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Dangerous "Promo Flight Only" CD / "Decade" Acetate

mickyj007

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1. "FLIGHT ONLY" PROMO CD
2. "DECADE" ACETATE

- I thought I'd open this thread to discuss and collect information on these two Mega Rare Promo Acetate CDs. I'd like for everyone to share as much info on these CDs as they can find!

- I ultimately want to get either of these CDs back for sale on eBay - I'm hoping the last seller of the Promo Flight Only CD sees this thread and decides to list it again in the near future.

As many here may know, these CDs contain unique, unheard, unreleased and extremely rare tracks such as "Men In Black", so please, if everyone could share as much info on these two rarities it'd be greatly appreciated!
 
Here's one of 2 covers that was proposed for 'Decade':
decade2rp2.jpg


Did it strike you as weird choosing 1980 being that that would exclude OFF THE WALL?
 
It was scheduled for release November/December 1990. Some songs such as "Come Together", "Men In Black", "I'll Be There (Adult Version)", "Never Can Say Goodbye (Adult Version)" plus a few new songs (now on Dangerous album) were all considered for the album.

This was one version of the tracklist (minus Men In Black):
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Rock With You
Off The Wall
She's Out Of My Life
Can You Feel It
This Place Hotel
Someone In The Dark
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
The Girl Is Mine
Thriller
Beat It
Billie Jean
P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
Say Say Say
State Of Shock

Bad
The Way You Make Me Feel
Another Part Of Me
Man In The Mirror
I Just Can't Stop Loving You
Dirty Diana
Smooth Criminal
Leave Me Alone
Come Together
I'll Be There (Adult Version)
Never Can Say Goodbye (Adult Version)
Who Is It
Gone Too Soon
Black Or White
Heal The World

Decade was also brought up again in 1993. Steven Speilberg wrote his piece on Michael in August 1993 for this project. Ultimately, it became HIStory.
 
Songs supposed to be on Decade, appeared on Test Pressings:

Come Together (the Moonwalker version, longer than the HIStory one)
Men in Black
I'll Be There (Adult version)
Never Can Say Goodbye (Adult version)
and demos of songs Black or White, Gone Too Soon, Heal The World and Who Is It

that's what I remember as of now... it was supposed to be an album but Mike decided that he has enough songs to release a full new material album... which was Dangerous.
 
There was also a blue covered version of Decade.
 
Decade eventually turned in to HIStory from what I understand. I'm sure eventually we will get the other tracks that haven't been released yet.
 
Alec said:
Songs supposed to be on Decade, appeared on Test Pressings:

Come Together (the Moonwalker version, longer than the HIStory one)
Men in Black
I'll Be There (Adult version)
Never Can Say Goodbye (Adult version)
and demos of songs Black or White, Gone Too Soon, Heal The World and Who Is It

that's what I remember as of now... it was supposed to be an album but Mike decided that he has enough songs to release a full new material album... which was Dangerous.
Click to expand...

Test Pressings? So there were actual acetates with these songs that were pressed? Where did you get this info? :) Thanks!
 
mickyj007 said:
Test Pressings? So there were actual acetates with these songs that were pressed? Where did you get this info? :) Thanks!
Click to expand...

There were 2 Test Pressings, one in 1989 and one in 1990.

1988
  • Come Together (1968) (John Lennon, Paul McCartney)
    Michael Jackson
    Appeared in the movie Moonwalker (1988)
    • "Decade 1979-1989"
      (Test Pressing, 1989)
    • "Decade 1980-1990"
      (Test Pressing, 1990)

1989
Black Or White - Demo (1989) (Michael Jackson)
Michael Jackson
  • "Decade 1979-1989"
    (Test Pressing, 1989)
  • "Decade 1980-1990"
    (Test Pressing, 1990)

