Been following Al Kooper's blog for a few weeks. He surfs the web for gems and sets up a playlist every Friday.

I'm not knocked out by every track on the lists but given the chonology of this track, it's very significant and kicks ass

1. "Let’s Get Serious" ...son (4:22)

Chronologically after "Superstition," Stevie Wonder wrote this gem and gave it away (as he almost did "Superstition" with Beck, Bogert & Appice before coming to his senses and releasing his version before theirs came out). In this case he gave the track to Jermaine Jackson and merely took his voice off and replaced it with Jermaine’s. What he did do was lose a tremendous follow-up to "Superstition," as Jermaine’s version barely penetrated the pop charts and I’m guessing there’s barely a reader here who’s even heard it. That’s what I’m here for - check this out and NOW you can make it your follow-up to "Superstition," unfortunately, decades later. Better really late than NEVER, however... Hey, maybe Steveland will start playing it live!

Jermaine also did a Spanish version called Seamos Serios. There is also a live version with both Jermaine & Stevie. It's not released though.

In my opinion, the song is quite good, but not brilliant. I don't think it would have been such a great follow-up to Superstition.

Legend has it that Stevie was never fully satisfied with any of Jermaine's takes. Supposedly Stevie just gave up and ended up piecing together different takes to create what we hear today.

I guess lightning didn't quite strike twice with their followup "I think its love", written by Wonder with Jermaine and producer Michael Omartian (Omartian also programmed and produced it, not Stevie).

I think "lets get serious" and I think its love" are great tracks, particually "lets get serious", though the album version is too long though. Late 70's-early 80's albums often had that problem (though less tracks per side does mean the sound quality increases, so thats something thats good about long tracks on an LP or 12 inch).

We all know Stevie's a perfectionist, but I see nothing wrong with Jermaine's vocal at all. Nathan Watts bass is great on the track aswell.

It's worth noting that Stevie co-wrote this one with someone called Lee Garett?

Anyone know who he is?

thesexofit said:

though the album version is too long though.

It's not too long for me. I prefer the long versions and didn't really care for the single edits that fade out early. I listen to Rapper's Delight all the time. It's 15 minutes and it seems short.

AlexdeParis said:

What is this guy talking about? "Let's Get Serious" is one of JerHighness's biggest pop hits, reaching #9. It was also Billboard's #1 R&B Song of the year 1980, beating out little bro's "Rock With You." (BTW, it's a fantastic tune and easily JJ's best for my money.) And I don't understand what he means by follow-up to "Superstition" when "Living for the City," "You Haven't Done Nothin'," "Sir Duke," and "Send One Your Love" - just to name a few - were all successful singles in the meantime.

Exactly.

And "let's get serious" is my favorite Jermaine song on my favoirte jermaine album. i heard the live version of thm performing it together it was cool. funny thing about the spanish version he also does stevie's part and does a decent job....can you imagine if it was on stevie's "hotter than july" though like originally intended?