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Branca: Unreleased Music Unlikely in the Foreseeable Future

AlwaysThere said:
I would love to hear an acoustic/classical mix of some currently-released songs, like an MTV Unplugged.

Jam and Human Nature on acoustic guitar. I Can't Help It and Stranger in Moscow with a grand piano. Some of Michael's music was born for that sort of thing (and it's massively disappointing to me that he never did anything like it in his lifetime).
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Word! Concur a thousand %. Nothing to show for on unplugged is doing a de-service to him.
Michael's smooth vocals on "I can't help" is the coolest on the planet
and the best
music's ever happen since sliced bread!
 
christy said:
Word! Concur a thousand %. Nothing to show for on unplugged is doing a de-service to him.
Michael's smooth vocals on "I can't help" is the coolest on the planet
and the best
music's ever happen since sliced bread!
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Agreed!

Or even with Girlfriend. I know that isn't the most beloved song in his catalog, but that acapella sample that leaked is all around GLORIOUS. What a voice that man had.
 
AlwaysThere said:
I would love to hear an acoustic/classical mix of some currently-released songs, like an MTV Unplugged.

Jam and Human Nature on acoustic guitar. I Can't Help It and Stranger in Moscow with a grand piano. Some of Michael's music was born for that sort of thing (and it's massively disappointing to me that he never did anything like it in his lifetime).
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Yes. Absolutely.
 
AlwaysThere said:
I would love to hear an acoustic/classical mix of some currently-released songs, like an MTV Unplugged.

Jam and Human Nature on acoustic guitar. I Can't Help It and Stranger in Moscow with a grand piano. Some of Michael's music was born for that sort of thing (and it's massively disappointing to me that he never did anything like it in his lifetime).
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Yeah, absolutely! Thankfully we have the demo of SOOML on the This Is It album, I think I prefer that over the final version actually :)
 
HIStoric said:
Yeah, absolutely! Thankfully we have the demo of SOOML on the This Is It album, I think I prefer that over the final version actually :)
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I agree. - I hear the demo from This Is It more often than the actual album version. - SOOML stripped down to MJ's vocals filled with emotions and a guitar. - Perfect.
 
Elvis' new album is having a lot of commercial success particularly in the UK. I wish the Estate would do something similar to Michael's music because that is likely to sell more than any posthumous album of unreleased material. But the Michael Jackson Estate isn't probably too bright to think of doing something like that.
 
Blue Criminal said:
Elvis' new album is having a lot of commercial success particularly in the UK. I wish the Estate would do something similar to Michael's music because that is likely to sell more than any posthumous album of unreleased material. But the Michael Jackson Estate isn't probably too bright to think of doing something like that.
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Its success is only limited to a couple of countries: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wonder_of_You_(Elvis_Presley_album)

I am not sure if MJ fans would be so satisfied with the commercial success of an album that peaks at #47 in the US. Yes, it went #1 in the UK. But that's the only country.
 
Blue Criminal said:
You have to consider that Elvis has been dead for nearly 40 years. The wonder of you is doing incredible in the UK, certainly better than any posthumous MJ album.
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But that's only one country, while it isn't doing that well in most other countries, including the biggest market, the US where it peaked at #47. So I am not sure if this was an MJ album fans would celebrate it as a huge commercial success. I'd rather have MJ albums do well globally than just in one or a select few countries.
 
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respect77 said:
But that's only one country, while it isn't doing that well in most other countries, including the biggest market, the US where it peaked at #47. So I am not sure if this was an MJ album fans would celebrate it as a huge commercial success. I'd rather have MJ albums do well globally than just in one or a select few countries.
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Agreed!
 
respect77 said:
But that's only one country, while it isn't doing that well in most other countries, including the biggest market, the US where it peaked at #47. So I am not sure if this was an MJ album fans would celebrate it as a huge commercial success. I'd rather have MJ albums do well globally than just in one or a select few countries.
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I agree with all of this.
Especially the bolded.

Was about to respond to them myself then saw you did and decided to cosign because you put things perfectly, LOL.
 
respect77 said:
But that's only one country, while it isn't doing that well in most other countries, including the biggest market, the US where it peaked at #47. So I am not sure if this was an MJ album fans would celebrate it as a huge commercial success. I'd rather have MJ albums do well globally than just in one or a select few countries.
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I agree with what you are saying. But my point was that MJ estate should release a similar album as it is likely to do well commercially. I know that Elvis' new album is only doing well in a couple of countries but his death was nearly 40 years ago. MJ died more recently so any new MJ alum is likely to sell more than any new Elvis album and I just believe that orchestral album by MJ is likely to do better than any album of unreleased material. Just my opinion.
 
Did MJ leave anything behind for that classical album he was going to do before he passed? Anything at all? If someone could finish that up and do an orchestral album like what Priscilla did recently for Elvis... that would be cool. I know Anthony Hopkins did an orchestral piece before he became an actor and Andre Rieu performed it.
 