Heal The World - Demo (1989) (Michael Jackson)
Michael Jackson
  • "Decade 1979-1989"
    (Test Pressing, 1989)
  • "Decade 1980-1990"
    (Test Pressing, 1990)
I'll Be There - Adult Version (1970)
(Bob West, Harold Davies, Willie Hutch, Berry Gordy Jr.)
Michael Jackson
Parts of the newly recorded song were used 1993
in a Pepsi TV Commercial which has been released
on the VHS/DVD Dangerous - The Short Films (1993/2001)
  • "Decade 1979-1989"
    (Test Pressing, 1989)
  • "Decade 1980-1990"
    (Test Pressing, 1990)
Never Can Say Goodbye - Adult Version (1971) (Clifton Davis)
Michael Jackson
  • "Decade 1979-1989"
    (Test Pressing, 1989)
  • "Decade 1980-1990"
    (Test Pressing, 1990)
Who Is It - Demo (1989) (Michael Jackson)
Michael Jackson
  • "Decade 1979-1989"
    (Test Pressing, 1989)
Gone Too Soon - Demo (1990) (Buz Kohan, Larry Grossman)
Michael Jackson
  • "Decade 1980-1990"
    (Test Pressing, 1990)
Men In Black (1990) (Michael Jackson, Teddy Riley)
Michael Jackson
  • "Men In Black"
    (Test Pressing, 1990)
Click to expand...
 
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The ultra-rare 1991 CD "Promo Flight Only" includes two alternate versions of Black Or White and Monkey Business. One copy of the promo was up for auction on eBay recently.
 
I believe it was:

1. Too Much Monkey Business
2. Men In Black (early demo)
3. Black or White (alt. version)
 
Seems like a legit titles. The original title to Monkey Business was Too Much Monkey Business. Maybe this person on eBay just picked the tracks that havent been released to sell online?

I bet the alternate Black Or White on this Flight promo is the one where the bridge is just heavy metal guitars like Bill Bottrell said.

It wasn't until summer 1991 that it took on the rap form it has now. That particular spot was 'empty' for a long time.
 
Last edited:
^Yes I remember reading that about the early version of Black or White. It's interesting to hear that there were demos of Who Is It etc dating back to 1989. I want to hear the first demo of JAM from 1989 where MJ mumbles the lyrics and the composition is substantially different.
 
thanx 4 this thread,ive been thinkin about these cds alot lately. and id kill 2hear the adult versions of ibt and ncsgb
 
Oh, not to mention Can't Let Her Get Away with Michael rapping, and Dangerous with the piano solo.. oh Lord, such a tease!!
 
2qleow1.jpg


This is the 2nd (1990) Test Pressing Cover. Thanx to arXter for this image.
 
wow thanks for the cover man! never seen it before!

btw imagine if Michael knew that we dream about hearing his demo stuff, he'd probably just give it to us. Probably he thinks it's not worth anything and the best versions we want to hear are the ones officialy released lol no I'm just kidding :D
 
I would love to hear Men In Black someday. Apparently those who heard the song said it was incredible and wondered why on earth it didn't make the final tracklisting for Dangerous.
 
AGB said:
I would love to hear Men In Black someday. Apparently those who heard the song said it was incredible and wondered why on earth it didn't make the final tracklisting for Dangerous.
Click to expand...

Its likened to 'The Man' tempo wise with a heavy bass and Mike raps!
 
I would love to hear some of these adult versions!
 
Dangerous Incorporated said:
Its likened to 'The Man' tempo wise with a heavy bass and Mike raps!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I read the same little article. I believe (insert name here) listened in on a recording session or something.. and got to hear Men In Black. I forget his name.

But you said you heard that Mike raps? Where did you hear this from?
 
mickyj007 said:
Yeah, I read the same little article. I believe (insert name here) listened in on a recording session or something.. and got to hear Men In Black. I forget his name.

But you said you heard that Mike raps? Where did you hear this from?
Click to expand...

Adrian Grant was the guy who interviewed MJ.

And no I havent heard the raps. I just know that MJ did rap for MIB.
 
^Yeah if it was indeed a 100% legitimate Promo CD. That previous poster made a good point on it's legitimacy factor..
 
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