The Wiz (soundtrack)

1978 soundtrack album by Diana Ross, Michael Jackson & various artists

The Wiz

Soundtrack album by

Diana Ross, Michael Jackson & various artists

Released| September 18, 1978
Recorded| November 1977 – January 1978[1]
Studio| A & R, New York City[1]
Genre|

* Disco
* soul
* R&B

Length| 1:16:22
Label| MCA
Producer|

* Quincy Jones

Singles from  The Wiz: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

1. "Ease On Down The Road"
Released: September 21, 1978
2. "You Can't Win"
Released: January 11, 1979
3. "A Brand New Day"
Released: 1979

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [2]

The Wiz is the original motion picture soundtrack album for the 1978 film adaptation of the Broadway musical The Wiz. Although the film was produced for Universal Pictures by Motown Records' film division, the soundtrack album was issued on MCA Records as a two-LP collection (Universal was owned by MCA Inc. at the time). Chiefly produced by Quincy Jones,[3] The Wiz soundtrack features non-sync (does not lock to picture) cast performances by the stars of the film, including Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Theresa Merritt, Thelma Carpenter, and Lena Horne.

Like many musicals of the period, the performances on the soundtrack album are not those used directly in the film, but pre/re-recorded by the same artists at an earlier and/or later date. Several differences are noted, including a missing line by Michael Jackson and a scat section by Nipsey Russell being dropped from the soundtrack version of "A Brand New Day", among others. The song "Is This What Feeling Gets?" was not used in the film's final cut, though the tune is used throughout the film.

The track selection was made up of both songs from the original 1975 Broadway musical by Charlie Smalls and Luther Vandross, Timothy Graphenreed as well as new songs written for the film by Jones, Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson, and Anthony Jackson. This soundtrack marks Jones' first collaboration with Michael Jackson; Jones went on to produce Jackson's hit solo albums Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad.[4]

The soundtrack, with its hit single "Ease on Down the Road", was more successful than the film itself, which was a commercial and critical failure. It was certified Gold in the United States by the RIAA. It also did well in some European territories like the Netherlands, where "A Brand New Day" was a surprise number-one hit. In 2009, Ross ended each of two sold-out performances at the 34,000-seat Geldredome Stadium (in Arnhem, Netherlands) with a finale of "A Brand New Day". The soundtrack also sold well in Australia.

## Track listing

[edit]

All songs written by Charlie Smalls, unless otherwise noted.

No.| Title| Writer(s)| Artist| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Main Title (Overture, Part One)"|  | Instrumental| 2:36
2.| "Overture (Part Two)"|  | Instrumental| 1:57
3.| "The Feeling That We Had"|  | Theresa Merritt and Chorus| 3:26
4.| "Can I Go On?"| Quincy Jones, Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson| Diana Ross| 1:56
5.| "Glinda's Theme"|  | Instrumental| 1:10
6.| "He's the Wizard"|  | Thelma Carpenter and Chorus| 4:09
7.| "Soon As I Get Home / Home"|  | Diana Ross| 4:04
8.| "You Can't Win"|  | Michael Jackson| 3:14
9.| "Ease on Down the Road #1"|  | Diana Ross and Michael Jackson| 3:55
10.| "What Would I Do If I Could Feel?"|  | Nipsey Russell| 2:18
11.| "Slide Some Oil to Me"|  | Nipsey Russell| 2:51
12.| "Ease on Down the Road #2"|  | Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and Nipsey Russell| 1:31
13.| "I'm a Mean Ole Lion"|  | Ted Ross| 2:24
14.| "Ease on Down the Road #3"|  | Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell and Ted Ross| 1:26
15.| "Poppy Girls Theme"| Anthony Jackson| Instrumental (Jones)| 3:27
16.| "Be a Lion"|  | Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell and Ted Ross| 4:04
17.| "End of the Yellow Brick Road"|  | Instrumental| 1:01
18.| "Emerald City Sequence"| (music: Jones, lyrics: Smalls)| Chorus| 6:44
19.| "So You Wanted to See the Wizard"|  | Richard Pryor \- (spoken dialogue)| 2:46
20.| "Is This What Feeling Gets? (Dorothy's Theme)"| (music: Jones, lyrics: Ashford & Simpson)| Diana Ross \- (vocal version not used in film)| 3:21
21.| "Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News"|  | Mabel King and Chorus| 3:03
22.| "A Brand New Day"| Luther Vandross| Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell and Ted Ross| 7:49
23.| "Believe in Yourself (Dorothy)"|  | Diana Ross| 2:55
24.| "The Good Witch Glinda"|  | Instrumental| 1:09
25.| "Believe in Yourself (Reprise)"|  | Lena Horne| 2:15
26.| "Home (Finale)"|  | Diana Ross| 4:03
Total length:| 1:16:22

