It’s no secret that Epic Records, spearheaded by its CEO, LA Reid, is putting together a new album of unreleased Michael Jackson material. Timbaland spoke about it. Fred Jerkins spoke about it. It’s happening.
One thing that has not been made clear is exactly when the album is scheduled for release. Despite a host of producers, musicians and DJs speaking publicly about their contributions, Epic Records and The Michael Jackson Estate have remained quiet about the whole thing, leaving Jackson enthusiasts to wonder about the finer details – until now!
Dr. Freeze, the man responsible for writing and producing “Break Of Dawn”, a song from Jackson’s ‘Invincible’ album, was kind enough to give me some fascinating insight into the direction of the upcoming work-in-progress project.
“It seems to be coming out in the Spring of 2014,” Freeze told me exclusively.
Many fans had speculated that the new album, like 2010’s controversial ‘Michael’ album, would be rushed out to capitalise on holiday season sales during the 2013 Christmas period.
However, timing doesn’t appear to be the focus with this project. Instead, the focus is on delivering a quality product that all sectors of the Michael Jackson fan community can enjoy and appreciate in one way or another.
The label recognises that delivering a product which will satisfy the appetite and taste buds of Jackson’s entire fan base is likely an impossible task. So, in an effort to at least partially please most of the fans, they’re taking a much different approach; an approach most fans would have liked to have seen taken back in 2010 with the ‘Michael’ album.
The new album, at this stage, will go with a “then and now” / “past and present” type theme, featuring both new remixes and original versions of unreleased Michael Jackson recordings.
“I’m not on the album; just my songs,” explained Freeze, whose unreleased tracks “A Place With No Name” and “Blue Gangsta”, originally recorded by the King of Pop in 1998, will be freshly remixed by new producers for the album.
“Both old and new versions of both songs are on the album to satisfy both sides of the fans,” Freeze revealed.
“Which producers are remixing your songs for the album?” I asked.
“Not sure yet. It’s still up in the air right now,” he responded.
Super-producer Timbaland, most famous for his work with Missy Elliot and Justin Timberlake, believes he’ll wrap up his part of production by the end of the year; and he’s already predicted (prematurely, perhaps) that the lead single will be a song he remixed, called “Chicago”.
“I can tell you the first single is gonna be the song ‘Chicago’ … I think it should be, because ‘Chicago’ sounds like today,” said the producer.
“So last night I heard some of the new tracks Timbaland is doing for the King of Pop… WOW!” tweeted DJ Freestyle Steve, Timbaland’s official DJ, after a private listening session.
“To all the Timbaland & Michael Jackson fans; just know Tim did an amazing job with Mike’s vocals. The world will love it,” he added.
With songs like “Slave To The Rhythm” and “Do You Know Where Your Children Are” being remixed and considered to feature alongside the previously mentioned Freeze tracks “A Place With No Name” and “Blue Gangsta” fans should be in for a treat.
The recently leaked “I Am A Loser“, written by Brad Buxer and Jackson in 2003 (or “I Was The Loser” as its 2008 version is called), could come into consideration, as could tracks such as “Escape”, “She Was Lovin’ Me” and “Can’t Get Your Weight Off Of Me” from the 1999-2001 ‘Invincible’ sessions.
But like Dr. Freeze said; “It’s still up in the air right now.”
Songs you can count on not being included; the infamous ‘Cascio tracks’ – three of which have already been released and nine of which remain unreleased.
The Estate have communicated to fans that no more Cascio tracks will be included on any future Michael Jackson releases following the uproar they caused in 2010 when questions over the authenticity and origins of their dubious vocals were raised by Jackson’s family and fans around the world.
Although “Slave To The Rhythm” is one of the tracks being considered for release, it’s unlikely to appear in the form of a duet with Justin Bieber. An incomplete mix of the posthumous duet, produced by Max Methods as requested by Tricky Stewart (who is currently the president of A&R at Epic Records – under LA Reid) was leaked online in August to the displeasure of many MJ fans.
To clear things up The Michael Jackson Estate, via their mouthpiece ‘The MJ Online Team’, issued the following statement:
“For those who have been asking about the recently posted recording of ‘Slave 2 The Rhythm’ by Michael and Justin Bieber, this recording was not authorized and has been taken down,” later adding, “It is unauthorized and therefore there is no intention to release it.”
There are still major doubts as to whether Jackson’s fans will ever hear the unreleased music that originates from some of his later collaborative ventures, including a three-year period in which he worked sporadically with Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am.
Jackson is said to have recorded just a few songs during his time in the studio with will.i.am, including titles “I’m Dreamin”, “The Future” and “I Will Miss You” as previously cited by the producer.
However, will.i.am has been very vocal about putting out and/or finishing Jackson’s incomplete work. He deems it disrespectful, calling The Estate “parasites” and accusing them of not honoring the King of Pop back when the first posthumous album was being put together.
As a fan, I would personally love Epic Records to release the original, untouched demo of “Hollywood Tonight” – perhaps as a bonus track or iTunes exclusive on the upcoming album. Although a remix of the track features on the 2010 ‘Michael’ album, I feel that the demo version – written and produced by Jackson and Brad Buxer – is so good that fans need to hear it.
Based on the above-mentioned titles alone there is enough material available for Epic Records to release an extremely strong album featuring several hit singles.
“I always want to do music that inspires or influences another generation. You want what you create to live, be it sculpture or painting or music. Like Michelangelo, he said, ‘I know the creator will go, but his work survives. That is why to escape death, I attempt to bind my soul to my work.’ And that’s how I feel. I give my all to my work. I want it to just live.” – Michael Jackson
Damien Shields is the author of the book Xscape Origins: The Songs & Stories Michael Jackson Left Behind about Michael Jackson’s artistry and creative process. Click here to order your copy today – also available via Amazon, Kindle, iBooks, and Google Play. Follow Damien on Facebook and Twitter to stay up-to-date with Michael Jackson-related news.
