--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That was an idea of the record company…" description: "\"That was an idea of the record company, and also that was my first album after MCA and we wanted to come back with a strong album that would be noticed..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5c/joe-sample-68838_albums_that-was-an-idea-of-the-record-company-a_2711837.jpg" --- # That was an idea of the record company, and also that was… ![“That was an idea of the record company, and also that was my first album after MCA and we wanted to come back with a strong album that would be noticed. If we put the vocals by very talented people and very meaningful songs, then the vocals would be a platform so that I could be noticed again. All…” quote by Joe Sample](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5c/joe-sample-68838_albums_that-was-an-idea-of-the-record-company-a_2711837.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5c/joe-sample-68838_albums_that-was-an-idea-of-the-record-company-a_2711837.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5c/joe-sample-68838_albums_that-was-an-idea-of-the-record-company-a_2711837.jpg) > “That was an idea of the record company, and also that was my first album after MCA and we wanted to come back with a strong album that would be noticed. If we put the vocals by very talented people and very meaningful songs, then the vocals would be a platform so that I could be noticed again. All of the MCA albums were just loaded with problems -- you know, the right musicians, the engineers. The record company would say 'You have to make music for black radio, you can't do what you have been doing with The Crusaders.' Everybody was telling me that was over, finished, done.” Joe Sample ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes how label pressure forced a shift toward commercial black radio style, but he aimed to use strong vocals and meaningful songs to regain artistic relevance. **In simple terms:** Label demanded commercial style; he sought artistic comeback via vocals. Key Takeaway Leverage vocal talent to re‑establish presence. Themes music industry artistic integrity commercial pressure career revival Mood determined reflective Type strategic industry‑focused When to use this quote - album production - record label negotiations - artist reinvention - radio market strategy Key Concepts branding audience targeting creative compromise Questions to Reflect On - How can artists balance label demands with personal expression? - What risks arise from prioritizing commercial appeal? A Different Perspective The approach may dilute personal artistic vision for market acceptance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Albums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Engineers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineers/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Loaded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loaded/) [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) [Meaningful song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful-song/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Radio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radio/) [Record companies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/record-companies/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Talented people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talented-people/) ## Related quotes > [Giving a record company an album is like giving a gangster your baby or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-miller/giving-a-record-company-an-album-is-like-giving-a-gangster-your-baby/) [Steve Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-miller/) > [But I did mine through a production company. All the music I did, I gave to the production company. Then the production company would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-ayers/but-i-did-mine-through-a-production-company-all-the-music-i-did-i/) [Roy Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-ayers/) > [We play the music we want to play and we play the places we want to play. I'd hate to be on the usual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-curtis/we-play-the-music-we-want-to-play-and-we-play-the-places-we-want-to/) [Ian Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-curtis/) > [It's great when you can write a meaningful song that touches people, but sometimes you just wanna have fun and sing a silly song…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-underwood/it-s-great-when-you-can-write-a-meaningful-song-that-touches-people/) [Carrie Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-underwood/) > [If you're gonna sing meaningful songs, you have to be committed to living a life that backs that up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-baez/if-you-re-gonna-sing-meaningful-songs-you-have-to-be-committed-to/) [Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) > [There are always meaningful songs for somebody. People are doing their courting, people are finding their wives, people are making babies, people are washing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/there-are-always-meaningful-songs-for-somebody-people-are-doing-their/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [I'm a lyric man - I'm always looking for meaningful songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/i-m-a-lyric-man-i-m-always-looking-for-meaningful-songs/) [Tom Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-jones/) > [“When love has been in your life you see that the only true, real pleasure of life is love. Every other thrill arises from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajaa-alsanea/when-love-has-been-in-your-life-you-see-that-the-only-true-real/) Rajaa Alsanea > [I can't choose the most meaningful song that I've written. That would be like choosing one child over another. But first borns are always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/i-can-t-choose-the-most-meaningful-song-that-i-ve-written-that-would/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [I don't want to sing about going to a party with friends, I want to sing meaningful songs that can inspire people