Be Careful What You Do

1986 - Collaborations

I let out a final note into the microphone, before my assistant enters quietly pointing at the phone in her hand. The music ended, "Michael Jackson" she says innocently, handing the phone my way. I give her a glare and smirk "You know you're really my friend when I let you interrupt recording sessions."

He laughs, "I would've done the same for you. I wanna ask you something.."

"No" I laugh "I am not going to sing on another track with you!"

"Ok but what about write a few? I've got a couple of songs, I really think you could write on. And I always appreciate a collaboration with my only competition in this business." he chuckles.

I roll my eyes, "stop it. How many songs from me?" I inquire. "2?" he says.

"I can do that, co-write?" I ask. He sighs "You never just give in to me, I've always gotta work for it." a chuckle leaving his lips "yeah I guess."

I laugh loudly, "You know I never loosen up on the first ask. Get your assistant to call mine and we can set up some studio time"

***

"You'd better take advice, never trust first impressions. I tried to hide this affair from their suspicions. So even if she's asking you to stay, you'd better know where you stand!" I sing, laying down a vocal track for Stevie Wonder who'd be a feature with Michael for this song.

Michael and I recorded this demo track as if it were ours, I did have to admit, every time we worked together we were unstoppable. The chemistry between the two of us was dynamic.

We sat in front of the engineering table, bobbing our heads to the demo. "Stevie's gonna kill this." I clap loudly.

"I kinda like it for you and I." Michael says, placing a finger on his chin before he slowly creeps his eyes to me. "No." I laugh, "let it go Jackson."

"Never!" He says playfully. I head back into the booth to record a few adlibs and riffs. Michael grabs his headphones and does the same. He grins at me as he repeats "She love me, she love me" into the microphone, igniting a vocal competition between the two of us as the song ends out.

Quincy Jones sat on the other side of the glass practically wide eyed, watching us go back and forth until the track ended. He stands and claps, "Ali... Smelly might have a good idea here.. the two of you on one track? Phenomenal."

"I told you. It needs to happen! Our second song is a duet anyway... what if you just... featured on it." He shrugs. He looks at my apprehensive reaction and adds, "just record it and let's see how it sounds. If Quincy thinks it's good, it's gotta be!"

"Fine. If I like it, I'll feature." I switch my notebook to the next set of lyrics I wrote for Michael, a song called "I Just Can't Stop Loving You".

Quincy was all set just from the first vocal track we did, and truthfully so was I. I couldn't deny the talent we had together. After a few more hours, I gave Michael a high five. "Yeah you were right. And this will be perfect because it's unexpected. Nobody could guess I'd be featured on your album. I'm still working on mine." I nod. "The fans will love this." I add.

Michael gives my shoulder a light squeeze, "I know." He says excitedly.

We both watch Quincy pack his things, "this was incredible. Just incredible. Smelly, I'll see you tomorrow morning. Ali as always a pleasure working with you." He hugs me. "Always Quincy!" I hug back,  watching him exit.

Michael checks his watch, "wanna catch a film?" He says casually. I look at him with a frown, as if he and I could enter any building casually. The two of us were very known, very famous, and could barely go anywhere alone, together was impossible.