Even though the album is expected for spring 2014 do you think the first single could be released by december?
My Grandson and I love MJs music and he will really be excited as I am to here more of MJs songs! Thanks for sharing this with us! Great job as always!
Possibly, although I somewhat doubt it, considering two MASSIVE compilation albums were released earlier this year – I’d say that the album will come out in February/March 2014, with the first single or promotional single coming out in late January.
Wow what about the songs Hot Street , xscape and stuff like demos from Behind the mask.
Doesn’t sound very good to me. I hope majority of the songs on the new album are previously unheard songs. It would suck if we had already heard like 70% of the ‘new’ songs. But that ‘original/new version’ idea sounds nice. Let’s just hope they have more songs we have never heard before.
agree with u 100%, why song leaked will be out for new album. and i hope that for new album have more than 10 songs.
Thanks Damien, great article again. I personally can’t wait to hear this album. and I am not one of those radical “fans” that refuse any new stuff coming out from MJ whether remixed or not because they are Anti the Estate. We should be thankful to get the opportunity to be able to listen to any new releases from MJ, so yeah can’t wait. Thanks again.
Nicely done, Damien Shields. Can ‘to wait to hear it.
I would like a album, like this fantasy list!!!
Everything, but please just Michael! No one else!
they will ruin his songs if they do remixes with some garbage singers like justin bieber.
Wonderful. Great idea to release both the original version and new version. Nice to hear that there will be no more Cascio (Jason Malachi) fake songs released. But an apology to the fans would be nice too and removal of 3 released songs from Michael’s official discography. That way the fans will finally forgive the Estate and move on. Also Spring, 2014 is much better than Christmas period because there are higher chances that the album will hit #1.
I agree about Hollywood Tonight Demo should be included. Also previously leaked songs should be officially released, there’s nothing wrong with that.
The estate will never be forgiven for anything and will continue to be criticized for everything as they have from the beginning.
Agree, TheresaB. Those that hate the Estate will criticize everything they do regardless of truth, intention or success of project and an apology would only be maligned. Michael, as we know, suffers the same fate from those that seek to destroy him.
They should put more new songs into the album.
I do see no hope with MJ’s Legacy. Very sad about the list,
2 CDs might be a good idea. But i think AEG Trial without a Justice result will ruin all MJ projects forever.
LOL
; )
Nothing can ruin MJ. Nothing.
Wonder exactly what ‘Tim’ did with Michael’s vocals. Looking forward to the
original demos/tracks and we’ll see about re-mixes.
it’s interesting that they are using some leaked song’s on this record. It’s understandable as these were never supposed to be leaked. i’m very glad that they are releasing both remixed/ and orignal versions of these song’s. that is a huge plus for me. looking forward to it.
Personally I think the inclusion of original demos and new versions on a single album release (even if it is on two separate CDs) is a compromise aimed at appeasing overly critical fans and could actually degrade the product. I would prefer that a new album was released with ONLY new remixed versions of the songs, then maybe at a later date release a separate product with the original demos.
Other than appeasing fans, I see no good reason to confuse the product by targeting different buyers. I think the general public will be most interested in new remixes, not demos (assuming the remixes have hit potential), while on the other hand, I think there will be a large proportion of the MJ fan base that are only interest in demos, not new remixes. Two very different markets.
Finaly something makes sense to me , l love this , l really hope they will add Concert from History tour on DVD & Blu Ray. Manila will be great.
HIStory World Tour DVD doesn’t sound like a good idea – the shows weren’t really Michael at his best…Michael only released a VHS copy of one of shows in Seoul, South Korea entitled ‘HIStory World Tour: Live in Seoul’ in 1996, and quite frankly, the Munich show was far better – the only concert footage that Michael released and wanted to release during his life time was the epic ‘Motown 25: Yesterday, Today and Forever’ performance of ‘Billie Jean’, the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards performances, the Seoul performance mentioned above and the October 1, 1992 concert in Bucharest, Romania (during the Dangerous World Tour) – if you’re gonna release a Michael Jackson concert after his death, at least make it a decent one, like the July 16, 1988 concert at London, England (during the Bad World Tour)…
I forgot the performance during Half-Time at the Super Bowl XXVII between Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys.
Also, I wonder if Michael’s song ‘Buffalo Bill’ has anything to do with the team…
– 1 – Blue Gangsta (Freeze) – 2 – A place without no name (Freeze) – 3 – Escape (Jerkins) – 4 – Kick it (Jerkins) – 5 – Get around (Jerkins) – 6 – Slave to the rhythm (Jerkins) – 7 – Chicago 1945 (Timbaland) – 8 – Make a wish (Buz Cohan) – 9 – State of Shock (Mercury version) – 10 – There must be more to life than this – 11 – From the bottom of my heart – 12 – I was the loser – 13 – Do you know where your children are
9&10 better be replaced by Victory
‘Can’t Get Your Weight Off Of Me’ is another track must have as huge as ‘From the bottom of my heart’
Escape is a track leaked since 2003, i dont think its necessary to put it into the album and waste a place to another new song.
So is ‘Blue Gangsta’, ‘Do You Know Where Your Children Are’ and ‘Slave To The Rhythm’ – even the Justin Bieber-Michael Jackson duet remix has leaked! My point is that it doesn’t really matter whether it’s been leaked before, as long as it’s a good song…
Even ‘Scream’ was leaked in 1995 – it was still the lead single of ‘HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I”
I forgot, ‘There Must Be More To Life Than This’ was also leaked, and a snippet of the demo was used for a Freddie Mercury documentary by the BBC.
So wrong, fans want unleaked songs
Unleaked songs are good – all I’m saying is that leaked songs aren’t necessarily bad – or are you saying that ‘Blue Gangsta’ and ‘Slave To The Rhythm’ are bad songs?