## Original vinyl listing

[edit]

All songs written by Charlie Smalls, unless otherwise noted.

### Record one, side one

[edit]

1. "Main Title (Overture, Part One)" (instrumental)
2. "Overture (Part Two)" (instrumental)
3. "The Feeling That We Have" \- Theresa Merritt and The Wiz Choir
4. "Can I Go On?" (Quincy Jones, Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson) \- Diana Ross
5. "Glinda's Theme" (instrumental)
6. "He's the Wizard" \- Thelma Carpenter and The Wiz Choir
7. "Soon as I Get Home"/"Home" \- Diana Ross

### Record one, side two

[edit]

1. "You Can't Win" \- Michael Jackson
2. "Ease on Down the Road #1" \- Diana Ross and Michael Jackson
3. "What Would I Do If I Could Feel?" \- Nipsey Russell
4. "Slide Some Oil to Me" \- Nipsey Russell
5. "Ease on Down the Road #2" \- Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, and Nipsey Russell
6. "I'm a Mean Ole Lion" \- Ted Ross
7. "Ease on Down the Road #3" \- Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, and Ted Ross
8. "Poppy Girls" \- (Anthony Jackson) (instrumental)

### Record two, side one

[edit]

1. "Be a Lion" \- Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, and Ted Ross
2. "End of the Yellow Brick Road" (instrumental)
3. "Emerald City Sequence" (music: Jones, lyrics: Smalls) \- The Wiz Choir
4. "So You Wanted to See the Wizard" \- Richard Pryor (spoken dialogue)
5. "Is This What Feeling Gets? (Dorothy's Theme)" (music: Jones, lyrics: Ashford & Simpson) \- Diana Ross

### Record two, side two

[edit]

1. "Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News" \- Mabel King and Chorus
2. "A Brand New Day" (Luther Vandross) \- Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, and The Wiz Choir
3. "Believe in Yourself (Dorothy)" \- Diana Ross
4. "The Good Witch Glinda" (instrumental)
5. "Believe in Yourself (Reprise)" \- Lena Horne
6. "Home" \- Diana Ross

## Charts

[edit]

Chart (1978–79)  | Peak
position

|

US Billboard Top LPs & Tape[5] | 40
US Billboard Top Soul Albums[5] | 33

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

United States (RIAA)[6] | Gold  | 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## See also

[edit]

* Diana Ross Sings Songs from The Wiz, a 2015 reissue

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Lecocq, Richard; Allard, François (2018). Michael Jackson All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. London, England: Cassell. ISBN 9781788400572.
2. ^ AllMusic review
3. ^ Jones, Quincy (2002). Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones. Broadway Books. pp. Pages 229, 259. ISBN 0-7679-0510-5.
4. ^ Bronson, Fred (2003). Billboard's Hottest Hot 100 Hits. Watson-Guptill. p. 107\. ISBN 0-8230-7738-1.
5. ^ a b "allmusic ((( The Wiz (Original Soundtrack) > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
6. ^ "American album certifications – Diana Ross – The Wiz (soundtrack)". Recording Industry Association of America.

