Mick Jagger didn’t hesitate when Michael Jackson told the Rolling Stones singer to warm up his vocal cords before recording their duet “State of Shock” in 1983.

It was a classic recording session a year after “Thriller” had cemented Jackson’s reputation as the King of Pop, according to an Ocala resident who worked alongside Jackson for two decades.

“Mick didn’t hesitate,” said Bruce Swedien, who recorded and mixed many Jackson albums, including “Off the Wall” and “Thriller” – considered among the best all time.

“By then, everyone knew how good Michael was,” he continued. “If Michael Jackson says warm up, you warm up – even if you are Mick Jagger.”

Swedien, 75, lives quietly at his Ocala horse farm and still records albums for young local talent in his elaborate studio.

Swedien, who has worked with many legends, from Paul McCartney to Duke Ellington, talked about the short life of Jackson, who at age 50.

The sound engineer even shares songwriting credit with Jackson on the song “Jam,” a No. 3 hit on the R&B charts in 1992.

Swedien said he normally records a singer about a dozen times before getting enough to mix together a perfect vocal track for an album.

With Jackson, it only took two to four takes. And one of those takes would be perfect on its own. But hours of preparation preceded recording.

They would change lyrics, tempo and pitch, working for days and hours on getting the song just right before finalizing the track. Swedien said Thriller was recorded and completed in six months.

He credits music producer Quincy Jones for creating the sound of Michael Jackson.

“‘Off the Wall’ and ‘Thriller’ showed Quincy’s kaleidoscopic approach,” said Swedien, who described Jones as a musical genius.

However, it was Jackson’s talent and drive for perfection that kept the singer practicing all night before a recording.

Click to Read More