Unreleased Songs Info

SmoothGangsta

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Not sure if there's already a thread like this, please point me in its direction if there is, there seems to be a lot of people here who are much more knowledgeable than me when it comes to unreleased songs. I thought we could make a thread detailing unreleased songs and all info about them.
 
Not sure if there's already a thread like this, please point me in its direction if there is, there seems to be a lot of people here who are much more knowledgeable than me when it comes to unreleased songs. I thought we could make a thread detailing unreleased songs and all info about them.

AlwaysThere created a superb thread a few years ago that he used update. Typing on my phone so link won't copy for me.

Also, if AlwaysThere reads this: Are there any other tracks you've learned about from Making Michael to be added to that list? Reading the book now and really enjoying it.
 
AlwaysThere created a superb thread a few years ago that he used update. Typing on my phone so link won't copy for me.

Also, if AlwaysThere reads this: Are there any other tracks you've learned about from Making Michael to be added to that list? Reading the book now and really enjoying it.

Nice haha. I'm actually in the process of reading that too. I'm not far in though. Still on Off The Wall haha. It's on my phone as a kindle book so I honestly keep forgetting about it.
 
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I just began it today. Just finished Thriller era. It's really good; nice and concise with the timeline and info. I like the attention to detail such as "two weeks after making the Beat It Video he was performing Billie Jean at the Motown25 show" I'm getting a great sense of how everything happened. Loved reading about the whole process of how the Thriller album came together and evolved into what it became and MJ's other commitments happening simultaneously. Brilliant read.
 
I just began it today. Just finished Thriller era. It's really good; nice and concise with the timeline and info. I like the attention to detail such as "two weeks after making the Beat It Video he was performing Billie Jean at the Motown25 show" I'm getting a great sense of how everything happened. Loved reading about the whole process of how the Thriller album came together and evolved into what it became and MJ's other commitments happening simultaneously. Brilliant read.

I'm gonna start reading it now lol. Been reading small parts for the past few days so I'm sure I'll be done at some point in the distant future.
 
I just began it today. Just finished Thriller era. It's really good; nice and concise with the timeline and info. I like the attention to detail such as "two weeks after making the Beat It Video he was performing Billie Jean at the Motown25 show" I'm getting a great sense of how everything happened. Loved reading about the whole process of how the Thriller album came together and evolved into what it became and MJ's other commitments happening simultaneously. Brilliant read.
That's really interesting right there. I had no idea that they filmed Beat It right before the Motown 25 show. When did it start showing on MTV? I know it was playing before Motown 25 showed on TV in May, because people were talking about it right afterward.
 
That's really interesting right there. I had no idea that they filmed Beat It right before the Motown 25 show. When did it start showing on MTV? I know it was playing before Motown 25 showed on TV in May, because people were talking about it right afterward.
I'm not sure of the dates but the album itself literally just made it in time for the Christmas market. So much serendipitous events around Thriller; how Quincy discovered Human Nature, how Rod Temperton literally made it to the studio on time with the written rap for Vincent Price and ran in the back door of the studio as Price was coming in the front door lol. MJ's obsession with writing Billie Jean. I love how it's told in the right time frame, it adds a hell of a lot and I feel like a fly on the wall. I'm not the best at retaining info and dates with this type of stuff but I've learned things that have enriched me about Off The Wall and Thriller. Great info also on the Say Say Say video shoot and recording with Paul in London. I'm hooked!!

But yes, two weeks after wrapping on the Beat It Video (which MJ also funded himself) he was doing M25. If memory serves the book says M25 was the same place MJ had the Pepsi accident also. The something auditorium or the forum in LA? It's a lot of info for me lol.

I've actually enjoyed reading about the making and impact of Thriller so much I took a walk tonight and listened to the album for the first time in very long time feeling I've lived through the era as an adult.

hopefully this works. AlwaysThere's Unreleased thread.

http://www.mjjcommunity.com/forum/threads/129114-List-of-Michael-s-Unreleased-Material
 
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The formatting of that list is very odd -- should probably revisit that one soon -- but that's the basic ideas of what you would need to know as to what track should be classified under what album. There's quite a bit I need to add/change.