* v
* t
* e

Michael Jackson: Off the Wall

Side one|

* "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
* "Rock with You"
* "Working Day and Night"
* "Get on the Floor"

Side two|

* "Off the Wall"
* "Girlfriend"
* "She's Out of My Life"
* "I Can't Help It"
* "It's the Falling in Love"
* "Burn This Disco Out"

Related articles|

* The Wiz
* The Wiz: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
* Destiny
* Triumph
* Destiny World Tour
* Triumph Tour
* Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall

* v
* t
* e

Diana Ross

* Discography
* Awards and nominations

Studio albums|

* Diana Ross (1970)
* Everything Is Everything (1970)
* Surrender (1971)
* Touch Me in the Morning (1973)
* Diana & Marvin (1973)
* Last Time I Saw Him (1973)
* Diana Ross (1976)
* Baby It's Me (1977)
* Ross (1978)
* The Boss (1979)
* Diana (1980)
* Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1981)
* Silk Electric (1982)
* Ross (1983)
* Swept Away (1984)
* Eaten Alive (1985)
* Red Hot Rhythm & Blues (1987)
* Workin' Overtime (1989)
* The Force Behind the Power (1991)
* A Very Special Season (1994)
* Take Me Higher (1995)
* Every Day Is a New Day (1999)
* Blue (2006)
* I Love You (2006)
* Diana Ross Sings Songs from The Wiz (rec. 1978, rel. 2015)
* Thank You (2021)

Compilations|

* Greatest Hits (1972)
* Diana Ross' Greatest Hits (1976)
* 20 Golden Greats (1979)
* To Love Again (1981)
* All the Great Hits (1981)
* Forever Diana: Musical Memoirs (1993)
* One Woman: The Ultimate Collection (1993)
* Diana Extended: The Remixes (1994)
* Voice of Love (1996)
* Love & Life: The Very Best of Diana Ross (2001)
* The Definitive Collection (2006)
* The Greatest (2011)
* Upside Down: The Collection (2012)
* Supertonic: Mixes (2020)

Live releases|

* Live at Caesars Palace (1974)
* An Evening with Diana Ross (1977)
* Greatest Hits Live (1989)
* Stolen Moments: The Lady Sings... Jazz and Blues (1993)
* Christmas in Vienna (1993)

Soundtrack albums|

* Diana! (1971)
* Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
* Mahogany (1975)
* The Wiz (1978)
* Endless Love (1981)

Video albums|

* Live in Central Park (2012)

Singles|

* "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)"
* "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"
* "Remember Me"
* "Reach Out (I'll Be There)"
* "Surrender"
* "I'm Still Waiting"
* "Good Morning Heartache"
* "Touch Me in the Morning"
* "You're a Special Part of Me"
* "Last Time I Saw Him"
* "My Mistake (Was to Love You)"
* "You Are Everything"
* "Don't Knock My Love"
* "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)"
* "Sorry Doesn't Always Make It Right"
* "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)"
* "I Thought It Took a Little Time (But Today I Fell in Love)"
* "Love Hangover"
* "One Love in My Lifetime"
* "Gettin' Ready for Love"
* "Your Love Is So Good for Me"
* "You Got It"
* "Lovin', Livin' and Givin'"
* "Ease on Down the Road"
* "Pops, We Love You"
* "What You Gave Me"
* "The Boss"
* "No One Gets the Prize"
* "It's My House"
* "Upside Down"
* "I'm Coming Out"
* "My Old Piano"
* "It's My Turn"
* "One More Chance"
* "Cryin' My Heart Out for You"
* "Endless Love"
* "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
* "Mirror, Mirror"
* "Work That Body"
* "Muscles"
* "So Close"
* "Pieces of Ice"
* "All of You"
* "Swept Away"
* "Touch by Touch"
* "Missing You"
* "Eaten Alive"
* "Chain Reaction"
* "Experience"
* "Dirty Looks"
* "If We Hold On Together"
* "Workin' Overtime"
* "This House" / "Paradise"
* "When You Tell Me That You Love Me"
* "Someday We'll Be Together"
* "Take Me Higher"
* "I Will Survive"
* "Not Over You Yet"
* "Goin' Back"
* "I've Got a Crush on You"
* "Thank You"
* "If the World Just Danced"
* "Turn Up the Sunshine"

