And that's not specific to Greg. A lot of young musicians play all the parts just by ear. Otherwise, you can easily find the sheet music on the web. Look up Dr mix who recreated all of Thriller and there are others.
It's just like everyone else with writing. We learned years ago and we recognize thousands of words... Even words you haven't written in years, you remember how to write them.
Keep in mind that Greg Phillinganes not only played on the album recordings, but he would have played these songs many times, on many live performances and tours, for years after the original. He owns that stuff! ❤️ Simply a legendary player.
The reaction from Greg when the linndrum and arp comes on 😍
Geniuses, right before our very own eyes. You gentlemen are so abundantly incredible. Michael 🎤 was one of a kind, he inspired me within my music creation singing/ production, and songwriting. We owe so much to him and also to you great men too. I truly look forward to more fabulous videos....... Much love to you all 💝
Greg played on so many hits back in the day. Nice to see him get some air time.
Something ALL videos featuring Greg Phillinganes have in common. One thumbs up is never enough
All these years and never heard that jump to the low octave at the end of the bass phrase.
He still remembers the chords after all these years. Impressive.
He's a musician, he hear the chords like you read a book.
Many persons can play thriller chords. I learn this chords when I was teenager.
It's not impressive, it's just normal.
C'mon, the dude's a keyboard legend.
To be fair, he rehearsed and played those chords every day/night as musical director for 2 of MJ's tours after that. Muscle memory lol
@@bladebrown4191👍Likely countless live dates as both a player, and MD. You don't forget stuff that's part of your musical DNA. ❤️
Totally amazing 🎹🎶🎶👌🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I think that Michael was full of musical experiences growing up and he listened and enriched his ear and heart by later arranging and creating the same with his colleagues on his projects in modern pop production.
So, for today's copy paste workers in music production, there is not enough benefit from the genius heritage from the previous millennium, except for quality and creative ones based on experience and own vision, as always in art regardless of style.
Talent, experience, creation and own expression, and at higher levels, readiness or a habit with subconscious acceptance of cooperation and recognition of the creatively high level of each member on the project.
From these youtube videos of yours, one can see and hear that all of you, like Michael, are unique, quality and the level of cooperation is at an enormously high level, that is why you are a historical legacy in the modern pop music production and industry.
I don`t think any musician has influenced me in quite same way as Greg Phillinganes has. Incredible keyboardist!
This was SICK! Brought tears to my eyes the magic & talent this dude possesses. The whole time I thought that Quincy was the one playing those riffs.
Lol Quincy are playing nothing... 😂
I thought maybe trumpet???
Wauw love this Greg Phillinganes guy!!
Michael forever ❤️
Greg is one of my all time heroes! 😍
Greg is a musical prodigy.
Greg Phillinganes!!! Amazing!!
One of the most incredible things I've seen on the internet. To watch Greg Play the harmony and the melody was amazing
You have to understand...as a poor uneducated consumer of pop music. We never,ever imagined all the labor and layering...and imagination that was put into our favorite tunes. Just...by viewing this little scenario with Greg and friends...that just the non hits are all works of art. Music...is truly a language...we all seem to hear it...but,so few can speak it. All that complicated tapestry of lyrics,harmonies,rhythms,pitch,sonatas and arias. We just get the gut reactions...but,these tunes are monumental in the eras of our lives. Thanks to all music makers!! Across all genres...we are all indebted to you.
Thriller is The legend... inspirations for ALL musicians...
One of the greatest keyboard players of the pop and rock era. A pleasure to listen to. Bet he'd write a great autobiography.
Funny to see Greg try to remember the chord voicing to Thriller. It's also interesting to see how simple the Thriller patch is from the Jupiter-8.
BTW, thanks for moving these videos to YT!
I think its not the only jupiter 8 patch there is, i think they were multiple jupiter 8 layers of different sounds
@@daanfischer9816 Jupiter 8 (bright pad) and Prophet 5 (dark pad)
@@daanfischer9816 from looking at the multitracks, there are at least 3-4 Jp8 pads on those main chords
@@daanfischer9816 Yes, there were several layers and a lot of stereo panning of them.
@@vco8450 Where can I hear these multitracks you graciously speak of?
Wowsa - Greg and you together playing history!
Absolute legend. Much respect for Greg
Haha! All you Minimoog geeks! It was 2600 ;) Have some of that Dr. Mix
Guys, this is serious studio lesson I’m in my 50s and I’m still learning
We should always be learning something new until the last breath.
