My concept is called
THRILLER – DIAMOND EDITION, since I feel that
Thriller 40 is just super random and inconsequential. I’d steal the concept of the Paul McCartney Archive Collection and reissue each of MJ’s albums as expansive “diamond editions,” complete with tons of bonus features and extras.
CD1 / LP1:
Thriller
(Original Album, 2022 Bernie Grundman Master)
- Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
- Baby Be Mine
- The Girl Is Mine
- Thriller
- Beat It
- Billie Jean
- Human Nature
- P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
- The Lady in My Life
CD2 / LP2: From the Vault
(Previously Unreleased Outtakes and Demos)
- Behind the Mask (Mike’s Mix)
- Hot Street
- ?
- She’s Trouble
- Who Do You Know
- ?
- Roll the Dice
- ?
- Nightline
- The Toy
CD3 / LP3:
Thriller Reconstructed
(Demos and Alternate Versions of Songs from Thriller)
- Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ (2009 Partial Re-Recording)
- Baby Be Mine (1982 Demo)
- The Girl Is Mine (1981 Songwriting Worktape)
- The Girl Is Mine (1981 Solo Demo)
- Starlight (Original Concept for Thriller)
- Beat It (1982 Demo)
- Billie Jean (1982 Demo #2)
- Human Nature (Original Key)
- P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) [Mike’s Version]
- The Lady in My Life (Full Version)
CD4 / LP4-5:
Thriller B-Sides
(Single Edits, 12” Mixes, and Bonus Material)
- Can’t Get Outta the Rain
- Someone in the Dark
- Carousel
- Sunset Driver
- Got the Hots
- Billie Jean (1981 Home Demo)
- Billie Jean (Long Version)
- Pepsi Generation / Billie Jean
- Beat It (Demo)
- Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ (Demo)
- Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ (Single Version)
- Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ (12” Version)
- Human Nature (Single Version)
- Thriller (Remixed Short Version)
- Thriller (Megamix)
4K / Blu-Ray / DVD:
Thriller - Diamond Edition
(Video Features)
- The Girl Is Mine (New Short Film)
- Billie Jean (Short Film)
- Beat It (Short Film)
- Thriller (Short Film)
- Making Michael Jackson’s Thriller (Documentary)
- Thriller (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
Special Features:
- 100+ page companion book with never before seen photos, handwritten lyrics, an era retrospective, interviews with album personnel, studio documentation, and more
- Dolby Atmos and 5.1 surround mixes of the original album by Serbian Ghenea/John Hanes and Mick Guzauski, respectively
- A reissue of “The Girl Is Mine” CD/cassette single, with the songwriting worktape and solo demo as bonus tracks and a short film cut together from the unreleased studio footage
- Box packaging with lenticular artwork and two bonus posters
- Limited-edition numbered audiophile vinyl and SACD pressings
Notes
- Any songs that were not given a proper mix, preferably by Bruce Swedien, would be newly mixed by Matt Forger at Westlake.
- Due to the limitations of 16mm film stock, Billie Jean would be presented in a maximum resolution of 2K. All other video features are presented in a maximum resolution of 4K.
- Making Michael Jackson’s Thriller would be exclusive to the physical packages and wouldn’t be available for digital download or streaming. All other short films would be available for purchase and streaming.
I suppose you could add on a disc of instrumentals, but that’s not something I personally think is necessary. Same with the Victory Tour; let that be its own individual thing people can purchase if they want, rather than adding money onto a box set that’s would almost certainly be ridiculously expensive to begin with lol.
