Greg Phillinganes – Behind The Mask
Label:
Planet Records (5) – RPST 110,
Planet Records (5) – YW-14024
Format:
Vinyl, 12", 45 RPM
Country:
Released:
Genre:
Style:
Tracklist Hide Credits
| A |
Behind The Mask
Mixed By – Glen Holguin, Jim Tract Written-By – Chris Mosdell, Ryuichi Sakamoto Written-by, Co-producer, Backing Vocals [Uncredited] – Michael Jackson |
|||
| B1 |
Behind The Mask (Instrumental)
Written-By – Chris Mosdell, Michael Jackson, Ryuichi Sakamoto |
|||
| B2 |
Only You
Written-By – Bill Withers, Greg Phillinganes |
Credits
- Producer – Richard Perry
Other Versions (Showing 5 of 6) View All
| Title, Format | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behind The Mask (12") | Planet Records (5) | YW-14024 | US | 1985 | ||
| Behind The Mask (7", Single) | Planet Records (5) | RPS 110 | UK | 1985 | ||
| Behind The Mask (7") | Planet Records (5) | FB 3943 | Germany | 1985 | ||
| Behind The Mask (12") | Planet Records (5) | FC 4024 | Germany | 1985 | ||
| Behind The Mask (12") | Planet Records (5), Planet Records (5) | JD-14024, YW-14024 | US | 1985 |
[r926658]
Most people know the history behind Behind The Mask, that it was to have been included on Michael Jackson's Thriller, but never made it. (Not that it added much to the Yellow Magic Orchestra/Ryuichi Sakamoto original.) In the UK, most of us only remember the Eric Clapton, erm, cover-cover version anyway!
What most people don't realise is the B-side is an overlooked 80s classic!
Co-written by Greg Phillinganes and Bill Withers, Only You follows a lyric along the lines of his funky early tunes like Use Me and Kissing My Love, but updated to an 80s backing. Sound bad, well no, it works (and better than some of Bill's own tracks when he tried the same thing if memory serves me). To my knowledge, this seems to be the ONLY place it was released.
If you happen to have this single, dig it out and give this B-side a listen! If not, and you're a fan of Bill Withers or obscure (but great) 80s soul, I urge you to buy/track down this song!