Greg Phillinganes: Thriller Rhodes Performance | Stories In The Room Podcast Episode #18

In this episode we discuss the Fender Rhodes keyboard parts Greg Phillinganes played on the song “Thriller”, the riffs he made up on the spot and other effects that were used while playing the song. And, we all knew when working on a session with Quincy there would be a lot of fun, great music and great food!
Michael Jackson’s Thriller Podcast: Stories in the Room is available on KZbin & everywhere you listen to Podcasts 🎙️
New Episodes every Tuesday and Thursday
Podcast hosted by
Anthony Marinelli @anthonymarinellimusic
Composer/Thriller programmer
anthonymarinell...
And
Steven Ray
A&R/ Assistant for Quincy Jones
mr.stevenray?ig...
Directed by
Christian D. Bruun
Award-winning documentary filmmaker
christian_d_bru...
Produced by Audivita Studios
audivita.com
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Discord / discord

[@peterkadarmusic9728]

I'm gonna watch this later but all I gotta say is that when Greg - the Gold Standard - puts his hands on the keys, it makes the world a better, funkier place.

[@peterkadarmusic9728]

I must add that the fact that this album has its own YT channel is a beautiful thing.

[@ryananthony4840]

​@@peterkadarmusic9728 hahaha right!

[@HaharuRecords]

Yes more funkier more healthy and good

[@TheDevnul]

Played on the recording, played on tour with Micheal for years, played the song probably 1000 times. Still does not know the lyrics. Greg is just the best!

[@Seany06]

The rhodes with chorus (Boss CE-1/CE-2/Jazz amp and whatever else may have been used) of the early 80s is the best sound EVER... IMO, so magical.

[@SchoolofRockNRoll]

i will say this every time i can but thank the lord for greg phillinganes. a lot of stevies and michaels records would have been different if it wouldnt have been for greg phillinganes. the world needs to give him his flowers he literally wrote the the bridge for dont stop til you get enough and michael never credited him.

[@theox8276]

Greg Phillinganes is THE MAN. Along with Jeff Porcaro, he must have been one of the most requested musicians for session work since the mid-seventies on thousands of songs.

[@martimdesouzajunior7585]

Yeah, and I believe Steve Lukather too

[@midnightpretenders5749]

Greg is one of the coolest guys man.

[@benjaminvlz]

Greg Phillinganes is an amazingly talented keyboardist! One of the unsung heroes of popular music. He played keyboards on so many artists' recordings, from Michael Jackson to Stevie Wonder to Michael McDonald etc. I wish I could be at least half as good as he is on keyboards. From videos I've seen of Greg, he seems like a cool and funny dude and so much fun to be around.

[@woodshed_moments]

Greg Phillinganes was probably one of the hottest sessions keyboardist of the 80s, and an incredibly talented guy.

[@JLawsonmusic]

The chord voicing in his keyboard part is absolutely perfect, the song wouldn't be the same without it.

[@Jawnson]

I absolutely love Greg Phillinganes!

[@stephfovlo1528]

Greg is just so cool !

[@KeithCopeland778]

Greg is a brilliant musician and it's obvious why he's a first-call session and live band keyboardist!!!

[@stevem-h3562]

Love hearing these old stories from those who were there at key points in music history. Cant get enough of this stuff.

[@DJKuroh]

That sounds a bit too passive for me. They weren't just there... they created the moment themselves.

[@Trollbot007]

I’ve never seen a man who loves the piano more…

[@856dejavu]

Oh man... its just an amazing to see the guy who actually played the song!!

[@MrYamahamotifxs]

Greg is one of my favorite keyboard players!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@ellavaderknows]

Greg Phillinganes is a keyboard prodigy.

[@thesequencer4971]

I was lucky to attend twice to Gregs live performances: Cirque de Soleil jackson tour frankfurt and in Montreux 🇨🇭 Quincys 80thBirthday (2013) Unforgettable awesome..greg performed with marcus miller and many great artists.great memories.....btw love this format....waiting for your talks about the Synclavier on Beat it and more.... greetings from Frankfurt 🇩🇪

[@MrFgjklo]

Montreux Q's Birthday 2013🇨🇭...i was there too....cheers

[@peterkadarmusic9728]

Oh man a deep dive on the Synclav would be dynamite. I could watch that for hours.

