Man in The Music: Creative Life and Work of Michael Jackson

Bol

For half a century, Michael Jackson's music has been an indelible part of our cultural consciousness. Landmark albums such as Off the Wall and Thriller shattered records, broke racial barriers, amassed awards, and set a new standard for popular music. While his songs continue to be played in nearly every corner of the world, however, they have rarely been given serious critical attention. The first book dedicated solely to exploring his creative work, Man in the Music guides us through an unparalleled analysis of Jackson's recordings, album by album, from his trailblazing work with Quincy Jones to his later collaborations with Teddy Riley, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, and Rodney Jerkins. Drawing on rare archival material and on dozens of original interviews with the collaborators, engineers, producers, and songwriters who helped bring the artist's music into the world, Jackson expert and acclaimed cultural critic Joseph Vogel reveals the inspirations, demos, studio sessions, technological advances, setbacks and breakthroughs, failures and triumphs, that gave rise to an immortal body of work.

Bol Partner

Man in the Music meticulously tracks Jackson's solo career, from 1979's groundbreaking Off the Wall to 2001's Invincible , to a glimpse into some of his yet-to-be-released material. With each album, Vogel places the music in its social and historical context, discusses its relation to Jackson's personal life, reveals the singer's fascinating process of artistic creation and analyses each record, from its cover, to its songs, to its aesthetic impact and cultural legacy. Rather than focusing on the surface-level sensationalism, Man in the Music explores and offers insight into the creative process behind Michael Jackson's work, which serious Michael Jackson fans are sure to be looking for.