Featured singles|

* "A Brand New Day"
* "We Are the World"

Tours and concerts|

* Super Bowl XXX halftime show (1996)
* Return to Love Tour (2000)
* I Love You Tour (2006–2008)
* More Today Than Yesterday: The Greatest Hits Tour (2010–2012)
* In the Name of Love Tour (2013–2017)
* The Essential Diana Ross: Some Memories Never Fade (2015–2017)

Related topics|

* The Supremes
* Rhonda Ross Kendrick (daughter)
* Tracee Ellis Ross (daughter)
* Evan Ross (son)
* Arne Næss Jr. (second husband)
* Arthur "T-Boy" Ross (brother)
* Diana Ross Playground
* Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Michael Jackson

* Albums
* Singles
* Songs
* Videography
* Unreleased songs
* Awards
* Records and achievements
* Cultural impact

Studio albums|

* Got to Be There
* Ben
* Music & Me
* Forever, Michael
* Off the Wall
* Thriller
* Bad
* Dangerous
* HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
* Invincible

Posthumous albums|

* Michael
* Xscape

Anniversary reissues|

* Thriller 25
* Bad 25
* Thriller 40

Remix albums|

* The Original Soul of Michael Jackson
* Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix
* The Stripped Mixes
* The Remix Suite

Soundtracks|

* The Wiz
* E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
* Michael Jackson's This Is It
* Immortal

Compilations|

* The Best of Michael Jackson
* One Day in Your Life
* 18 Greatest Hits
* Farewell My Summer Love
* Looking Back to Yesterday
* The Michael Jackson Mix
* 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Michael Jackson
* Love Songs
* Greatest Hits: HIStory Volume I
* Number Ones
* The Essential Michael Jackson
* King of Pop
* The Definitive Collection
* Icon
* Scream

Box sets|

* Anthology
* The Ultimate Collection
* Visionary: The Video Singles
* The Motown Years
* The Collection
* Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection

Concert tours|

* Bad World Tour
* Dangerous World Tour
* HIStory World Tour
* This Is It (canceled)

Specials|

* Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
* Super Bowl XXVII halftime show
* MJ & Friends
* 30th Anniversary Celebration
* United We Stand: What More Can I Give
* Live at the Apollo

Video albums|

* Dangerous: The Short Films
* Video Greatest Hits – HIStory
* HIStory on Film, Volume II
* Number Ones
* The One
* Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour
* Michael Jackson's Vision
* Live at Wembley July 16, 1988

Films|

* Michael Jackson's Thriller
* Captain EO
* Moonwalker
* Michael Jackson's Ghosts
* Michael Jackson's Private Home Movies
* Michael Jackson's This Is It

Television|

* Free to Be... You and Me
* The Jacksons
* "Stark Raving Dad" (The Simpsons)
* Michael Jackson Talks ... to Oprah
* Move Like Michael Jackson
* Living with Michael Jackson
* The Michael Jackson Interview: The Footage You Were Never Meant To See
* "The Jeffersons" (South Park)
* "Michael" (Glee)
* Michael Jackson's Halloween

Video games|

* Michael Jackson's Moonwalker
* The Experience
* Planet Michael
* Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2
* Sonic the Hedgehog 3
* Space Channel 5
* Space Channel 5: Part 2
* Dreamcast Collection

Books|

* Moonwalk
* Dancing the Dream

Documentaries|

* The Life of an Icon
* Bad 25
* The Last Photo Shoots
* Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall
* Square One: Michael Jackson
* Killing Michael Jackson
* Thriller 40

Biographical films|

* The Jacksons: An American Dream (miniseries)
* Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story
* Searching for Neverland
* Michael

