Let's Get Serious (Jermaine Jackson album)

Let's Get Serious is the sixth studio album by Jermaine Jackson, released in 1980. It reached #6 on the Billboard album chart and logged five weeks at No. 1 on the Top R&B chart. It achieved sales of 900,000 copies in the United States.

Let's Get Serious
Studio album by
Jermaine Jackson
ReleasedMarch 17, 1980 (1980-03-17)
Recorded1979
StudioMotown Recording Studios, Hollywood, California Crystal Studios, Whitney Studios & Kendun Recorders Los Angeles, California
Genre
Length42:32
LabelMotown
Producer
Jermaine Jackson chronology
Frontiers
(1978)		 Let's Get Serious
(1980)		 Jermaine
(1980)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic [1]
Smash Hits7½/10[2]

The title track was 1980's biggest soul hit of the year and a top ten pop hit as well. This is the most successful album of Jackson's career.

Background

After splitting with his brothers, The Jacksons, Jackson recorded three solo albums that fared poorly. Needing a success, he enlisted the aid of family friend and labelmate Stevie Wonder, who wrote and produced three songs, including the title track and first single, "Let's Get Serious". Jackson would oversee the other tracks on the album. This formula worked, as Jackson finally scored a hit with both the album and single.

It was one of the featured titles in a major Motown 20th Anniversary television, radio and print campaign. This gave the album prominent advertising benefits throughout the entire year.

Track listing
Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Let's Get Serious"Lee Garrett, Stevie Wonder8:05
2."Where Are You Now"Renee Hardaway, Stevie Wonder3:49
3."You Got to Hurry Girl"Jermaine Jackson, Maureen Bailey, Paul M. Jackson, Jr.4:15
4."We Can Put It Back Together"Hazel G. Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Maureen Bailey5:08
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Burnin' Hot"Jermaine Jackson, Jim Foelber, Phyllis Molinary7:50
2."You're Supposed to Keep Your Love for Me"Stevie Wonder5:34
3."Feelin' Free"Hazel G. Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Maureen Bailey7:59

Personnel
  • Stevie Wonder, Dennis Davis, Ed Greene, Ollie E. Brown – drums
  • Emil Radocchia, Gary Coleman, Gene Estes, Paul Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Earl DeRouen – percussion
  • Nathan Watts, Eddie Watkins Jr, Scott Edwards, Jermaine Jackson – bass
  • Gary S. Scott – synth bass
  • Stevie Wonder, Greg Phillinganes, Joe Sample, Kevin Bassinson, Jermaine Jackson – keyboards
  • Isaiah Sanders – clavinet
  • Stevie Wonder, Ben Bridges, Rick Zunigar, Paul Jackson, Tim May – guitar
  • Larry Gittens – trumpet
  • Nathan Watts, Earl DeRouen, Abdoulaye Soumare, Keith Harris, Reggie Wiggins, Dick Rudolph – handclaps
  • Alexandra Brown, Angela Winbush, Marva Holcolm, Carolyn Cook, Danny Smith, Hazel G. Jackson, Suzee Ikeda, T.K. Carter, Tina Madison – backing vocals
  • Stevie Wonder, Jermaine Jackson, Don Peake – arrangements

Production
  • Produced by Stevie Wonder (Tracks 1, 2, and 6), and Jermaine Jackson (the rest)
  • Executive Producers: Berry Gordy Jr., Hazel G. Jackson
  • Engineers: Abdoulaye Soumare, Bob Harlan, Bob Robitaille, Cal Harris, Frank Kramer, Gary Olazabal, Ginny Pallante, Jane Clark, John Mills, Russ Terrana, Steve Miller

Trivia

The track "You're Supposed to Keep Your Love for Me" was originally recorded in 1975, possibly for the aborted Do Unto Others album, and featured Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and Jackie Jackson on background vocals. But when Jermaine's brothers left for Epic Records, this original version was shelved. Four years later, Stevie dug it out and remixed/overdubbed the track for Let's Get Serious and removed Michael and Jackie's vocals.

Charts
Chart (1980) Peak
position[3]
US Top LPs & Tape 6
US Top Soul LPs 1

Singles
Year Single Chart positions[4]
US US
R&B		 US
Dance
1980 "Let's Get Serious" 9 1 2
"You're Supposed to Keep Your Love for Me" 34 32 —

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[5] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References
  1. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r10052/review
  2. Hillier, Bev. "Jermaine Jackson: Let's Get Serious". Smash Hits (May 15–28, 1980): 31.
  3. "Jermaine Jackson US albums chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-07-11.
  4. "Jermaine Jackson US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-07-11.
  5. "American album certifications – Jermaine Jackson – Let's Get Serious". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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