As far as unreleased tracks are concerned, there's quite a bit that I've learned over time for that "book" that I've been working on and plugging for about five years (which I'm back to working on and hope to actually get through this time, lol). For the time being, I'll share what I can recall offhand in a lengthier post... probably tomorrow. :)

Are there any other tracks you've learned about from Making Michael to be added to that list? Reading the book now and really enjoying it.

Yessir! I'll probably do a full overhaul one of these days :) Glad you're enjoying the book!
 
I lied :p I had a ton of downtime and pounded this out rather quickly. This isn't NEARLY everything, but is just what I can name off the top of my head (which is sad). There's a ton more in-depth discussion to go along with it, which I hope to be able to provide soon-ish!

? "Iowa" (c. April 1977). Classical piece/no vocals. Believed to be the first classical track Michael wrote, and was apparently one of two songs presented to award-winning conductor David Michael Frank during an April 2009 meeting for a planned instrumental album (unconfirmed).
? "Susie" (c. September 1977). Early demo tracking for "Little Susie". Lyrics are mostly, if not entirely, parallel to the final recording. Takes place during the Holocaust (so says Brad Buxer).

? "Behind the Mask" (c. October 1981). Lyrics based on a W.B. Yeats poem, "The Mask". Originated as a backing piece for a Japanese wristwatch commercial before being adapted by the Yellow Magic Orchestra, whose proper version eventually made it to Michael. Co-writer Chris Mosdell wrote an entirely new lyric with Michael in mind, though this version was largely discarded. Kept off of Thriller due to a crediting dispute (Michael wanted full royalties), which was resolved in 1985.

? "Make a Wish" (c. April 1983). Written by Michael and Buz Kohan for an unrealized Peter Pan feature film. Director Stephen Spielberg would purportedly play Michael's demo for his young son to help him fall asleep at night.
? "Neverland Landing" (c. April 1983). Written by Michael and Buz Kohan for an unrealized Peter Pan feature film. Resembles "Seeing Voices" tonally/musically.
? "What's Your Life" (c. 1983). Duet between Michael and Jermaine; features Tito on acoustic guitar. Written after an incident involving Michael attempting to purchase a llama.
? "Scared of the Moon" (c. March 1984). Conceived from a story Brooke ******* told Michael of her younger sister. Multitrack believed to have been lost by Michael shortly after its recording; the strings were recorded over a single piano/vocal track (similar to what would ultimately occur with "Love Never Felt So Good" in 2014).
? "Chicago 1945" (c. May 1984). Written over a groove submitted by Steve Porcaro. References various Chicago landmarks and locations. Concerns three girls who went missing and were never seen again. Vocally/musically complete. Was considered for Xscape, but was withheld by Steve Porcaro because he was against it being remixed.
? "Tomboy" (c. March 1985). Features Roger Troutman of Zapp on rhythm guitar. Melodically resembles "Remember the Time".

? "You Were There" (12 November 1989). Written around an instrumental piano accompaniment written by Kohan; lyrics were a collaboration between the two. Written the night before the Sammy Davis, Jr. tribute show, and performed once. Never recorded.
? "For All Time" (May 1990). Chord arrangement inspired by "Daydream Believer" by The Monkees. Title inspired by "Wichita Lineman" by Jimmy Webb. No known explanation as to why it was included on Thriller 25.
? "Someone Put Your Hand Out" (c. May 1991). Originally titled "Someone Put Your Hand Down". First recorded during the Bad sessions and rewritten with Teddy Riley during the Dangerous sessions. FInished in April 1992 and released as a Pepsi exclusive to coincide with the Dangerous World Tour.
? "Joy" (c. July 1991). Given to Teddy Riley's vocal group Blackstreet. Michael's recording is said to feature breathtaking vocals (so says engineer Jean-Marie Horvat). Teddy Riley has expressed interest in handing over his cassette copy of Michael's version to the estate.

