The Discussion of MJ's Unreleased Tracks

Timestamp: 01:06:20
Brad Sundberg: Was there a song on the album you felt unsure of or think didn't fit on the album? *talks about DS*

Tony Black: I don't really know if I have enough contact with all the songs to know "ok that one shouldn't have made it". I can't really think of a song. *talks about hiphop* Everything felt like it belonged. There are some songs that I can't even tell you what they were. I do remember (songs) from different other contributers that didn't made the album I think should have. There is a lot of those where I thought "thats a good one", but then they're gone. Theres a bunch of Babyface collaborations that were amazing. And they hit the bin, I don't know.
So there should be some good HIStory outtakes... did you hear that, Estate???
 
The question is: How finished are these tracks? Most likely most of them in groove/idea/rough demo state. Would be great to have an interview with Babyface and René Moore :)
I would like to listen to "Ask Rene/DD" it should be completed especially since it started during the Dangerous session
 
Truly baffling. Stunning song.

I do feel terrible for Steve Porcaro though. He kept it close to chest for 40 years, and the FIRST time he plays it outside of the estate hemisphere it leaks, alongside the song he’s been working for decades to have released (“Chicago 1945”). Just a sad situation.
Yeah, I'm also kind of bummed he won't get to finish the songs since he sold them.
 
In the case of "Dream Away" it's honestly for the better that the Estate gets full control of the song. Reminder that Steve Porcaro said he wanted to give that song away to another artist since he couldn't finish the song, so if it hadn't leaked we probably would never have gotten to hear MJ's version.
 
In the case of "Dream Away" it's honestly for the better that the Estate gets full control of the song. Reminder that Steve Porcaro said he wanted to give that song away to another artist since he couldn't finish the song, so if it hadn't leaked we probably would never have gotten to hear MJ's version.
I forgot about this. This is why I’m not staunchly “MJ’s collaborators are the only people who should be allowed to work on his unreleased music” because some of them have horrible ideas or have put forward controversial work (e.g., Teddy Riley, Lenny Kravitz, Rodney Jerkins, Neff-U, the estate themselves).

Edit for clarity: I understand the reasoning behind this mentality, but I still think it has been fairly unsuccessful overall.
 
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I forgot about this. This is why I’m not staunchly “MJ’s collaborators are the only people who should be allowed to work on his unreleased music” because some of them have horrible ideas or have put forward controversial work (e.g., Teddy Riley, Lenny Kravitz, Rodney Jerkins, Neff-U, the estate themselves).
Lenny kravitz? What’s the issue with another day?
 
do we know who sung the Change writer's demo? steve just said it was "a friend of his"
 
In the case of "Dream Away" it's honestly for the better that the Estate gets full control of the song. Reminder that Steve Porcaro said he wanted to give that song away to another artist since he couldn't finish the song, so if it hadn't leaked we probably would never have gotten to hear MJ's version.
His reason was that he didn't think MJ would want that demo vocal released, not that he couldn't finish the song.
 
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do we know who sung the Change writer's demo? steve just said it was "a friend of his"
It was Michael Sherwood (he also sang the For All Time writer's demo).

Btw Steve is releasing a new album this year and "Change" is on the tracklist, but I'm not sure if it's the same song or a diferent one.
 
In the case of "Dream Away" it's honestly for the better that the Estate gets full control of the song. Reminder that Steve Porcaro said he wanted to give that song away to another artist since he couldn't finish the song, so if it hadn't leaked we probably would never have gotten to hear MJ's version.
Now, after listening to Porcaro & Dream Away again, did Michael record the Buz Kohen songs shortly before he met with Steve?🤔
 
In the case of "Dream Away" it's honestly for the better that the Estate gets full control of the song. Reminder that Steve Porcaro said he wanted to give that song away to another artist since he couldn't finish the song, so if it hadn't leaked we probably would never have gotten to hear MJ's version.
The Estate purchased the rights of Dream Away and Chicago 1945 in July 2024. When asked, Branca said the estate is focused on its upcoming Jackson biopic and has no immediate plans to release them.
 
I went through Brads HIStory podcast again (recommended, go check it out): https://itswmjpodcast00.podbean.com...-with-matt-forger-rob-hoffman-and-tony-black/

Here are some quotes that may be interesting:

Timestamp: 59:40
Brad Sundberg: One question is, did you ever get the feeling in a session that this song is something special and what song was it for you? What song did you work on that you just knew "this is bananas, this is gonna be around for a long time".

Tony Black: *Talks about YANA and SiM*

Rob Hoffmann: Im with you on that. My first experience with SiM was hearing it at Sony studio. The beginning of my Michael sessions was Bruce and Rene. We were working on 2Bad or what was to become 2Bad and a lot of other tracks. Tracks nobody has ever heard before, just to fuel the rumour. Theres probably 20 Rene songs out there, maybe more.



Timestamp: 01:06:20
Brad Sundberg: Was there a song on the album you felt unsure of or think didn't fit on the album? *talks about DS*

Tony Black: I don't really know if I have enough contact with all the songs to know "ok that one shouldn't have made it". I can't really think of a song. *talks about hiphop* Everything felt like it belonged. There are some songs that I can't even tell you what they were. I do remember (songs) from different other contributers that didn't made the album I think should have. There is a lot of those where I thought "thats a good one", but then they're gone. Theres a bunch of Babyface collaborations that were amazing. And they hit the bin, I don't know.
On The Line was such an amazing song, if there's more baby face tracks, I'm so in !
 
The Estate purchased the rights of Dream Away and Chicago 1945 in July 2024. When asked, Branca said the estate is focused on its upcoming Jackson biopic and has no immediate plans to release them.
The songs will definitely be used, it's just a matter of when. It was a bargaining effort, MJ songs going to Bruno Mars would never happen.
 
Babyface songs all sound like Babyface songs (regardless of the artist singing them). That isn't to say they're bad... But they're not pushing MJ's creativity in the same way that Barnes, Buxer and Bottrell did.
Fair point! Id say its the same for Bryan Loren and Rodney Jerkins.
 
Even if those Babyface songs are writer's demos I still wouldn't say no to listening to them honestly lol. Some of those writer's demos can be a diamond in a rough and I think they should get more attention within the fanbase. "Jungle City" for example is one hell of a song, and I still can't believe we got to hear it. I was sure it would be unheard forever. "Change" and "I Want You To Stay" by Marsha Ambrosius are great, also.

And there's some demos out there that I'm eager for them to leak, such as the Ne-Yo and the Eric Kirkland songs--especially the Ne-Yo songs. I'm sure those are complete bangers.
 
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