Ease on Down the Road

Ease On Down the Road was a 1978 duet between soul singers and former Motown alums Diana Ross & Michael Jackson.

Related Topics:
1978 - Motown - Diana Ross - Michael Jackson

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Released as the theme song of the 1978 film adaptation of The Wiz (itself an adaptaiton of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz), and produced by Quincy Jones, the Charlie Smalls-composed tune was an R&B re-interpretation of both "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" and "We're Off to See the Wizard" from the 1939 version of The Wizard of Oz. In the song, Dorothy (portrayed in the film by Ross) and the Scarecrow (played by Jackson) dance their way down the Yellow Brick Road, and give each other words of encouragement.

Related Topics:
The Wiz - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Quincy Jones - R&B - 1939 - The Wizard of Oz

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"Ease on Down the Road" is performed four times in The Wiz: once by Dorothy and the Scarecrow, once by the two of them and the Tin Man (played by Nipsey Russell), by the three of them and the Cowardly Lion (played by Ted Ross), and finally during the end credits. In the album version, Jackson & Ross sing by themselves. The recording was one of Jackson's first collaborations with Quincy Jones, who became his main producer during the late 1970s and 1980s.

Related Topics:
Nipsey Russell - Ted Ross - 1970s - 1980s

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Released as a single in the late summer of 1978, the song missed the U.S. Top 40 b one position, peaking at #41 on the Billboard Hot 100. It reached #17 on the Soul Singles chart the same year.

Related Topics:
1978 - Top 40 - Billboard Hot 100

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