? "Is It Scary" (c. June/July 1993). Originally titled "Is This Scary". Intended for the soundtrack of Addams Family Values.
? "Much Too Soon" (c. April 1994). Recorded over 5-6 takes and immediately shelved and never mentioned again. The 2010 album version does not credit guitarist Jeff Mironov, who plays well over 95% of the final guitar layer.
? "Willing and Waiting" (c. May 1994). Collaborative effort with Babyface. Ranks among Brad Sundberg's favorite Michael Jackson songs.

? "Angel" (c. October 1997). Collaborative effort with Babyface. Michael apparently called the song one of the best he had ever recorded, and had initial desires for it to be the lead single from the album.
? "Seeing Voices" (c. November 1997). Written by Sidney Fine. Submitted to Michael through Matt Forger. String addition suggested to Fine by Michael.
? "The Way You Love Me" (c. July 1998). Originally titled "Hanson" and intended for the preteen boy band of the same name.
? "Escape" (c. June 1999). One of Michael's personal CD copies was titled "Xscape".
? "Fall Again" (c. October 1999). Prince Jackson's illness is often given as the reason why it was never finished, though (as claimed by D. S.H.I.E.L.D.S.) there was a secondary fault on Michael's part that caused him to lose interest.
? "Shout" (April 2001). Almost never recorded, as Michael expressed concern about performing such a fast-paced rap live. Left off of Invincible in favor of "You Are My Life" and included on the CD single of "Cry" without notifying the cowriters.

? "I Am a Loser" (January 2003). Written by Michael and Brad Buxer after the latter experienced a devastating breakup.
? "Wonderful World of Candy" (c. July 2003). Described by Joe Jackson as "beautiful".
? "Gloucestershire" (c. January 2004). Written by Michael and Brad Buxer. Recalls one of Michael's fondest memories from the Jackson 5's touring days in Gloucestershire, a county in Southwest England. Vocally fragmentary; very incomplete.
? "I Have This Dream" (October/November 2005). Vocals by the O'Jays, James Ingram and others recorded on 1 November in Los Angeles, with Michael producing over the phone. Track exists in a complete state, but was never issued.

? "He Who Makes the Sky Gray" (c. March 2006). Written by Abdullah bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (and purportedly Jermaine Jackson). Features a gospel choir. Vocals were recorded and are apparently complete.
? "I'm Dreamin'" (September 2006). Collaboration between Michael and will.i.am. Proposed for will.i.am's 2014 album, #willpower, which was blocked by the estate.
? "Best of Joy" (October 2008). Originally written in 1982 as "The Toy". Re-recorded at least twice between then and 2008.
? "I Was the Loser" (October 2008). A recreation of "I Am a Loser". Chorus lines re-recorded to reflect the new title; all other vocals and music remained the same. Originally planned to be on Xscape.
? "H2O" (c. October 2008). Alternatively titled "Dark Lady". Vocally incomplete - the same lines are sung almost on loop.
? "Breathe" (c. May/June 2009). Instrumental piece exists, but vocals were never recorded. Lyrics regarding global welfare were intended to be cowritten with Deepak Chopra.
 
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I've actually enjoyed reading about the making and impact of Thriller so much I took a walk tonight and listened to the album for the first time in very long time feeling I've lived through the era as an adult.
Oh, gosh-that sounds really interesting-and I like being a fly on the wall as well. I think that's why I enjoy Brad Sundberg's posts on Facebook so much, because he has such a way with words that you really feel like you are there. I'd love to read about Michael writing Billie Jean-more detail than I already know. I find that fascinating-probably because I WAS a young adult at that time and grew up with Michael and was quite astounded at everything that was happening.

