THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

570-Jermaine Jackson-Let’s Get Serious.

1980-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 2.50. When performing the song on various music shows, not only did Jermaine Jackson have to mime his own vocals, he also had to mime the verse sung by Stevie Wonder. I wonder how many people actually realised.

Jermaine La Jaune Jackson was born on December 11th, 1954, in Gary, Indiana, United States, he is the fourth oldest of the 10 Jackson children, his brother Marlon’s twin brother Brandon died shortly after his birth in 1957. Jermaine and his brothers first signed as the ‘Jackson 5’ (see also best songs 249 and 137) with the Gary, Indiana, record label ‘Steeltown Records’ in 1967 where they recorded two singles, before being signed by Berry Gordy of ‘Motown’ records in 1969. The Jackson’s would stay at Motown until 1975, when they left due to financial disputes, although Jemaine refused to join his brothers, staying with Motown to pursue a solo career. His four brothers signed with ‘Epic Records,’ changing their name to the ‘Jacksons,’ (as Berry Gordy owned the name ‘Jackson 5’) with Jermaine being replaced in the group by his brother Randy. The main reason for Jermaine remaining at ‘Motown,’ was probably because at that time he was married to Hazel Gordy, the daughter of Motown supremo Berry Gordy.

The solo discography of Jermaine Jackson includes 14 studio Albums released between 1972-2012, and 32 singles released between 1972-2015, there are also eight official compilation Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, seven of his singles have reached the top 40, with both ‘Daddy’s Home,’ (1972) and ‘Let’s Get Serious,’ (1980) both peaking the highest at Number 9, while in the UK, he has had three top 40 entries, with ‘Do What You Do,’ (1984) charting the highest at Number 6. Like his brother Michael, (1958-2009) (see also best songs 812-511 and 191) Jermaine had a solo career that ran concurrently with the Jackson 5 while at Motown Records.

After his brothers parted Motown Records, Jermaine struggled to stay successful as a solo artist. Berry Gordy was concerned that his son-in-law’s career was waning, so he approached fellow Motown artist Stevie Wonder, (see also best songs 920-843-834-682-503-366-205-152 and 65) who provided three songs for Jermaine’s sixth studio Album ‘Let’s Get Serious,’ from March 1980. The Album’s title track ‘Let’s Get Serious’ was released as the first of two singles off the Album, the other ‘You’re Supposed to Keep Your Love for Me,’ (1980-Billboard Number 34) was also a Stevie Wonder composition. ‘Let’s Get Serious’ was co-written by Stevie Wonder and Lee Garrett, with the production being by Stevie Wonder, who also sang co-lead vocals, and played piano, synthesizers, celesta, guitar, and drums on the track. The Album ‘Let’s Get Serious’ would go on to be Jermaine Jackson’s most successful of his career, selling in excess of 2 million copies worldwide, with the title track being ranked Number 1 on the ‘Billboard Soul chart’ for 1980, ahead of his brother Michael’s ‘Rock With You,’ which ranked at Number 2.

Lee Garrett who co-wrote ‘Let’s Get Serious’ with Stevie Wonder, was born on June 30th, 1943, in Mississippi, United States, like Stevie Wonder, Lee Garrett is also blind, the pair initially met at the ‘Michigan School for the Blind.’ Lee Garrett worked in radio as a DJ in the 1960’s, and 1970’s, where he was known as ‘The Rocker Mr G,’ while working in Philadelphia and Detroit. He has also had a recording career, releasing an Album in 1976, and issuing several singles since 1964. His biggest success as a solo artist was with his 1976 track ‘You’re My Everything,’ which reached Number 15 in the UK. Lee Garrett co-wrote several songs with Stevie Wonder, including ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours,’ (1970-Billboard Number 3 & UK Number 15) and ‘It’s a Shame,’ for The Detroit Spinners (1970-Billboard Number 14 & UK Number 20) (see also best songs 834.)

Lee Garrett has spoken about the first time Stevie Wonder introduced the track that would become ‘Let’s Get Serious’ to him. ‘He said, ‘What do you hear?’ I listened and listened, and all of a sudden it hit me, and I started jumping up and down, singing ‘let’s get serious.’ That’s it. He wrote most of the words and stuff. I just kind of did the track and the melody. I felt particularly proud of that, because it was only our two names on it.’

‘In your arms is the place I want to be, with my love in you, and your love inside of me. Longing for each other just ain’t fair, when we’ve got so much love we want to share. Let’s get serious, let’s get serious, let’s get serious and fall in love.’