Check Your Egos at the Door

It’s Throwback Thursday and let’s head to Hollywood – 1985.

The setting, A&M Recording Studios.

The mission, finish recording one of the greatest selling songs of all time.

“We Are The World” by USA For Africa was finished that night.

The USA For Africa project began as an idea calypso singer Harry Belafonte had for a benefit concert featuring black musicians. In late December 1984, looking for artists to participate, Belafonte called Ken Kragen, who managed an impressive roster of talent, including Lionel Richie. Kragen convinced Belafonte that they could raise more money and make a bigger impact with an original song; Belafonte agreed and Richie came on board to help. Next up was bringing Quincy Jones as producer, who brought on Michael Jackson. Lionel got Stevie Wonder involved and the rest is history.

So after the American Music Awards ended, musicians poured into limos and headed to the studio. The session served as a de facto after party, with the artists mingling and in some cases exchanging autographs. By 8 a.m. the next morning, all of the performers had left except for Richie, who was still there with Jones.

Some interesting facts:

- The song raised over $60 million for famine in Africa

- Prince was asked to be a part of the project, however, he didn’t show. Huey Lewis ended up getting Prince’s line in the song. For the record, Prince and the Revolution did contribute a separate song to the We Are The World album, a number titled “4 the Tears in Your Eyes.”

- Prince’s song “Hello” (the B-side to “Pop Life”) was written in response to the backlash he faced by skipping out on the recording session.

- The song won two Grammy awards, Song and Record of the Year

- Billy Joel was quoted in a Rolling Stone interview saying "Most of us who were there didn't like the song, but nobody would say so. I think Cyndi Lauper leaned over to me and said, 'It sounds like a Pepsi commercial.' And I didn't disagree."

- According to Quincy Jones, Cyndi Lauper was the only artist who caused a disruption during the song - her bracelets were rattling next to the microphone as she was singing.

- Dan Aykroyd was in the chorus. He was there to represent the film industry.

- Madonna didn’t take part in it, even though she was invited by Michael Jackson.