I know Motown 25 was filmed in Pasadena Civic Center-I thought the Pepsi commercial was filmed in LA-but don't know if was the Shrine Auditorium, the Forum, or the Coliseum-they have SO many theatres there-maybe the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion? Not that I've been to any of these-but have watched a LOT of Academy Awards and other award shows. Lol. I do know they were wearing the exact same clothes in both.
 
Awesome list AlwaysThere, lots of detail. Wasn't there also an earlier version of Much Too Soon from the 80's? Or am I thinking of something else?
 
^^ There's two versions from 1981 registered titled "Much Too Soon" and "Learned My Lesson". :)
 
^^ There's two versions from 1981 registered titled "Much Too Soon" and "Learned My Lesson". :)

Nice haha. I'd really like to hear early versions of all of MJ's work. We've seen before that they often sound totally different from the final versions. It seems that the amount of tracks recorded after 2005 is quite sparse, which is a shame.
 
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Thanks for the track updates AlwaysThere. Looking forward to you updating your thread, and I think I've suggested this before but your thread should be made a sticky for track references. Nice job man!

Just finished reading about the Bad sessions in Making Michael. This is my Michael Book of The Year hands down and the one I'll be pointing people to if they want the most insightful look at Michael Jackson the musical artist. This book is fantastic and maybe the best self published book in terms of cover, layout, paper and quality. So many new insights (at least to me).
 
Thanks for the track updates AlwaysThere. Looking forward to you updating your thread, and I think I've suggested this before but your thread should be made a sticky for track references. Nice job man!

Just finished reading about the Bad sessions in Making Michael. This is my Michael Book of The Year hands down and the one I'll be pointing people to if they want the most insightful look at Michael Jackson the musical artist. This book is fantastic and maybe the best self published book in terms of cover, layout, paper and quality. So many new insights (at least to me).

I really need to get around to reading it, everything I've been hearing about it is excellent :bored:
 
^^Bad and Smooth Criminal short films were shot while the album was being made and that's why we have different mixes for the short film Versions. The book is brilliant. It never dawned on me that SC was shot in 87. Mike and Quincy bumped heads and Mike was not happy with the finished mix of SC and other tracks on the album.

It all makes more sense to me now why there's quite a few different mixes of the album! MJ wasn't a hundred percent happy with it but had to make the deadline because he also had to go on tour. Quincy was critical over Mike taking too much time also "Paralysis through analysis.You make your mind up on the tunes you're going to do and you do it."
 
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^^Bad and Smooth Criminal short films were shot while the album was being made and that's why we have different mixes for the short film Versions. The book is brilliant.
Wasn't some of Moonwalker also filmed while the album was made-or is it Smooth Criminal they're talking about? I remember reading that's why the album didn't come out when originally planned.

What about when he went on tour-didn't he continue working on some of the short films then? Or was that the concert footage that was filmed for Moonwalker.
When was "The Way You make me Feel" filmed??

Between writing and recording and producing songs, putting out an album, making extensive short films, going on a massive tour, and creating Moonwalker and the series "Around the World with Michael Jackson" to promote it all-he was BUSY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Wasn't some of Moonwalker also filmed while the album was made-or is it Smooth Criminal they're talking about? I remember reading that's why the album didn't come out when originally planned.

What about when he went on tour-didn't he continue working on some of the short films then? Or was that the concert footage that was filmed for Moonwalker.
When was "The Way You make me Feel" filmed??

Between writing and recording and producing songs, putting out an album, making extensive short films, going on a massive tour, and creating Moonwalker and the series "Around the World with Michael Jackson" to promote it all-he was BUSY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think your right about Moonwalker. It doesn't really go into that, but I think by this point Quincy was a little annoyed that MJ was doing so much. More deadlines missed again because of other projects such as Captain EO. Like ET the storybook (which coincided with the making of Thriller) Walter Yetnikoff was a little pissed with MJ.
 