‘Blue Gangsta’ and ‘Slave To The Rhythm’ are good enough, but
is there any possible have more unleaked songs?
just add 5 more songs it will be an huge album!!! now its just 9, why 9?? only 9…..
Why to include another fake song “she was lovin’ me”?…. it’s clear this is not Michael
the leaked ‘she was lovin’ me’ is not michael, you’re right. but there is a version worked on by Michael and Corey Rooney during the invincible sessions that both of them loved. Damien wrote an article on this song anyway, so.. i don’t see what you’re complaining about.
The leaked version was a demo by: Brian Beat
could be possible it might be released around the same time as the ”Last PhotoShoots” DVD/Blu-Ray?
This is indeed great news! It took them years to get it.. but it seems know they understood. Finally. Let the Legacy of Michael Jackson commence it’s ascension. Let his light shine brighter then EVER.
Thank you for the amazing article. Including the old and the new version of the songs is an excellent idea! I used to personally fantasize my own track listing with the songs that were leaked out there. And “Blue Gangsta”, “Escape” were among the top songs on my list and I am happy to see them getting the official release they so deserve. There is one more MJ song that has mostly gone unheard named “Shout” and wanted more than anything to be included in an MJ album. The first time I heard the song I was awed. I immediately had to play it again. And again and again. The song is so cool and “funky”. It sounds so “in”. At first I couldn’t catch the lyrics but when I read it I loved the song even more. The song oozed a lot of style and the lyrics are meaningful, it was SO MJ. After trying to find details about the song I ran into an article saying that the song was meant for “Invincible” but it couldn’t get included in the album because it was railroaded by politics between MJ and Sony. And that it was a shame because it was said that MJ was really feeling the song and was dancing to it. I suppose any song that had MJ going should be promoted BIG time. And this song definitely deserves to be heard more and also released with a funky video, probably! My imagination always gets a kick-start when I hear MJ’s songs and with this particular one I could imagine the video with a series of images showing the world’s issues just like how the lyrics of the song says. It would also portray MJ’s concern for the world, something which meant more than anything for him. I hope there is an informative article on this particular piece because I strongly feel this song shouldn’t go “underrated”. It is a song perfect for today’s “youth”. I felt I had to write about it on this article hoping it had get attention. Your articles on MJ’s songs are very informative and detailed. Great work! 🙂
‘Shout’ can be bought from the ‘Cry’ single (the second single from ‘Invincible’) and the 2013 album ‘The Ultimate Fan Extras Collection’
Sounds great!
As for the track listing, assuming the album contains ten songs (twenty when you count remixed + original versions), there should only be a maximum of 2 or 3 leaked songs. I’m buying this album to hear new Michael Jackson material and, while I do think that some of the leaked songs deserve to become an official part of Michael’s discography, I’m not going to spend upwards of 20 dollars for songs I’ve had for years. It’s like buying a Michael Jackson greatest hits collection — you have all the songs, so why spend money buying them again?
You do realise that even with a Michael Jackson greatest-hits album, you can buy any previously unreleased material from iTunes without buying the previously released material – take the International Version of ‘Number Ones’ – the only new song was ‘One More Chance’ (excluding the 2003 Edit version of ‘Thriller’) – all you had to do was buy ‘One More Chance’ from iTunes and not buy anything else…
I like the idea of this, maybe over 2 discs like HIStory. But I would like more unheard songs on the album rather than all the ones I have heard listed above.
When you say “like HIStory”, I hope you mean two discs of new material – not one of new material and the other consisting of old material (like the ‘HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I’ album)
I like the sound of it. I do not mind that we already know some of these songs – they are great songs deserving of an official release despite of the leak. Also the general public probably does not know them. I also like it that they will include the demos as well. I understand that the general public may not be that interested in them, but I think they could have a one-CD version with only the remixes for them and a deluxe version with the demos for fans.
I understand that in order to keep milking the cash cow, they need to round up the producers to modernize and bastardize the demos, but i still refuse to believe it is in any way intended to honor MJ’s legacy.
Honoring him would be leaving his incomplete and shelved work alone.
Oh come on – even Michael knew that after he died, his shelved material would be released. And it wasn’t as if he thought he would easily live through the ‘This Is It’ concerts – he knew he was taking heavy medication. If he was that bothered about it, he would have made a will to prevent the Estate from releasing his shelved material…
ps don have jason voice on the now cd
ilove michaels now songs
i hope that isn’t the cover. yuk.
i agree with T.J.
I DON’T want anything remixed or R’n’B’d up. i want it all untouched.
We want 2 cd’s album with about 16 unheard tracks and 4 leaked already and demos.
I have those songs & honestly don’t care for some of them. Also that album cover you made is terrible
I really can’t get excited about people remixing MJ songs or releasing songs that I’ve heard years ago. I want something fresh. MJ is said to have recorded hundreds of songs. Where are they? Officially release these songs, but rather than this “then & now” foolishness, give us Michael Jackson music they way he intended that we haven’t heard.
He recorded tons of songs for his children – the Estate therefore cannot release them. His children can sell the rights to about 200 songs that Michael recorded for them to the Estate/Sony if they end up in some financial difficulty
Pleaseeee could you send me the original chigaco (not she was loving me because it was titled the same). As well as Can’t get your weight off of me.
I really wish I could hear the last one so bad!
I would even pay you for it!
My enailaddress is calvinwit1997@hotmail.com
Ah…another remix album .
Does this one include Jason Malachi as well?
And a remix/duet with Bieber? No thank u!
I rather like to hear the original demo’s instead of this.
Did you read the article at all?
