Follow this authorKathleen Parker's opinions

“Well, it was my era,” I responded with more than a tinge of pride. “You were one at the time.” The fact is, nothing since has touched the creation of “We Are the World.”

The documentary walks us through the process, from Harry Belafonte’s ambitious idea to the songwriting by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson (so young!), to live footage from the Los Angeles studio where the recording was done immediately following the 1985 American Music Awards. Co-producers Quincy Jones and Ken Kragen donated their time away from other projects, as did all the busy people involved. Bruce Springsteen flew out from New Jersey, arriving too late to collect his award for “Dancing in the Dark,” which had been voted “favorite pop/rock single.” (He didn’t stop smiling all night either.)

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The recording event itself was a heroic effort by Richie, who also hosted the awards ceremony, performing twice himself and winning six awards before dashing to the studio to hold everything — and everyone — together through what became a very long night.

After a few hours, the musicians were tired, hungry — Al Jarreau was overserved — and, as someone noted, the crowded room was getting “ripe.”

Even so, everyone remained pleasant enough and patient, considering that some parts of the song had to be reimagined in real time. At one point, Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper and Kim Carnes were asked to harmonize a tricky section, a feat that required many tries. Several of the musicians had one-line solos, while others sang in the chorus — including Dan Aykroyd, Bob Geldof, all the Jackson siblings, Waylon Jennings, Bette Midler, Smokey Robinson and John Oates.

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Soloists included Richie and Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Jarreau, Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry, Daryl Hall, Bob Dylan and Ray Charles. With a roster like this, I hate to leave........

© Washington Post