I think your right about Moonwalker. It doesn't really go into that, but I think by this point Quincy was a little annoyed that MJ was doing so much. More deadlines missed again because of other projects such as Captain EO. Like ET the storybook (which coincided with the making of Thriller) Walter Yetnikoff was a little pissed with MJ.
Probably also pissed since it was on a different label, I imagine.

It's so obvious that he was determined that this album was going to outsell Thriller. Just think about this-this huge volume of work that he was doing, not to even mention the marketing deals, etc. that were going on-all these irons in the fire at the same time before the album even came out-so that once it did-the promotion blitz came on like gangbusters. Talk about the genius King of Promotion-he learned so much from others. And it's a darn good thing he was only 29 and healthy-anybody else would have collapsed in the middle of it all.
 
Probably also pissed since it was on a different label, I imagine.

It's so obvious that he was determined that this album was going to outsell Thriller. Just think about this-this huge volume of work that he was doing, not to even mention the marketing deals, etc. that were going on-all these irons in the fire at the same time before the album even came out-so that once it did-the promotion blitz came on like gangbusters. Talk about the genius King of Promotion-he learned so much from others. And it's a darn good thing he was only 29 and healthy-anybody else would have collapsed in the middle of it all.
What's really surprised me in reading this book is how his workload was relentless and so much going on at the same time. The 80's must have been a blur for him, so far from The Wiz to Bad it was endless working.

His life looked something like this:
The Wiz and the disco influence of Studio 54. Destiny sessions, OTW home studio sessions,Off The Wall A-team studio sessions, Destiny tour rehearsals,OTW video shoots,Destiny tour, more OTW sessions, video shoots, next leg of Destiny tour, Triump sessions, Triumph tour, Thriller home studio sessions, ET Storybook, Video shoots, Pepsi accident, video shoots, Motown 25, video shoots, Victory album, Victory tour, We Are The World, Bad home studio sessions, Captain EO, Video shoots, Bad A-Team studio sessions, making Moonwalker, Bad tour rehearsals, Bad tour Asia/Australia, making Moonwalker, Bad tour America/Europe,making Moonwalker, Bad tour LA 89. Not to mention the Japanese adds, Pepsi adds, Award shows, Photo shoots, dinner engagements, personal appearances and business meetings and dealings such as aquiring the ATV catalogue! Yeah, MJ was busy!!!
 
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What's really surprised me in reading this book is how his workload was relentless and so much going on at the same time. The 80's must have been a blur for him, so far from The Wiz to Bad it was endless working.

His life looked something like this:
The Wiz and the disco influence of Studio 54. Destiny sessions, OTW home studio sessions,Off The Wall A-team studio sessions, Destiny tour rehearsals,OTW video shoots,Destiny tour, more OTW sessions, video shoots, next leg of Destiny tour, Triump sessions, Triumph tour, Thriller home studio sessions, ET Storybook, Video shoots, Pepsi accident, video shoots, Motown 25, video shoots, Victory album, Victory tour, We Are The World, Bad home studio sessions, Captain EO, Video shoots, Bad A-Team studio sessions, making Moonwalker, Bad tour rehearsals, Bad tour Asia/Australia, making Moonwalker, Bad tour America/Europe,making Moonwalker, Bad tour LA 89. Not to mention the Japanese adds, Pepsi adds, Award shows, Photo shoots, dinner engagements, personal appearances and business meetings and dealings such as aquiring the ATV catalogue! Yeah, MJ was busy!!!
Not to mention tearing down Hayvenhurst and rebuilding it and completely rebuilding their home studio there-and ending the BAD tour by buying Neverland and starting to remake it. It's like I've pictured it as I lived through it and read about it, BUT it now sounds like it was on steroids.

To be honest, I think that is why I get "aggravated" when people use terms like "lazy" to describe Michael later on-not too many people have accomplished stuff like this by the time they're 29, much less starting their career at 7 years old by singing and dancing is strip bars and smoky clubs. That kind of work ethics is gone.
 