I like how so many people are making a fuss over the 3 Cascio Tracks included in the ‘Michael’ album, yet no one even mentions the fact that Cirque du Soleil used ‘Monster’ for their Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour shows. No one even complains about the fact that ‘Monster’ was sampled for the shows, and was in fact featured in the ‘Immortal’ album…
dunno where ur looking online but the core mj fan base who acknowledge the cascio tacks as fakes has been in an uproar about the inclusion of cascio material in cirque since day 1….
u clearly didn’t read the article…. all ur concerns are addressed in it.
Michael wrote and recorded over 100 songs for each album, I’m sure some if not all are in a vault somewhere. These are the ones that should be released with Michael’s childrens’ permission NOT the Estate who ONLY want to line their own money grubbing pockets. Hope his newer/later stuff is put onto the album as opposed to his older 2003 music.
beLIEve ALWAYS 🙂
The problem with his later stuff though, is that a lot of them have some sort of problem. Examples are the ‘Cascio Tracks’, which are surrounded by a lot of controversy, and the songs Michael worked with will.i.am (prior to ‘Thriller 25’ i.e. 2007-2008) – will.i.am is determined not to release any music he worked on with Michael as he feels it is disrespectful to Michael. And then we have the ‘Llama Recordings’ – the Estate of Michael Jackson said that Brian May could release them in 2011/2012 – apart from a snippet of the ‘There Must Be More To Life Than This’ demo on a 2013 BBC documentary about Freddie Mercury, and some leaks, these songs are yet to gain an official release as we have no idea what the Estate actually want!
this isn’t going to be a remix album, it’s a newly mixed production by today’s producers on one disc. and Michael’s raw, untouched demo’s on the other disc. there will be no fake song’s, so no one should complain. they’re marketing to general public and the hardcore fanbase. we should be congratulating them. not hating.
zakk.
Exactly. No remixes but new versions. No fake songs.
“Instead, the focus is on delivering a quality product that all sectors of the Michael Jackson fan community can enjoy and appreciate in one way or another.”
Well, hope springs eternal on the part of the Estate, it seems, as they try to deal with THE most fractious and divided fan base in history. The Faction of No is small but shrill. Can they now say that the Estate is insensitive to fan critiques or desires? Oh yes, I’m sure they can. A moment to fill their lungs with more hot air and outlandish accusations, and off they’ll go again. I wish they’d shut up and stop ruining everything for everyone else in the world who loves Michael Jackson’s music.
Can someone please explain to me when this happenned?!:
“The Estate have communicated to fans that no more Cascio tracks will be included on any future Michael Jackson releases following the uproar they caused in 2010 when questions over the authenticity and origins of their dubious vocals were raised by Jackson’s family and fans around the world.”
Who else got that memo? x
It was a personal conversation between a fan (Damien’s friend I believe) and John Branca (co-executor of MJ’s Estate) at Spike Lee Bad 25 Documentary premiere in London. Branca did not admit that the songs are fake (which they are) but he promised that the rest of Cascio songs (9) will not be released in the future. Of course Branca can brake that promise but I doubt he will.
Funny how despite that, ‘Monster’ was used by Cirque du Soleil for the Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour shows and the ‘Immortal’ album…
good choice to put old and new version on the cd.
But for a song like slave to the rhythm i hope they will give to the radios the 2 versions.
And if they make a video for this song they should make 2 versions too.
And i think the same for every songs which are really good without remix them.
This is great news!
I always dreamed of a posthumous album with 5 discs:
Disc 1 – Original versions
Disc 2 – Remixed versions
Disc 3 – Instrumental versions
Disc 4 – Acapella versions
Disc 5 – Studio demo versions
1) Most of the original versions are demos
2) There’s not really much point in releasing instrumental versions on an MJ album – if they were even to be released, they should be released as part of a ‘deluxe edition’ – I for one am not one who would pay to buy instrumental versions where Michael’s vocals are not there…
Why can’t the Estate release an album of songs that Michael performed live, but never released on an album?
Here are some songs I’m thinking of:
1) Elizabeth I Love You
2) You Were There
3) HIStory Medley: Scream/They Don’t Care About Us/In The Closet
4) Medley (performed during 1995 MTV Video Music Awards)
5) Super Bowl Medley
6) Dangerous (MTV VMA Version)
An album having a couple of these songs and more, especially the first two would be pretty good
‘Ekam Satyam’ also seems like a good song – Michael and A.R.Rahman were planning to perform the song live during the 1999 MJ & Friends concerts.
I also forgot ‘What More Can I Give’
Playing fast and loose with the word ‘live’ there. Almost every single thing you’ve listed was just a remix of the original studio vocals, which MJ mimed to onstage.
When I say “live”, I mean performed live, not sung live – none of those songs were sung live (apart from a few live vocals, like Michael shouting “HO!”)
I do not buy it. They are destroying the art of MJ, if you really must publish, then, no remix, no re-arrangement, the genius of Michael not touch. I want his art just as he left it, I want her sighs, I want her clap, I want his music, I want his voice. They have no respect for us fans, but especially for Michael and his art that he meant so much.
Re-read the article. You’ll get what you want. People who want new versions of the songs will also get what they want. Win-win situation.
Sorry, his sighs, his clap. I’m italian, and i wrong to write.
I think it would be a good idea to release it in a 2 CD set, one CD with the original mixes and the other with the modern new versions. I know fans don’t want his work touched, but if the label wants the project to receive regular airplay and sales, it would need to target the general audience.
Of course if its mj ill get it but it seems to me to be an album of already available songs that anyone can listen to and download of YouTube anytime they like I wanna hear new unreleased unleaked songs the estate has yet to wow me I am a lifelong fan but nothing ive heard yet has made me glad to still be buying stuff since 2001s invincible I am sorry but Michael Jackson is Michael Jackson no one can try to second guess what went on in that man’s head what he brought out to the public no one can copy or guess how he wanted it but its funny to watch people breaking their backs trying to as far as I am concerned mjs discography finished with invincible everythin since are just echos
I too want to hear unreleased material – I was saying that releasing some of those songs on an album wouldn’t be a bad idea
i agreed with argjun sanyan total! why not!