and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saara-aalto/i-don-t-want-to-sing-about-going-to-a-party-with-friends-i-want-to/) [Saara Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saara-aalto/) > [Another Lonely Song' is one of the most meaningful songs I've ever done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-morgan/another-lonely-song-is-one-of-the-most-meaningful-songs-i-ve-ever-done/) [Lorrie Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-morgan/) > [I don't feel I have to write deep and meaningful songs; they can be light and meaningless. It has to do with the place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-diamond/i-don-t-feel-i-have-to-write-deep-and-meaningful-songs-they-can-be/) [Neil Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-diamond/) > [“He’ll be successful, finally, this coming Sunday, at the modest ceremony to be held in the living room. It’s all so clear. Tyler will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/he-ll-be-successful-finally-this-coming-sunday-at-the-modest-ceremony/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) ## More by Joe Sample > [I feel that Wilton Felder and Wayne Henderson have involved themselves so deeply into being Jehovah's Witnesses that Stix Hooper and I have decided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sample/i-feel-that-wilton-felder-and-wayne-henderson-have-involved/) Joe Sample > [I love to hear the note sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sample/i-love-to-hear-the-note-sing/) Joe Sample > [I visited New York in '63, intending to move there, but I noticed that what I valued about jazz was being discarded. I ran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sample/i-visited-new-york-in-63-intending-to-move-there-but-i-noticed-that/) Joe Sample Explore all 4 Joe Sample quotes ## More Albums quotes > [Check out the albums, ... Check out the live performances. That's the reality of it all. Music is such an energizing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayall/check-out-the-albums-check-out-the-live-performances-that-s-the/) [John Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayall/) > [It's been really fun to see with each album when I change to see the fans of the show emulate my style and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/it-s-been-really-fun-to-see-with-each-album-when-i-change-to-see-the/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [It's my intention to make something stand outside the realm of album art, but it also feels comfortable to me to be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer-baizley/it-s-my-intention-to-make-something-stand-outside-the-realm-of-album/) [John Dyer Baizley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer-baizley/) > [The weird thing was that Soft Cell was supposed to have come and gone before I started the album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-almond/the-weird-thing-was-that-soft-cell-was-supposed-to-have-come-and-gone/) [Marc Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-almond/) > [I believe in full albums, and whatever comes out of those full albums will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-ricch/i-believe-in-full-albums-and-whatever-comes-out-of-those-full-albums/) [Roddy Ricch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-ricch/) > [Doing my own album provided me the opportunity to say whatever I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/doing-my-own-album-provided-me-the-opportunity-to-say-whatever-i/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [The album is a definite departure. I haven't written original material before, except for one song on my first album, but Elvis and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-krall/the-album-is-a-definite-departure-i-haven-t-written-original-material/) [Diana Krall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-krall/) > [I never do any album to beat it. I do it to extend it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-never-do-any-album-to-beat-it-i-do-it-to-extend-it/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [I love Katy Perry! She gave me a song for my second album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/i-love-katy-perry-she-gave-me-a-song-for-my-second-album/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [If you're going to reach for it, reach all the way for it. Albums like 'Purple Rain' and 'Thriller' and those kind of records,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sitek/if-you-re-going-to-reach-for-it-reach-all-the-way-for-it-albums-like/) [Dave Sitek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sitek/) > [I'll put out an album, and people review it, and some people love it, and some people tear it apart. By nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girl-talk/i-ll-put-out-an-album-and-people-review-it-and-some-people-love-it/) [Girl Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girl-talk/) > [I've been connected to the most culturally important albums of the past four years, the most influential artists of the past ten years. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-ve-been-connected-to-the-most-culturally-important-albums-of-the/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [George Winston piano albums have been my go-to since junior high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/george-winston-piano-albums-have-been-my-go-to-since-junior-high/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [Someone told me once that Lucinda Williams takes six years between albums, and that's what stuck to me; it's like, you really are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/someone-told-me-once-that-lucinda-williams-takes-six-years-between/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) > [Now I'm having to live with sales of around 50,000 per album - but I'm pretty content with my place in the general scheme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-knopfler/now-i-m-having-to-live-with-sales-of-around-50-000-per-album-but-i-m/) [David Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-knopfler/) [Browse all 2,275 Albums quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That was an idea of the record company, and also that was my first album after MCA and we wanted to come back with a strong album that would be noticed. 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