List of official instrumentals and a capellas

Maxym

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Hello,

I would like to have a list of all instrumental and a capella officially released (+ possibly name of the record(s) they appeared on). Including J5, Jacksons and contributions. No remixes, no covers, no tributes, no fan-made...
I made this list so far, can you help completling it please?


Instrumentals
(Sometimes year is release year of originaltrack , sometimes it's released year of the single)

  • 1975 Windows shopping (J5) * / Some disco compilation
  • 1975 Jumbo Sam (J5) * / Same disco compilation

(^ These first two are a bit special, they were released before J5 versions with vocals. I'm not sure if they are actually the same recording or if there is some remix going on. Hence, I'm not sure if I want them in the list. Do you know?)

  • 1968 Big Boy (reissue 2014) / One-derful ‎– SSR-7-35 (3:01)
  • 1982 Wanna be startin' something' / Single
  • 1982 Thriller / Single
  • 1983 1983 Billie Jean / Single (6:20)
  • 1983 Somebody's watching me (Rockwell + MJ) / Single (3:57)
  • 1984 Centipede (Rebbie Jackson) / Single (4:13)
  • 1984 Torture (Js) / Single *
  • 1984 Body (Js) / Single *
  • 1984 State of shock (Js+Mick Jagger) / Single *
  • 1984 Tell me I'm not dreaming (Too good to be true) (JJ+MJ) / Some singles
  • 1985 Eaten alive (Diana Ross + MJ) / Some singles, Eaten Alive Expanded Edition
  • 1987 Time out for the burglar (Js without MJ) / Single (5:37)
  • 1987 The way you make me feel / Single (4:26), Souvenir Single Pack (4:26), Ultimate Fans Extras Collection
  • 1987 Get it (MJ+Stevie wonder) / Single
  • 1987 Bad / Maxi single
  • 1988 Another part of me / Maxi single (3:47), Instrumental Version Collection (3:48)
  • 1988 Dirty Diana / Maxi single (4:40), Souvenir Single Pack (4:42), Instrumental Version Collection (4:41)
  • 1988 Man in the mirror / Souvenir Single Pack (4:55), single, Instrumental Version Collection (5:05), Ultimate Fans Extras Collection - beware:probably remaster! (5:06)
  • 1989 Art of Madness (Js without MJ) / Single *
  • 1991 Black or white / Single, Ultimate Fans Extras Collection - beware:remaster!
  • Will You Be There / Ultimate Fans Extras Collection - beware:remaster!
  • 1993 Wazupitu (MJ+EM) / Single
  • 1993 Give in to me / UK promo single
  • 1993 Gone too soon / Single, Ultimate Fans Extras Collection - great:not remaster
  • 1995 Childhood / Free Willy 2 soundtrack
  • 1995 This time around / This time around US promo 12''
  • 1998 Children's holiday (written by MJ, performed by J-Friends) / Single
  • 1999 People of the world (written by MJ, performed by J-Friends) / Single
  • 2001 You rock my world / Maxi single
  • 2001 Butterflies / Track Masters Remix 12' Promo
  • 2010 Hold my hand (MJ+Akon) / Single

(* Also planned in forthcoming Jacksons expanded versions of Victory and 2300 Jackson Street, along with an instrumental version of the title track 2300 Jackson Street which is not in the list yet as I'm not sure if it was already released.( (But beware if you're like me and you can't appreciate post 2K remasters, though I think that past Jacksons remasters sound rather good, as time goes I just expect the worst ;-) )

Confirmed dubs (not true instrumentals)
  • 1982 Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' / Ultimate Fans Extras Collection
  • 1983 Billie Jean / Instrumental Version Collection (6:18)
  • 1983 Thriller (Instrumental) / Instrumental Version Collection (5:59), Ultimate Fans Extras Collection - beware:remaster!
  • 1987 Bad / Instrumental Version Collection (4:08)

Dubs?
Don't Stand Another Chance (Dub Version)
Another part of me (dub)


A capella's (I really do not see a lot)

  • I want you back / "Pure Michael" compilation
  • ABC / "Pure Michael" compilation
  • The love you save / "Pure Michael" compilation
  • I'll be there / "Pure Michael" compilation
  • Never can say goodbye / "Pure Michael" compilation
  • Mama's pearl / "Pure Michael" compilation
  • Dancing machine / "Pure Michael" compilation
  • Got to be there / "Pure Michael" compilation
  • Rockin' robin / "Pure Michael" compilation
  • Ben / "Pure Michael" compilation
  • 1987 Bad / Maxi single
  • 1988 Another part of me / Maxi single
  • 1988 Smooth Criminal / Maxi single
  • 1990 Do the Bartman / Single (the Simpsons, written by Bryan Loren and reportedly by MJ)
  • 1992 Jam (The Acappella Mix) / Some single (promo only?)
  • 1992 Jam (Percappella) (which is an a capella with percussions) / Some single (promo only?)
  • 1992 Remember the time / Various promos, Dangerous - The Remix Collection
  • 1996 They don't care about us / Some singles
  • 2001 Butterflies / Track Masters Remix 12' Promo
  • 2001 You rock my world / Maxi single
 
Last edited:
The Butterflies Track Masters Remix 12' Promo Vinyl also included an instrumental and an acapella for Butterflies iirc.
 