Escape should be left as is because it was fully completed and finalized by Michael Jackson himself.
I agree – but they’ll probably end up making a remix of it featuring Pitbull or someone rubbish…
In 1998 yoko ono released the 4 cd box set called anthology which was crammed with unreleased and rare live versions of john Lennons solo career that’s the sort of thing I want to see done for Michael but as long as Sony not the family stay in control I can’t see it happening I cannot wait for sonys contract to run out then everyone can release everythin they have that’s when it’ll get interesting
Not true. Sony Music is just record company, a distributer of products released by Michael Jackson’s Estate. They own distribution rights of Michael Jackson’s songs, not his songs. Michael Jackson’s Estate is the owner of all things Michael Jackson including his songs. So when this contract with Sony Music expires in 2017 Estate will have to sign another contract with Sony or any other record company in order to continue releasing Michael Jackson material. So, you got it all wrong. Estate decides what will be released, not Sony Music.
Your statement: “then everyone can release everythin they have that’s when it’ll get interesting” is completely wrong.
Also his family will never be in control because he left them nothing. MJ Estate will always be in control. Executors of the Estate may change, his kids will be in control, but Jacksons never.
“Also his family will never be in control because he left them nothing”
‘his kids will be in control, but Jacksons never.’
So his kids are not family and they are not Jacksons?
By “family” and “Jacksons”, I think Pas is referring to Michael’s siblings and parents rather than his children – as for “Jacksons”, he’s probably talking about the music group The Jacksons, which currently consists of most of Michael’s brothers (I think).
Exactly. Thanks!
I would love if they done what the fans wanted. Here are the following things i think they should do: Release Michael Jackson Bad tour Japan on cd and Itunes. Put motown 25 performance on cd and iTunes. And release all other live performances on Cd and Itunes like MTV performances like 1988 man in the mirror and 1995 etc. Also they should try and get the Victory Tour on dvd and cd and ITunes? What you guys think? That’s my view.
Michael’s performances during the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards can be found on the 1997 DVD ‘HIStory On Film, Volume II’.
Also, an unofficial live album and an accompanying DVD was released in 2009 – it’s a Michael Jackson concert in Yokohama, Japan during the Bad World Tour – I think you can buy it on amazon.com and other websites – the ‘One Night In Japan’ album is arguably one of Michael’s most famous unofficial albums (along with ‘7even’ and ‘Blood On The Dance Floor: HIStory In The Re-Mix’)
Also they have released the Triumph tour on c.d but surely they got the visual for it? Surely they could release that on dvd? Then you got the 2001 concert that they could release on dvd and c.d and iTunes? There are so many things they could release!!! Also there must be performances and concerts that the Jackson 5 done that could be released? I like it when they release the albums but there is so much they could do.
Michael Jackson’s Estate is not the owner of Jackson 5 material. Motown is. Triumph & Victory Tours are also complicated because it is The Jacksons Tour not Michael Jackson’s Tour so in oreder to release that they should get permission from each brother and other people who were involved in the production of the tour. Too expensive.
2001 MSG concert could be released on blu-ray and I hope they will release it under this 10 projects deal with Sony.
Surely the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special concerts contained performances of songs performed originally by The Jackson 5 and The Jacksons – surely the release of those songs would also have the same problem as those associated with the Triumph Tour and Victory Tour?
No. Because all the rights for the shows belong to Michael Jackson (now his Estate) and David Gest (producer of the shows). Also it was Michael Jackson concert (The Jacksons were guests, just like N’Sync or Destiny’s Child…). Victory and Triumph were The Jacksons tours.
Just to clarify, would the Estate of Michael Jackson need Britney Spears’ approval to release the live version of ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’ performed on September 7, 2001?
Also, I wish rehearsal footage of ‘One Day In Your Life’ could be released – Michael and Whitney Houston rehearsed the song for the shows, but it wasn’t performed for some reason (much like ‘Ekam Satyam’ for the MJ & Friends concerts)
Also its a shame that Michael ‘s Never land Ranch isn’t restored to all its glory and open it to the public like Elvis ‘s Graceland!!!
What else would people like to see released?
I wish they would release a DVD box set containing the most famous live performance of a song from each of Michael’s studio albums (obviously excluding ‘Invincible’ and some of his studio albums with Motown). For example, for ‘Thriller’, we could get live performances of ‘Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin”, ‘Thriller’, ‘Beat It’, ‘Billie Jean’ and ‘Human Nature’ – for ‘Billie Jean’, we could have the performance during the ‘Motown 25: Yesterday, Today and Forever’ concert, while for ‘Beat It’ and ‘Human Nature’ we can have the Royal Brunei Concert – Michael sang the wrong lyrics to ‘Beat It’ during the concert, and ‘Human Nature’ was performed for the last time ever. The process could be repeated for ‘Off The Wall’, ‘Bad’, ‘Dangerous’, ‘HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I’ etc.
Also, I wonder if a scary-themed box set could be released – it could simply have one CD and one DVD, and could be released for Halloween.
The CD could have these songs:
– ‘Thriller’
– ‘Ghosts’
– ‘Is It Scary’
– ‘Threatened’
– ‘Monster’ (controversial, yes I know, but it’s still a pretty good song)
– ‘Is It Scary/Threatened/Thriller (Immortal Version)
The DVD could have these videos:
– ‘Michael Jackson’s Ghosts’ film (in HD)
– ‘Thriller’ music video/short film
– ‘Ghosts’ music video/short film
– A live performance of ‘Thriller’ e.g. Royal Brunei Concert or HIStory World Tour
– And maybe, just maybe, a Cirque du Soleil performance of ‘Is It Scary/Threatened/Thriller’ from their ‘Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour’ shows (I haven’t seen a Cirque du Soleil show, so I have NO idea how good they are).