^^

There are at least two to three classical (or quasi-classical) compositions that are known to exist: "Iowa" from 1977 and "Breathe" from 2009. The latter was intended to have lyrics featured but as it stands, it could be considered an orchestral piece.

David Michael Frank heard two demos in April 2009 - maybe the same songs?

Who knows if the Estate has access to any of it though?
 
I don't understand why fans concern themselves with commercial success. Do you make money from it? I'd rather have an amazing product that only made a slight profit than something like Xscape.
 
AlwaysThere said:
^^

There are at least two to three classical (or quasi-classical) compositions that are known to exist: "Iowa" from 1977 and "Breathe" from 2009. The latter was intended to have lyrics featured but as it stands, it could be considered an orchestral piece.

David Michael Frank heard two demos in April 2009 - maybe the same songs?

Who knows if the Estate has access to any of it though?
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Hmm yeah. They could probably pay money to get the rights to whoever has the song.

I was devastated to learn that Michael was planning a brand new album and a classical album after he had died. Just listening to "Little Susie" and how much of a sad yet beautiful song really opens you up to his artistic prowess. He could do everything.

@SmoothGangsta: Branca and McClain don't give much of a crap about MJ's legacy (still salty about the Cascio tracks, just wtf? Even if it is MJ those vocals are weak and should not have been released). They're only concerned when there is money involved. They're money men and that's the bottom line. They ain't doing anything unless they are sure what they are making will bring back profit rather than loss. That's why D25 never got made because they must have felt it wasn't worth the risk to lose money. Everyone thinks MJ had his heyday in the '80s and whilst I disagree that's the consensus with the general population.

Thriller and Bad got 25th anniversary editions but nothing else will I don't think. I want HIStory and Invincible to be remembered more but those two handling the estate only care if they can make some money -- was like that when MJ was alive and is like it when he's dead.

I will say this: Branca and McClain did a great job with Bad 25. Even better than Thriller 25. I would like to see that same treatment again for the other albums but I think their mindset is the '80s with Thriller and Bad are the only ones people know well and will buy. I disagree with it but hey, it's a business. It's like that new Thriller project with John Landis, not complaining about it, would like to see it, but it's always going back to Thriller or Bad... :/. Off the Wall had something this year but it's hardly the special treatment Thriller and Bad got.
 
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SmoothGangsta said:
I don't understand why fans concern themselves with commercial success. Do you make money from it? I'd rather have an amazing product that only made a slight profit than something like Xscape.
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Let's go further.

Why bother about even making a "slight profit"?

I think The Estate should come on here and make sure they grant each and every one of our individual wishes - however 'unique' or 'out there' - and, hell, why not, give it to us for nothing! If every project only sells 10 copies of MJ farting in the bath and what not, who cares? WE should have exactly what WE want! WE bought a couple of his albums and CD's whilst he was alive for God's sake!

People wanting commercial success and profit!? How very dare they!!
 
Unfortunately, profit has to come first for every company. That's just a reality. No business can afford to throw out product after product with no care over whether or not said products make a solid return profit. That's why artists are continually dropped from record labels and movies aren't given sequels.
 
SmoothMJ said:
Let's go further.

Why bother about even making a "slight profit"?

I think The Estate should come on here and make sure they grant each and every one of our individual wishes - however 'unique' or 'out there' - and, hell, why not, give it to us for nothing! If every project only sells 10 copies of MJ farting in the bath and what not, who cares? WE should have exactly what WE want! WE bought a couple of his albums and CD's whilst he was alive for God's sake!

People wanting commercial success and profit!? How very dare they!!
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Way to get defensive. You do that a lot on here. I don't really know what I'm supposed to say back to what you just said as it seems ill thought out and as if you just wanted to rant. It contributed nothing and I have nothing thorough to say in response.
 
AlwaysThere said:
Unfortunately, profit has to come first for every company. That's just a reality. No business can afford to throw out product after product with no care over whether or not said products make a solid return profit. That's why artists are continually dropped from record labels and movies aren't given sequels.
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Yeah, while I would love for the focus to be on the art itself, financials have to be considered. Although I think there should always be a balance, they're never going to make as much money as a modern artist's album and that should be expected.

I don't expect every MJ product to reach the Top Ten in many markets, and there will eventually be a period where Michael isn't hitting the numbers he did with Michael/Xscape. While I'm not an expert on the subject, I don't imagine every product would need to be Top Ten hits around the globe for it to make money. My thinking goes to other artists who put out these nice packages for re-issued albums that don't even make the Top 10, hell maybe not even the Top 20-40.