Top notch music making here.
Greg is the man !!! One of his latest masterpiece was Versace on the Floor synth solo ❤❤❤
At 12:35 is most satisfying moment in modern musical history ...😆
YOOOOOOOOOO!!! When he hit those 2 bass notes, my soul dropped!!!
Yesssssss!!!
i was waiting the whole time for that part :))
Sorry but Thriller is A COVER ! THIEVES !!!! THIS IS THE ORIGINAL SPANISH SONG: Luixy Toledo - Exorcismo Search it by yourself !!!
The chords and arrangement in this song are just first class.
yooooh. He still remembers the chords after all these years.
AMAZING INSIGHTS BY MASTER MUSICIANS AND PROGRAMMERS!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!
Greg is a gem. I could listen to him talk and play all day.
I'm so grateful to have been born in a world at a time when i could listen to such marvellous music, MJ, Greg, Rob, Q, and all you guys who made this album. And thanks to the man above for blessings x
OMG I just watched it three times in a row..👍🏼😎 So great to see Gregg still remembers how to play the legend chords from an incredible time🥺👍🏼
11:21 ... getting chills as the bass gets more active just before arriving at the first iconic bass line at 11:27!
This is so cool. I also love his respect for Rod Temperton - very generous and as a fellow Greg, I LOVE Greg’s fills and runs on the bass keyboard.
It's like a kid in a candy store the way Greg gets right back into it. :) What a joy to experience this!
Goosebumps at 5:40 when the opening Jupiter line comes in. Outstanding, Greg! 🙏
Crazy. Synth on right hand and bass on the left 👏🏾
Wow, just absolute WOW! Anthony and Steven, thank you so, so much for this series. I was a young pro keyboardist on the road when Thriller came out. I was in awe, of everything. The songs, the sounds, the production - every detail. I soon after went to college and it became my soundtrack walking around campus. Focusing in on every detail, hearing all the work that Greg and Anthony did regarding the sounds and parts, just everything. It became a masterclass in how to write and record pop music in it's own right, and without any further instruction. It was, I think, as close to a perfect pop album as you can get (maybe in a tie with Steely Dan's Aja on that one). The fact that Michael set out to make the world's best pop album speaks to his vision. Music video also helped him at just the perfect time to take Thriller to the stratosphere. Sorry I'm rambling, just so many memories, and I had nothing to do with it except for one big thing - I was a student of this record and of Quincy's The Dude, as well as a keyboard player, DJ and songwriter. I took this masterclass you all baked up. That and many more from that era. Music speaks it's own language, and well-produced tracks are each a class of their own. I just can't thank you all enough for doing this series, sharing your secrets, loving what you do, and sharing that love. It just all speaks to the next level effort that everyone put in on that record. I could go on, but I won't. Peace and love and well wishes to you and crew and all involved. ♥🎹☮
WOW...just...WOW. Definitely illustrates how great musicianship & great tools make a big difference. I guess we will never get another classic album again based upon how things are done at present.
Sorry but Thriller is A COVER ! THIEVES !!!! THIS IS THE ORIGINAL SPANISH SONG: Luixy Toledo - Exorcismo Search it by yourself !!!
@@matiasss550 There's nothing to be sorry about... if it's a cover, then it'a a really great cover. Pat Boone "Covered" Little Richard Aretha Franklin "Covered" Otis Redding and so on...
i needed like 2 hour of just that
This was incredible to watch! Greg even did that lick at 11:40! You're amazing guys, thank you🧡
Thriller is the blueprint for the perfect album.
this is mINDblOwiG! i love this as a producer! id love to get a chance to play and hang with legendary producers and play along. lol what a damn JOB!
Wouaw !!! Greg is a legend too !!!
Master Greg !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Many classic songs are musical works of art. People don't realise the skill and thought that goes into curating the multi layered sonic jigsaw that listeners just hear as 'the song'. I also heard some bass passing riff notes I never heard on the song b4 but realised they emphasise the clap but we just hear the end result.
Hes a perfectionist like all serious artist and musicians.
As a producer and Thriller fanatic this channel is manna from heaven. Thank you.
Wow! This is the real thing indeed!
Y’all are so cold!!! This was beautiful
this is so awesome to see!
The GOAT!