A bonus disc could also be given – it could contain the ‘On The Line’ CD single, which was part of the ‘Ghosts: Deluxe Collector Boxed Set’ boxed set.
1. Work That Body (Loren) 2. Do You Know Where Your Children Are (MJ) 3. Fever (Loren) 4. Bottle of Smoke (MJ) 5. Deep In The Night (Loren) 6. Stay (MJ) 7. Seven Digits (Loren) 8. Man In Black (Loren) 9. Dreams (MJ) 10. Pressure (Loren) 11. Serious Effect (Loren) 12. Fear (MJ) 13. She Got It (Loren) 14. Verdict (Loren) 15. Angel (Babyface) 16. Be Me 4 A Day (MJ) 17. Do You Love Me (Babyface) 18. Thank Heaven (MJ) 19. That (MJ) 20. Can´t Get Your Weight Off Me (Swedien)
I know, I know. No way in hell they will release twenty songs at once. But this is, what I´d like to hear. The Loren outtakes (if recorded/releasable) which, from what we´ve heard I like better than some songs that were released on Dangerous, songs written by MJ himself (again, assuming they´re all recorded/were left fairly finished) and the Babyface sessions, the first batch of sessions for what would become Invincible.
A lot of your suggested songs where recorded during the ‘Dangerous’ era e.g. ‘Do You Know Where Your Children Are’, ‘Work That Body’ and ‘Serious Effect’ – in fact the latter was released on the original and rare 2001 ‘Dangerous: Special Edition’. I personally think that the Estate of Michael Jackson will save these songs for a possible 25th anniversary reissue of ‘Dangerous’ in 2016 (like they did with ‘Thriller’ and ‘Bad’, and similar to what they wanted to do with ‘Off The Wall’, for a 30th anniversary reissue in 2009)
Likely indeed. But I´d rather have these songs on posthumous albums, and have early versions or demos of released songs (i.e. what Al Capone is to Smooth Criminal, the Dangerous demo to the album version) on the anniversary editions.
By the way, the rare special edition with the bonus cuts was just an acetate. Not officially released, it leaked.
I’m pretty sure it was released, albeit for a small amount of time – it was withdrawn. Might be wrong though 😀
BTW, has Babyface ever spoken about how much finished are those late 90s´ sessions for the first draft of Invincible?
Sounds like what I wanna hear for SURE! ♥
@Arjun Sanyal
No, they don’t need permission from any guest artists to release 30th anniversary concert because they were guests on Michael Jackson show. MJ (now his Estate) & David Gest are owners of the footage and have rights to release it.
Oh OK – thanks for clearing that up.
This article makes me laugh……….doing the original and new versions approach seems a bit late in the day now,but sure it’s welcome for the obvious reasons,the fact that no more Cascio tracks being released also makes me happy,but heres a thought, i would love to see Michaels vocals released on soundcloud allowing people to remix Michaels work to make him more current………Soundcloud is absolute genius and seriously would allow fans to enjoy different interpretations of his songs.
The thing is though, do people actually know what the other Cascio Tracks are? I mean, apart from ‘Breaking News’, ‘Monster’ and ‘Keep Your Head Up’.
Of course.
All I Need
All Right
Black Widow
Burn Tonight
Fall In Love
Ready 2 Win
Soldier Boy
Stay
Water
All nine songs leaked on the internet. All nine not Michael Jackson singing.
I’d like to say that Tilbaland is an Hass Been and last timberlake album produced by tilbaland is a disaster. We want the demo version of songs and if they need to finish it , I mean arrangements, I would have choosen Rodney Jerkins because he already worked with MJ, he trustes him. And what he did respects MJ music. It’s gonna be a Timbaland album, it will not sound like a MJ album. I’m wondering what Timbaland have to do with MJ? And he wasn’t a real fan ! He said ‘It will complete my legacy’, Go to hell Tim ! Who do you think you are? ‘ I think they choose him because Sony want to touch Timberlake & Timbaland fans. But MJ fans will probably don?t follow them. Michael the last albul sold 10 Ms copies. More than any Beyonce album. Being the producer of a MJ album means big money ! Personnaly , I would have choose Rodney Jerkins, he is waybmore talented than Timbaland, we will end up with a duet with Nicki Minaj, please Noooo !
oh God, NO!!!! Duet with Nikki Minaj??!! Yuck!! And please, NO MORE PITBULL either!! Talk about flooding the sound waves! I can’t take anymore of either of them!!
Re Timbaland’s comments about working on this album, yeah, I have to agree… Sadly, it’s all about TIMBALAND’s success, and very little to do with Michael’s legacy. 🙁 That still worries me quite a bit. Why the heck isn’t Dr Freeze producing his OWN songs for MJ on this album? SMH….
I would like to have released just unreleasesd tracks as michael left them eg a place with no name, blue gansta, do you know.. etc and also rare already released songs like what more can i give. i dont want songs remixed or tinkered with by any joe smith producer! i would eventually like blu ray/ dvd quality making of thriller and perhaps ghosts and heres hoping captain eo? I think the estate has a tough job trying to please different factions of fans but on the whole i trust john branca more than michaels siblings.
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Good to hear that those annoying Cascio tracks will be left OFF! While the songs themselves were good, that bizarre vibralto from whomever it was just made me so sad every time… Made me miss Mj all the more.
Anyway, looking forward to having the ORIGINALS on a REAL CD, and hoping that the “NEW” versions are as good as the new version of Speed Demon that was on last year’s release of BAD25! That song was honestly BETTER than MJ’s original from ’87! Just LOVE it!