In addition, just because Elvis couldn't posthumously pull it off, doesn't mean Michael can't. After all unlike Michael, Elvis hasn't really had that great numbers in the US for the past decade anyway: His last Top 10 album was 2nd To None back in 2003, 2008's Christmas Duet's reached #17, 2010's Viva Elvis didn't even chart, 2015's If I Can Dream (the first Elvis orchestral album) reached #21 and this one reached #47. I mean, they're fine for Elvis as he's not a big modern artist anymore but Michael could do better.

I wouldn't mind if they did a similar album for Michael, they could have some tracks based on his actual compositions that was discussed a few posts up, then do adaptations of his hits similar to those Elvis albums. I think what I would really love though is that MTV Unplugged kinda album though, I really like the acoustic demo of SOOML!
 
Lol at people saying that commercial performance doesn't matter. Even MJ himself cared about sales and chart positions so why shouldn't the Estate care about it too?
 
I've said this before but regards the classical album, after what happened with 'Michael' I wouldn't trust the Estate to release genuine Michael Jackson compositions. Unfortunately without Michael's voice on it I would be unable to verify it's authenticity for myself.

Which is a pity as I doubt I could ever be convinced 100%.
 
My honest opinion on the Estate when it comes to the Michael album.. get mad at me if you want! it's my opinion.. I don think the estate released any non MJ vocal with intent. I am one to think it Is very possible they received the tracks 'completed' from Cascio.. If this was in Cascios 'arcive' that would tell me that he submitted it to the estate in hopes to make them album... If Cascio was trying to make the album - I doubt he'd send the "original demo"...

And while some fans say it does not sound like Michael, I can understand why It would be close enough to fool a few lawyers and people from the estate.. Especially when (at the time) they had no reason to question..

ALSO I think the way they handled Xscape was them trying to redeem themselves from a bad move.. they gave us updated tracks and all the demos.. I mean that is what we asked for!
 
^^ Agreed.

I always figured Branca and co. were blinded by the fact that they received twelve new songs from 2007 (a time period from which usable music is lacking) and didn't think twice about taking advantage of it. I simply can't believe they thought to themselves, "These songs are obviously fake but it'll fool the fans! Who cares? Profit!" In that regard, I forgive them, even though I can't imagine how they would believe those songs are real.

I do find them to be immensely stupid for completely ignoring what Michael's family and collaborators said though. There was a universal consensus that the songs were, at the very least, suspicious, but they moved forward anyways.
 
KOPV said:
My honest opinion on the Estate when it comes to the Michael album.. get mad at me if you want! it's my opinion.. I don think the estate released any non MJ vocal with intent. I am one to think it Is very possible they received the tracks 'completed' from Cascio.. If this was in Cascios 'arcive' that would tell me that he submitted it to the estate in hopes to make them album... If Cascio was trying to make the album - I doubt he'd send the "original demo"...

And while some fans say it does not sound like Michael, I can understand why It would be close enough to fool a few lawyers and people from the estate.. Especially when (at the time) they had no reason to question..

ALSO I think the way they handled Xscape was them trying to redeem themselves from a bad move.. they gave us updated tracks and all the demos.. I mean that is what we asked for!
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I totally agree with everything you just said. To be honest, I probably wouldn't be satisfied with future releases unless the original demos continued to be included.
 
KOPV said:
My honest opinion on the Estate when it comes to the Michael album.. get mad at me if you want! it's my opinion.. I don think the estate released any non MJ vocal with intent. I am one to think it Is very possible they received the tracks 'completed' from Cascio.. If this was in Cascios 'arcive' that would tell me that he submitted it to the estate in hopes to make them album... If Cascio was trying to make the album - I doubt he'd send the "original demo"...

And while some fans say it does not sound like Michael, I can understand why It would be close enough to fool a few lawyers and people from the estate.. Especially when (at the time) they had no reason to question..

ALSO I think the way they handled Xscape was them trying to redeem themselves from a bad move.. they gave us updated tracks and all the demos.. I mean that is what we asked for!
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They did receive them complete. And collaborators of MJ raised concerns as soon as they heard them. Branca ignored them because he believed them to be real. The cascios also waited until the last possible moment to submit them to Sony. Even Teddy Riley knew as soon as he heard burn tonight that it wasn't him, but he kept working on it in hopes of receiving a real MJ song to work on.
 
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So they could easily be fooled again.

And despite everything that's happened they've never issued a public apology which is the only right thing to do, to me.

That leaves me in the position that they can't be trusted completely to release only genuine Michael Jackson works.
 
Back when Xscape was holding listening parties for fans and the media, I vaguely recall reading something from someone who was in attendance that spoke to John Branca. He apparently said that he believed the songs to be legitimate, but the estate wouldn't release any others on future projects due to the fan backlash.

If true, I imagine that's why no apology has been issued.

The Cascio tracks remain one of the most interesting aspects of the posthumous run simply due to the fact that I'm amazed that they even made it through.

Whatever happened to that A Truth Untold book that was supposed to discuss Michael's recording sessions from 2006-9 and the process of the Michael album? The last update I can find is from late last year.
 
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