Re: List of Michael's Unreleased Material
Hey AlwaysThere, I think a list like this is invaluable. Thank you so much for doing something like this. However, I have a few questions and comments.
First, there are a few things where I'm interested to know how you know when certain things were done. For instance, stuff like "Fantasy" and "Far, Far Away" say there were recorded in 1983. However, through all the research I've done, I've never seen this listed as such.
Secondly, I'm not sure if you think it's a good idea or not, but I think it might be sensible to add a Victory or at least a "post-Thriller, pre-Bad" section. For instance, I don't think something like "Buffalo Bill" really fits in with the Thriller section, although you list it there. As you know, it's a Victory outtake, as Bruce Swedien (I'm pretty sure) talking about his brothers singing on it. Also, I'm guessing that you could probably put "There Must Be More To Life Than This" and "Victory" (the song) in that section as well. I'm pretty sure those songs (along with "State of Shock" obviously) were intended for Victory. At least I'd assume "Victory" is, since they used the song title for the album.
I also personally think that any albums should usually "end" with the release of said album, since obviously anything recorded after an album could no longer be intended for it (although I suppose I would sneak "Someone Put Your Hand" out into the Dangerous list). For instance, in my mind it doesn't make sense to put "Throwing Your Life Away" in the Bad section if it was done in 1988, and therefore not possibly intended for that album. However, it's your right to make the list any way you want it, but personally I'd reformat the list to make the eras as such:
Off The Wall era: 1978-1979
Thriller era: 1980-1982
Victory era: 1983-1984
Bad era: 1984-1987 (starting approximately with "Scared Of The Moon" and ending with "Streetwalker")
Dangerous era: 1988-1992 (starting with "Throwing Your Life Away" and ending with "Someone Put Your Hand Out")
HIStory / Blood On The Dance Floor era: 1994-1997
Invincible era: 1998-2001
Final works: 2002-2009
For the "final works" I'd also probably add stuff stuff like "Beautiful Girl" and the "The Way You Love Me" since The Ultimate Collection said they were indeed worked on through 2004. And I'd also add like to add things like "Hollywood Tonight" since it was being worked on all the way through 2008.
And lastly, I do wonder whether you know for sure whether a lot of this stuff was truly recorded. I know a bunch of titles have been copyrighted but I wonder if many of them were even demoed. Obviously, you seem to know quite a bit more about this stuff than the rest of us, but are you definitely convinced that everything on your list was actually recorded?