Just hoping that these producers don’t make it all sound like David Guetta… All these techno songs sound the same… and while they may sound contemporary NOW, they run the risk of sounding dated in 5 years from now, just like certain disco songs sound right from the ’80s, with their similar guitar rifts and synthesizer usage.
The great thing about most of Michael’s material is that it DOESN’T sound dated, even after 30 years! I’m hoping they can get it right this time around. ♥
In addition to the superb songs you already mentioned Damien, I’m wondering about oldies we’ve heard about like Love Never Felt So Good, You Were There, and Groove of Midnight, ballads that ended up being recorded by their writers, like Joy (prod:Teddy Riley) and To Satisfy You (prod: Bryan Loren) and dance track demos Work that Body, She Got It, Serious Effect, We Be Ballin, and the other myriad songs originally recorded during the Invincible and Dangerous sessions with Teddy Riley, Bryan Loren, Jimmy Jam/Lewis and Rodney Jerkins. I mean, wasn’t it Michael that originally wanted Dangerous to be a TRIPLE disc album? And wasn’t the 2001 Special Edition supposed to have indeed been a DOUBLE album before it was scrapped?? (Or are they saving these for a DANGEROUS 25 and INVINCIBLE 25?? That would be cool too! Although INVINCIBLE 25 seems too long of a wait for me!! LOL!)
Additionally, I’d like to hear released versions of the songs MJ himself had short-listed for his next album, as seen on the songlist notes police found taped to his armoire at Carolwood on the day he died.
I don’t know how far he’d got in the recording process on these songs, but it sure would be great to find out!
The finished versions of Beautiful Girl and Scared of the Moon, for example, and tracks that we’d heard talked about but not actually heard, like Shut Up and Dance, Rock Tonight, Adore You, Ghost of Another Lover, Gloucheshire, and Breathe.
The potential is much greater than most of us know… but I bet Brad Buxer and Bruce Swedien know!!!
A 25th anniversary edition of ‘Invincible’ seems like a good idea, but without an anniversary edition of ‘Off The Wall’ or ‘HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I’, it seems a bit redundant. Also, I think it was ‘Bad’ that was meant to be a triple-disc album, not ‘Dangerous’.
If this album is comprised of leaked songs listed above, am not buying it period.I would rather listen to cascio tracks.Monster is Micheal jackson, they may have added someone sing famous he-he lines but it was Micheal singing with no doubt. You wanna know what sells? here is what sales. Look on youtube and see how many people viewed slave to the rhythm or loser? not many. What about “people of the world”? now that is a good song. Maybe add in one or two songs he did with queen. No remixes to feature any rapper! hip hop right now sucks. You guys need hardcore Jackson fans like me to have a listen to your stuff and i would tell you if his fans will like it or not. First day after release, i knew “Hollywood tonight” would be a hit and it was until you guys fumbled it by redoing a video with a Bilie Jean beat and it sucked even though it got some air play.Original version was awesome!
The leaked songs suggested by this article suck. Bring out songs like “behind the mask” every fan knows was recorded during thriller yrs. But i repeat if you waste your energy remixing leaked songs except for 2.It will be a disaster and i will not buy it.I would rather you put cascio songs without publishing that they were made with cascio. Please pay attention.Only put two leaked songs.Want an idea on how to pick a song, try this.Ask yourself this while you try to put out a record, will this song be be played today and forgotten tomorrow? i also heard a bad idea of duets..please that project should never happen! if you ask me to even pay to a listening party of his songs, i can guarantee you that i can pick songs for you guys cuz i think you are about to do a bad job! reach me through email.
I think you’ve got your words (and ears) mixed up. Monster is one of the LEAST-sounding Michael songs on the MICHAEL CD, along with Breaking News and the first half of Keep Your Head Up. The only real MJ on most of those songs are the “Hee Hee Hees”!! You say you’re a hard-core MJ fan, and yet, you’d rather listen to Cascio tracks that feature SOMEONE ELSE singing most of the lead vocals?? 🙁
As for leaked REAL MJ songs, SO WHAT??? Just because some of the FANS have heard them, doesn’t mean THE WORLD has heard them, and THAT, to me, is a DAMN SHAME!! THE WORLD needs to hear Do You Know Where Your Children Are, Xscape, and Slave To The Rhythm!! These are EXCELLENT MJ tunes, completely finished BY MJ, in the last decade of his life, that would skyrocket to the top spot on the Billboard chart, if given the chance to be played on radio as a TRUE RELEASE promoted by SONY!! A leaked YouTube song can not be played on the radio in its entirety and therefore, can not generate more fan support from people who aren’t already avid MJ fans!
Re the Billie Jean backbeat added to the REMIX of Hollywood Tonight, for your information, THAT version reached the NUMBER 1 spot on Billboard’s Dance Chart.
‘nuf said.
I completely agree with Shirley on this – songs like ‘Xscape’ were even going to be released in 2003 as part of Michael’s eleventh studio album (it would have also featured ‘One More Chance’) – sadly, this was never released due to arguments between Michael and Sony – MICHAEL WANTED THESE TO BE RELEASED
“My man” (in my Denzel Washington American gangsta voice)
I always thought that those Cascio tracks are just garbage an ear sore that obvious tracks to replace them on the album was ” Beautiful girl”, “Blue gangsta” , and “Cheater” and just a whole other score of MJ songs sung by MJ not some sound alike.
Also i would like to see some of the CBS recordings from the Jackson variety show find there way onto a album ” I shot the sheriff” ” C’mon get happy ” and other great songs
Oh, and BTW, Behind the Mask was ALREADY released on the MICHAEL CD in 2010…. Maybe you should BUY that album…
P.S. the MICHAEL CD producers ADDED to that version of Behind the Mask… adding LIVE audience noise & MJ talking to them (taken directly from the Dangerous Tour show), so I guess that makes it a REMIX of sorts.
there are so much songs i´ve never heard, but i want them as …..you can see in the link below
http://www.michaeljackson.com/us/node/1236407
PLEASE PLEASE i do hope A Place With No Name is on there… after listening tonight 10-15 times in a row. i want this one released officially.. it’s the BEST LEAK so far.
