How ‘We Are the World’ created ‘The Greatest Night in Pop’ 4 decades ago
nypost.com“We Are the World,” the historic 1985 charity single — where even Bob Dylan was intimidated by the star-studded session.Surrounded by everyone from Ray Charles, Diana Ross and Paul Simon to Tina Turner, Willie Nelson and Billy Joel, the Bard was clearly out of sorts — and out of his element.But it took one particular legend to help another one find his solo mojo.“The secret agent to help him get comfortable was Stevie Wonder,” says David Breskin — one of two journalists invited by producer Quincy Jones to cover the momentous occasion — in the documentary. “Stevie is an insanely great mimic,” continues Breskin, explaining how the R&B master used his special talents to help the folk god: “Stevie sang it ventriloquially in Dylan’s voice.”It’s a dead-on impression that impresses even Dylan, who — in the only time the room is cleared to give one artist his space — finally nails his part.Such is the spirit of unity that — against all odds and egos — pulled together the recording of “We Are the World” on Jan.
28, 1985 at A&M Recording Studios in Hollywood, right after that night’s American Music Awards.The single, which was released two months later on March 7, went on to sell a whopping 20 million copies to benefit African famine relief.“I thought a really important part of the story was the buildup and the planning of the night,” “Greatest Night in Pop” director Bao Nguyen told The Post.“The planning of it was, like, crazy.
They had to use rolodexes and fax machines. And there’s no cell phones, there’s no internet. So I can’t even fathom the logistical [issues] in that time to try to contact all these superstars.”But yet a who’s who of ‘80s music icons showed up — with the instructions to “check your ego at the door” — to.
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