Do you think serious work was done with WBSS during the OTW sessions?

[filmandmusic]

The home demo is from 1978 right? So surely a quality track like that was considered for Off The Wall?

 

[Seldervi]

It wasn't, it was written for Latoya Jackson. Michael just kept it for himself, probably because he realized it was too good for Latoya (lol)

 

[Little Susie Pie Jesu]

I love WBSS song, including Akon's version

 

[Mister_Jay_Tee]

I love WBSS song, including Akon's version

Did Michael Afton not work out for you?

 

[Fuzball]

The home demo is from 1978 right? So surely a quality track like that was considered for Off The Wall?

i doubt this was ever presented to Bruce or Q prior to 1982

 

[BlackAnon]

I don't think he went further than the demo we have

 

[83magic]

I don’t think the song was fully completed during the ‘off the wall’ sessions, due to the fact that the name ‘billie jean’ is mentioned in the lyrics. the incident with that woman didn’t happen until 1981.

‘wanna be startin somethin’ may have been partially inspired by latoya’s situation with her in-laws, but I don’t think it was intended for her to sing. john travolta also claimed that michael wrote the song for him after seeing ‘saturday night fever’.

regardless of its possible origins, the song is ultimately michael’s, and I’m so thankful because I think it’s his best

 

[Alaslam]

WBSS demo is from 1981 around the Triumph tour. Bill Wolfer talks about it in an interview

 

[PurpleThriller]

Did Michael Afton not work out for you?

please please,don't blow his masterfully crafted cover up
who could this be,hmmm? ..
(somewhat changed lycris,but I suppose that it does not matter,really)
oh who is he? ️️
oh who is he? ️️️
...

 

[SmoothCriminal1995]

I doubt it was worked on at Westlake, I was always under the impression Mike held onto it until the Thriller sessions begun.

I think Mike mentioned it in his book or in an interview somewhere

 

[mj_frenzy]

WBSS demo is from 1981 around the Triumph tour. Bill Wolfer talks about it in an interview

That is the second demo, which is actually a reworked version of the first demo which had been recorded in 1979.

The second demo appears also on the 'This Is It' posthumous compilation album.

 

[Mister_Jay_Tee]

Not only did he not do much with WBSS, there is no Sunset Driver 1978 demo.

 

[filmandmusic]

So in conclusion, we really have no clue?

 

[MKTCREATE]

Did Michael Afton not work out for you?

haha had that thought then saw your post! hilarious .

 

[Alaslam]

Not only did he not do much with WBSS, there is no Sunset Driver 1978 demo.

Yes there is, it was supposed to be used on the 2001 OTW special edition

 

[Mister_Jay_Tee]

Yes there is, it was supposed to be used on the 2001 OTW special edition

That's pretty much just a popular rumor

 

[Alaslam]

That's pretty much just a popular rumor

It’s in the All The Songs book by Richard Lecocq. It was recorded in Encino in 1978 and reworked in 1982 after Quincy rejected it the first time

 

[BlackAnon]

I don’t know if Michael actually presented the song for OTW inclusion…..he just held on to it