Not to mention tearing down Hayvenhurst and rebuilding it and completely rebuilding their home studio there-and ending the BAD tour by buying Neverland and starting to remake it. It's like I've pictured it as I lived through it and read about it, BUT it now sounds like it was on steroids.

To be honest, I think that is why I get "aggravated" when people use terms like "lazy" to describe Michael later on-not too many people have accomplished stuff like this by the time they're 29, much less starting their career at 7 years old by singing and dancing is strip bars and smoky clubs. That kind of work ethics is gone.
Yeah agree. MJ was a complete workaholic. Also the sessions with McCartney which produced The Man and Say Say Say, Get It with Stevie, writing and producing Centipede for Rebbie. Because the Bad album was being worked on up until the last deadline MJ had no time to rehearse for the Bad tour. The band were rehearsing without him every single day for a month, they put in 6-10 hours a day while MJ was finishing the album. MJ didn't even get to do a complete run-through of the show. I would imagine that's why the 87 tour is pretty much the Victory Tour setlist with only IJCSLY and Bad included because they were out as singles. Insane!

Also the Paul Anka sessions which MJ sent someone to the studio to steal the tapes. MJ went behind Quincy's back on one of the Bad tracks to and Quincy said he couldn't believe MJ did that.
 
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Yeah agree. MJ was a complete workaholic. Also the sessions with McCartney which produced The Man and Say Say Say, Get It with Stevie, writing and producing Centipede for Rebbie. Because the Bad album was being worked on up until the last deadline MJ had no time to rehearse for the Bad tour. The band were rehearsing without him every single day for a month, they put in 6-10 hours a day while MJ was finishing the album. MJ didn't even get to do a complete run-through of the show. I would imagine that's why the 87 tour is pretty much the Victory Tour setlist with only IJCSLY and Bad included because they were out as singles. Insane!
Can you even imagine-poor band and backup singers rehearsing like mad and they're really learning and rehearsing two totally different shows. And that's another thing-auditioning the musicians, the dancers and the backup singers at the last minute too-
no wonder they all talk about it like it was a whirlwind.
You sure can't tell from Yokohama that he didn't have a run through. :)
 
Thanks for the info AlwaysThere

I really like the sound of Willing and Waiting, and Angel. I'd kill to hear Mike's version of Joy, I'm certain it sounds perfect
 
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Has there ever been any mention of what the Best Of Joy demo sounds like musically?
 
Has there ever been any mention of what the Best Of Joy demo sounds like musically?

"Yeah. You don't listen to the early 80's version and think it's a demo or incomplete. The instrumentation is sparse but I think that was the intention. He's singing full out on it and it's definitely a different vocal to the latter versions. It's very sweet. At first I thought it was a much later version because of the timelessness of the instrumentation. The drum track and synth have really held up. The second version I've heard was from when MJ was alive (late 2000's) but I don't know how involved he was with the instrumentation. It's more modern I guess but a similar idea to the early 80's one. The Neff-U one (third version) is really, really good. He took the track to another level and I love it. We've all heard it. The fourth version I won't say too much about, except there's lyrics in it that made me do a double take because of how beautifully and uniquely they're delivered vocally. I don't know why this version wasn't used by Neff-U. It's the one I listen to most."
 
"Yeah. You don't listen to the early 80's version and think it's a demo or incomplete. The instrumentation is sparse but I think that was the intention. He's singing full out on it and it's definitely a different vocal to the latter versions. It's very sweet. At first I thought it was a much later version because of the timelessness of the instrumentation. The drum track and synth have really held up. The second version I've heard was from when MJ was alive (late 2000's) but I don't know how involved he was with the instrumentation. It's more modern I guess but a similar idea to the early 80's one. The Neff-U one (third version) is really, really good. He took the track to another level and I love it. We've all heard it. The fourth version I won't say too much about, except there's lyrics in it that made me do a double take because of how beautifully and uniquely they're delivered vocally. I don't know why this version wasn't used by Neff-U. It's the one I listen to most."

Can we hear it somewhere by any chance?
 
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