Stage shows|

* Thriller – Live
* Michael Forever – The Tribute Concert
* The Immortal World Tour
* Motown: The Musical
* One
* MJ the Musical

Personal life|

* Health and appearance
* Personal relationships
* Jackson family
* Paris Jackson
* Lisa Marie Presley
* Debbie Rowe

Abuse allegations|

* 1993 allegations
* 2005 trial
* Posthumous allegations
* FBI files

Death|

* Memorial service
* Conrad Murray
* trial

Influence|

* Moonwalk
* Robot
* Philanthropy
* Cover versions
* Monuments, memorials and namesakes
* Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award
* Mesoparapylocheles michaeljacksoni
* Thrill the World
* Thriller viral video
* World Vitiligo Day
* Sonic the Hedgehog
* Ulala
* Impersonators
* Michael Jackson fandom
* On the Wall
* Heal the World Foundation

Related|

* The Jackson 5
* The Jackson 5 discography
* Jackson 5ive
* Estate of Michael Jackson
* Thriller jacket
* Fulham F.C. statue
* Michael Jackson: A Visual Documentary: 1958—2009: the Official Tribute Edition
* The Magic and the Madness
* Michael Jackson and Bubbles
* MJ Gallery at Ponte 16
* "We Had Him"
* You Are Not Alone
* Michael Jackson, Inc.
* Hayvenhurst
* Neverland Ranch
* Thriller Villa
* The MJCast
* Northern Songs
* Sony/ATV Music Publishing
* Mijac Music
* Bubbles
* Peter Pan syndrome
* Mister Lonely
* We Are the World
* Mind Is the Magic: Anthem for the Las Vegas Show
* Never Can Say Goodbye: The Music of Michael Jackson
* Rava on the Dance Floor
* Unity: The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson
* "Better on the Other Side"
* "Home"
* "Eat It"
* "Fat"
* Return of the Moonwalker
* Monument to Michael Jackson (film)
* Sheikh Jackson
* The Last Days of Michael Jackson
* Neverland Firsthand: Investigating the Michael Jackson Documentary
* Michael Jackson: Chase the Truth
* MJ (album)

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Quincy Jones

* Discography
* Awards

Albums|

* Jazz Abroad
* This Is How I Feel About Jazz
* Go West, Man!
* Quincy's Home Again
* The Birth of a Band!
* The Great Wide World of Quincy Jones
* I Dig Dancers
* The Quintessence
* Big Band Bossa Nova
* Quincy Jones Plays Hip Hits
* Quincy Jones Explores the Music of Henry Mancini
* Golden Boy
* Quincy Plays for Pussycats
* Quincy's Got a Brand New Bag
* Walking In Space
* Gula Matari
* Smackwater Jack
* You've Got It Bad Girl
* Body Heat
* Mellow Madness
* I Heard That!!
* Sounds...and Stuff Like That!!
* The Dude
* Back on the Block
* Q's Jook Joint
* The Original Jam Sessions 1969
* Q: Soul Bossa Nostra

Compilations|

* From Q with Love

Live albums|

* Newport '61
* Miles & Quincy Live at Montreux

Soundtracks|

* Walk, Don't Run
* The Italian Job
* Dollars
* The Wiz
* The Color Purple

Singles|

* "Soul Bossa Nova"
* "Sanford and Son Theme (The Streetbeater)"
* "Stuff Like That"
* "Ai No Corrida"
* "Just Once"
* "One Hundred Ways"
* "I'll Be Good to You"
* "The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)"

Other works|

| With Michael Jackson|

* The Wiz
* Off the Wall
* E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
* Thriller
* Bad

|

With Frank Sinatra|

* It Might as Well Be Swing
* Sinatra at the Sands
* L.A. Is My Lady

Single collaborations|

* "It's My Party" with Lesley Gore
* "We Are the World" with USA for Africa
* "We Are the World 25 for Haiti" with Artists for Haiti

Films|

* The Color Purple (1985 film)
* Quincy
* The Color Purple (2023 film)

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