[@MikeLindup42]

Nice one, Anthony - you dialled in the right amount -the magical amount -of depth during Greg's 2nd run through. Great food as well as fun, Greg? Aw, shucks!

[@FUFUWO]

What a master Greg

[@RegalToneT]

The greatness in this room! I love this 💕💕💕 I’m beaming with utter joy just listening to this. 🤯🤯 mind blowing and amazing at the same time 🤩

[@mistergrooveman1018]

Everywhere is a légendery music you have Greg !! Amazing !! ❤❤❤

[@loubamour]

One day I'll work with you guys !!!

[@martimdesouzajunior7585]

Amazing! Loving these stories and the sounds and the playing.

[@ridge7524]

just wow💎💯.The stars aligned with that one.

[@bwm5150]

Love it, thanks guys!

[@Bashanvibe]

I love hearing this stories

[@gdayal9]

Thank you for doing this ! Gods of Music 🙏

[@MC-gk6jw]

Awesome 💖

[@richardpayton9671]

Love IT!!

[@CCpro83]

I really appreciated this session! Well done

[@kachebeeabdullah4297]

I love this... Too cool... :)

[@marcio1563]

Awesome!

[@thaexception3406]

Insightful!

[@linfordrichards8395]

Michael The Genius ⚘️ 👑 💝 🎤 🎶 Amazing 👏🏼

[@localhero44]

Fabulous, as if it was yesterday.

[@opinionatorX]

Maaan! Y'all should've seen me over doing all the moves. Then the cramp hit my left side and sat me down. Lol! Dope content!

[@MrJsfingers]

What a synth room with the master Greg. Caught a glimpse of an ObX preseason to the ObXa

[@MrJsfingers]

Predecessor^

[@c.frmn.2659]

My man was getting down on “Another Part of Me” concert video.

[@fg87fgd]

the green BOSS CE-1 chorus ensemble is killer.

[@sweetdaddy9680]

Music was so great then because of the musicians passion. Can't say that now.

[@KingMJForeverAndEver]

💝💝💝

[@whippleLopez]

Wow

[@djGreenALERT]

David Copperfield is said to be the world's greatest magician, yet very time I hear Greg play keys? I have to dispute that!

[@guywhite1004]

Steve Lukather was a big contributor to the album on guitar!

[@mathiasdeschamps1637]

The boss ce-1 with Rhodes ❤❤❤❤

[@midlander4]

And The Nightfly...

[@itsCapCity]

let me find out greg got vocals on thriller gon hed greg 💯🙌🙏

[@stevenponte6655]

Dear lord Gregs touch on the keys is magical. There is a live version of him playing man in the mirror with Siedah Garett which just blows me away. Quick question does a rhodes have a sustain pedal? Or is that what he was using the chorus to do?

[@CHEZZDOG]

as with all pianos acoustic or electric, they have a sustain pedal. The chorus pedal supplies the swirling sound you hear.

[@AnthonyAnthony-tk4ye]

Lmao it was most likely the newest tech that Boss chorus bet give me that Predessessor 😂😂 we all know when the greatest gear flourished

[@Danilo8208SS]

Can anyone confirm if the original Fender Rhodes played on Thriller was modified by Dyno-my-piano?

[@JayTheLane]

To some extent it's a real shame Greg didn't get more credit at the time for essentially tying this album together.

[@thomastaylor1217]

I sing Thriller the EXACT same way!!!

[@TheBlissMagnets]

Great video, next time get an overhead camera so we can see his hands though.

[@jonsimon5779]

I'd like to hear how the song went from "Starlight" to "Thriller". Who suggested the change (and why) and where did the new idea come from?

[@theoneandonlykyle9800]

Rod temperton

[@buscrates412]

CE-1 is the GOAT. Greg knew! Lol

[@oldschoollee]

I used to think that Rod was the sole composer on this song before I looked at the musician credits on the album

[@jasonfallon4968]

#Man #Can #Do #No #Wrong.

[@HaharuRecords]

Now I am i believe there are youtube channels with the name of Billie Jean specificall for that track..which has the history and story than a lot of artists whole careers😅

[@whippleLopez]

Great song not written by Jackson

[@joedecker3900]

Most weren’t, does it matter?