The Wiz (1978 soundtrack)

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The Wiz: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
The Wiz: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack cover
Soundtrack by Various Artists
Released September 18, 1978
Recorded 1977
Genre R&B / soul / pop / disco
Length 1:16:22
Label MCA
2-14000
Producer Quincy Jones, Tom Bahler
Professional reviews
Singles from The Wiz: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
  1. "Ease on Down the Road"
    Released: September 21, 1978
  2. "You Can't Win"
    Released: January 11, 1979
  3. "A Brand New Day"
    Released: 1979

The Wiz: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack album for the 1978 film adaptation of the Broadway musical The Wiz. Although the film was produced for Universal Pictures by Motown Records' film division, the soundtrack album was issued on MCA Records as a two-LP collection. Chiefly produced by Quincy Jones, [1] The Wiz soundtrack features cast performances by the starts of the film, including Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Theresa Merritt, Thelma Carpenter, and Lena Horne.

The track selection is made up of both songs from the original 1975 Broadway musical by Charlie Smalls and Luther Vandross, as well as new songs written for the film by Quincy Jones, Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson, and Anthony Jackson. This soundtrack marks Jones' first collaboration with Jackson; Jones would go on to produce Jackson's hit solo albums Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad.[2]

Contents

[edit] Track listing

All songs written by Charlie Smalls, unless otherwise noted.

[edit] Record one, side one

  1. "Main Title (Overture, Part One)" (instrumental)
  2. "Overture (Part Two)" (instrumental)
  3. "The Feeling That We Have" - Theresa Merritt and Chorus
  4. "Can I Go On?" (Quincy Jones, Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson) - Diana Ross
  5. "Glinda's Theme" (instrumental)
  6. "He's The Wizard" - Thelma Carpenter and Chorus
  7. "Soon As I Get Home"/"Home" - Diana Ross

[edit] Record one, side two

  1. "You Can't Win" - Michael Jackson
  2. "Ease On Down The Road #1" - Diana Ross and Michael Jackson
  3. "What Would I Do If I Could Feel?" - Nipsey Russell
  4. "Slide Some Oil to Me" - Nipsey Russell
  5. "Ease On Down The Road #2" - Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, and Nipsey Russell
  6. "I'm A Mean Ole Lion" - Ted Ross
  7. "Ease On Down The Road #3" - Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, and Ted Ross
  8. "Poppy Girls" (Anthony Jackson) (instrumental)

[edit] Record two, side one

  1. "Be a Lion" - Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, and Ted Ross
  2. "End Of The Yellow Brick Road" (instrumental)
  3. "Emerald City Sequence" (music: Jones, lyrics: Smalls) - Chorus
  4. "So You Wanted to See the Wizard" - Richard Pryor (spoken dialogue)
  5. "Is This What Feeling Gets? (Dorothy's Theme)" (music: Jones, lyrics: Ashford & Simpson) - Diana Ross
  6. "Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News" - Mabel King and Chorus
  7. "A Brand New Day" (Luther Vandross) - Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, and Chorus

[edit] Record two, side two

  1. "Believe In Yourself (Dorothy)" - Diana Ross
  2. "The Good Witch Glinda" (instrumental)
  3. "Believe In Yourself (Reprise)" - Lena Horne
  4. "Home" - Diana Ross

[edit] Chart history

[edit] Album

Chart (1978-1979) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard 200 40
U.S. Billboard Black Albums Chart 33

[edit] Songs

Title Chart (1978-1979) Peak
position
"Ease on Down the Road" U.S. Billboard Hot 100 41
"Ease on Down the Road" U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Songs 17
"You Can't Win" U.S. Billboard Hot 100 81
"You Can't Win" U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Songs 42

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jones, Quincy (2002). Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones. Broadway Books, Pages 229, 259. ISBN 0767905105. 
  2. ^ Bronson, Fred (2003). Billboard's Hottest Hot 100 Hits. Watson-Guptill, Page 107. ISBN 0823077381.