Okay, that is seriously bad ass!! That album had all of the top shelf session musicians. Thank you for this amazing upload
Unbelievable!
Greg Phillinganes is a monster player.
Mad cool watching him remember the chords. I was always intrigued wanting to learn how the album Thriller was created. Thanks so much for this.
🔥🔥 Mr Philingaines Looked very happy to play those keys 🎹 🔥
You just can't deny the talent and how cool that song was and still is.
These guys know the volts the footpedals put out. Respect 💛💛
Back when i was hanging out with a kid who went to music school, what he'd do if he felt he ran out of fingers was he'd drill holes in the sliders, and put piano rod through them, which would have a small rubber ball on the end ( i remember them being those sets of colored bouncy balls you could buy in bags) and he'd hang the rods over a small shelf he'd made out of the side of a server rack cabinet (looked like a comb) which would then allow him to play with his hands and use his head/teeth to move the balls to give himself effects as he needed. Much later i helped him put plug inputs for all the sliders as bypasses and made a bunch of calibrated pedals for him to use. Soul of the party, lots of jams, awesome music. People who are able to understand music at a molecular level are always eye opening to befriend.
4 months ago? UA-cam you slippin’. This should have hit my feed months ago. Better late than never because this was AWESOME! RIP to those we lost that made this happen. MJ RT BS
LEGENDS!!!!!
Could watch Gregg play for hours.
This is AMAZZZZZZINGGG!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 I wish you guys could see the smile on my face when you started playing!!!😁😁😁😁😁😁
I'm sure I'm not the only one!!
Thankyou so much for this video, enjoyed every bit of it. Really wanted to see the indl himself playing that part. Love you Greg!!
Fantastic! Thank you.
Beautiful!!
So privileged to gain these insights. Thank you for sharing
I am so glad youtube recommended this to me! Imagine being responsible for the greatest album of all time, and all that while being in your twenties?? How crazy is that? Greeting from Croatia!
Magical
THIS IS GOLD :) :) :) THANK YOU
Amazing!!!!!!!
This was amazing to watch!
Pure talent!!!
How Fun! Can't wait to watch all of these and see more that is posted
that piece of history :)
👍TOP👍
This is so inspirational
Im smiling soooo hard at this
This is great 👍
I'm not a musician and not ambidextrous and it always amazes me how someone can play 2 different synths like that at the same time.
That was bad ass.
Amazing episode!!!! Thank you guys!
Wow… who knew… incredible.
Very Interesting from years ago when we were all young and into Synths
Incroyable cette performance de greg 🔥🔥🔥♥️
Came across this video again and gave it another full watch. Not to get things twisted - I’m a Greg Phillinganes fan for sure. He’s a legend and a cool dude. However, it puzzles me a bit the way he reacts to all of the old gear Anthony still has in his studio. It’s almost like he’s never seen any of it before. Almost like he’s saying in his head “Wow, these things are crazy but look way too complicated for me to mess with so I’ll pass”. Granted, it has been 40 years, but Greg was a first call session keyboardist during an era where synthesizers were incredibly popular. Also, programming synthesizers is like riding a bike.
A decent explanation would probably be that he was called in for record dates not because he had knowledge of cutting edge synths, but because he was strictly a player and had the most impeccable timing. It’s crazy how recording budgets used to be able to afford a luxury like that Still, hard to believe that a keyboardist back in the 1980s wouldn’t be the first one to own a basement full of synthesizers just for the hell of it.
It is highly documented that Rod Temperton wrote every bit the the title track “Thriller” and is seen in photos from those sessions standing next to a Roland Jupiter 8. I guess they just told Greg “the synthesizer is all set up and ready to go so here’s the notation - go for it”
Is this the History Channel? If so, I love it !!!!
what amazing! I have a question I have the original multitrack of Wanna be Startin, it is faster than the one on the album ...pitch is the same , how..what... mystery... thanks so much for this again!
This is so cool thank you for sharing all of this, seeing all of the manpower and work that went into this is amazing
Why did I do the growl at 11:26 🤣🤣🤣. Couldn't help it😂
yup 😂🤷🏾♂
Mr. G.P. Is one amazing musician.
That was rad
Watching these I really wish that they could get the band back together and do a Thriller tour. Replacing Michael would be impossible but they could probably find two people, a good dancer and a good singer to put a show together.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥❤❤❤❤❤
Oooohooo!