I can’t wait for this new album, it would be amazing!
I hope that they will release songs we’ve never heard, I think I already heard most of the songs. I saw a Chicago track on YouTube but that was a remix of Smooth Criminal en more other songs. I don’t know :p
I can’t wait, I hope there is not going to be a lot of controversy about the new album like the Michael album. Owhhh I just can’t wait, I just want to run to the shops and buy it. I really hope it’s going to be a good album!!!
Why only one Bonus Track?
“Behind the Mask”(!!!) and “Much too Soon” should also be released as both of them are know to have a final mix approved by MJ himself (BTM in 1982 & MTS in 1994)
I think That you are so right. Its really a shame that Sony does not give the hard core MJ fans something to look forward to. ” Much Too soon” is an Amazing cut and would be awesome to have as a Hard copy single. Just release it with Walmart,Kmart ,and Amazon .
Its the same with ” Al Capone ” It should have been released with remixes of it and “Smooth Criminal” as the B sides
The same with ” I’m So Blue” and “Just good friends”
Personally, I am happy a new Michael album is coming out, and I am glad that they have made the effort to refine them. This will offer a new experience, albeit, a lot of those songs are leaked. Nevertheless, I am a bit disappointed that there will be already leaked songs, I was hoping for something completely new!
i would just love it if they put some polished versions of old demos on it, like niteline, carousel and hot street especially.
Hello Damien!
Very good articel as usual. As we all can hope there will be a new album released next year.
I am 29 years old now and have been Michael Jackson fan since I was 11. I am really excited that the Estate will release a new album. I have to admit that I didn´t like what happened to the album Michael in 2010. Knowing all Michael Jacksons songs from the beginning to the end and from the end to the beginning, it felt like three of the songs (Breaking News, Monster, Keep your head up) shouldn´t have been on the album. I thought they were put together really oddly. They really didn´t sound like Michael. I cannot say I am angry at the Estate though, as a fan I am really looking forward to new songs and videos of Michael (as an example in the studio). The Estate has done some incredible things like Immortal and MJ One. We have to be grateful for all the things Estate does.
I hope Estate will consider all the things we have written here.
Damien, if you happen to read this, does Estate even read the comments of the fans in different Michael Jackson forums? Do they take them into consideration?
I will add my “fantasy” tracklist. I believe that if the new album consisted of at least 80% of these songs it would be a hit. In my tracklist you can find the songs Michael has recorded with various of other producers and the songs we all know but have not yet been released officially.
So here we go:
A- Side
1. Blue Gangsta
2. A Place With No Name
3. She Was Lovin Me
4. Escape
5. I Was The Loser
6.Do You Know Where You Children Are
7.D.I.E – (Michael Jackson)
8.Get Around – (Michael Jackson, LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney Jerkins)
B-Side
1. Kick It (Michael Jackson,
2. Can’t Get Your Weight Off Of Me
3. .The Future – (Michael Jackson, will.i.am)
4.I Can See A Brighter Day – (Michael Jackson, Red One)
5.I’m Still the King (with will.i.am)
6.Chicago
7.Miss You – (Michael Jackson, will.i.am)
15 songs like the History album had.
I know that will.i.am hasn´t agreed to publish the songs he made with Michael, but as a fan I am still hoping to see them on the album.
I believe that if the album looked something like the above, it would be a 100% success.
I am sure everyone would be pleased and the Estate would make up for the mess they made with the album Michael.
Wishing you all the best!
i’ve got so many unreleased songs, i want ‘pain’ ‘pressure’ and ‘seduction’ these songs sound interesting, and there should be a double album with 15 songs on each disc, first containing originals and second containing tim’s mixes
ohhhh yeah !!! i had been waiting for something new of michael for a long time . it sounds incredible … he has died and he is still relasing albums , movies etc… michael’s fame won’t die , want it or not . he will be written in history books . michael came to stay forever ! :’)
I’m waiting for Michael’s new album, I know it will be another wonderful and splendor album of his great work.
you need to change the album cover its terrible need to do it asap i just know im getting the album on spring cant wait but please change the album cover
I am a huge MJ fan and all this talk is exciting. I always thought that the estate would do a Michael 2.0 and exclude those Cascio tracks and include This is it ,Love never felt so good ,and the slave to the rhythm. But that would be to much like right I also thought that they would release more singles from the “Michael” album
especially Much too soon , Another day, Best of joy . The same way with the “Bad” album “Al Capone” should be released as a single along side “Smooth criminal”. “I’m so blue” should be released with “Just good friends” The new “Speed demon” should have been released with “Free” All these could have been #1 singles just as ” I just cant stop loving You” and “Don’t Be messing Round” was. So after saying all that I hope Sony actually gives us die hard fans something to rally around and support. Also Lets See Moon Walker in 3D and in theaters. Shamone!!!!
I luv mj voice…..miss yu mj I’ll be watin so long for ne mj album pl …told her the releasin date
luv u mj
Michael michael michael michael michael michael…….
new album iz cumin so xicited
I would love a new MJ album. I have all his previous work with Epic and CBS, Still collecting the Motown releases though. One thing I will say though is if this album is not released on 180g Heavyweight vinyl I will be severely angry.
And don’t even try to tell me eyetoones are better- NO CHANCE IN HELL WILL I EVER DOWNLOAD AN MJ RECORDING.
omg. you said in springs album is comin….but the springs are comin to end…….ltzz relaeased the album; plz
yep , rumors… but we’r april and still… NOTHING! The estate said they would make another 9 albums? The next years after his death.. Well than i guess after the 2010 release its about time now… PLs hurry it up a bit! 😉
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