The Expanded Edition of the Diana Ross album Eaten Alive has two instrumentals for your list:
Eaten Alive (Single Mix Instrumental)
Eaten Alive (Hot Extended Dance Mix Instrumental)

PS – You said 'no remixes', but this Dance Mix is more of a 12" version.
 
The Ultimate Fan Extras Collection has these instrumentals:

Thriller (Instrumental)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Instrumental)
The Way You Make Me Feel (Instrumental)
Man In The Mirror (Instrumental)
Dirty Diana (Instrumental)
Another Part Of Me (Instrumental)
Smooth Criminal (Instrumental)
Black or White (Instrumental)
Will You Be There (Instrumental)
Gone Too Soon (Instrumental)
 
Strictly spoken, a dub mix is somewhat in between the original song and the instrumental version: retaining some vocals (like harmonies and ad-libs), but not the main vocals. However, on Michael's records, these terms aren't used that strictly. Many 'instrumental' versions do contain some vocals. Like the instrumental version of Thriller.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all replies, at some point I will take some time to update the list.
 
Although never commercially released there're some more official instrumentals.

Liberian Girl [snippet leaked]
Leave Me Alone [leaked]
Earth Song [leaked*]
TDCAU [leaked*]
BOTDF [leaked*]

*instrumental mixes can be found within the songs leaked stem packs
 
Thanks, just updated:
Added
Intrumentals:
/ Eaten Alive Expanded Edition
2001 Butterflies / Track Masters Remix 12' Promo

Thriller (Instrumental) / Ultimate Fans Extras Collection - beware:remaster!
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' / Ultimate Fans Extras Collection
The Way You Make Me Feel / Ultimate Fans Extras Collection
Man In The Mirror / Ultimate Fans Extras Collection - beware:probably remaster! (5:06)
Dirty Diana / Ultimate Fans Extras Collection(4:41)
Another Part Of Me / Ultimate Fans Extras Collection - beware:probably remaster! (3:46)
Smooth Criminal / Ultimate Fans Extras Collection - beware:remaster!
Black or White / Ultimate Fans Extras Collection - beware:remaster!
Will You Be There / Ultimate Fans Extras Collection - beware:remaster!
Gone Too Soon The / Ultimate Fans Extras Collection - great:not remaster

A capella
2001 Butterflies / Track Masters Remix 12' Promo

Added a "Confirmed dub" section (I really don't like it when it says instrumental and then you get lyrics with lyrics...)

Not included (thanks but not listing snippets/multitracks) (Regarding leaks, if they were 100% certified cancelled instrumental versions they could be interesting, but I can hardly verify it).
Liberian Girl [snippet leaked], Leave Me Alone [leaked], Earth Song [leaked*], TDCAU [leaked*], BOTDF [leaked*]


Also not included:
Eaten Alive (Hot Extended Dance Mix Instrumental) ... I listened to it ... for me it's a remix.
I also never true understood what a 12'' mix is, I supposed it was and extended version but I could be wrong.
 
The Expanded Edition of the Diana Ross album Eaten Alive

Is this available from a lossless digital site? (something like Qobuz). (As Discogs state it's remastered ... I'm also afraid how badly remastered it could be :) )
 
Although never commercially released there're some more official instrumentals.

Liberian Girl [snippet leaked]
Leave Me Alone [leaked]
Earth Song [leaked*]
TDCAU [leaked*]
BOTDF [leaked*]

*instrumental mixes can be found within the songs leaked stem packs

Leave me alone stems leaked ???
 
Any idea if this was officially released? (I'm talking about the sound by the way, not the image)

Though... I may have some idea where it comes from.

 
Just added "Big boy (instrumental)":


It is actually from a 2014 reissue: https://www.discogs.com/The-Jackson-Five-Big-Boy/release/6418147
Weirdly, the label reads "14 Jan 1963".
Version with vocals from the same disc.
[video=youtube;IYgCLtK5eCo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYgCLtK5eCo[/video]



I know that I had a few more instrumentals to add, but right now I which ones...
There is an instrumentals on an !à's "Say Say Say" single but it's a remix.
 
Nobody mentioned Jam acapella yet. From one of the singles.
 
It's true ... I think the it was the first a cappella I ever heard ... I mean before someone made me listen to it I had no idea what an a cappella could be. I was young (I was actually still young after learning what is an a capella).

So far I don't find the "a cappella", I only find the "percappella" version (is this one?)
It's expenside on Discogs...

 
Why are so many of the videos shared here already unavailable ?

Added "This time around (instrumental)" available on This time around US promo 12''.
[video=youtube;NoOFqZbtgl4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoOFqZbtgl4[/video]
 
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