Latest on MJJC

Songs that only just missed out on inclusion on an album?

filmandmusic

Proud Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2021
Messages
4,832
Points
113
2 famous examples for me are “reach out I’ll be there” which got omitted for “ born to love you“ last minute on the Jackson 5 debut album and of course “streetwalker” that basically missed out by bad luck for “ another part of me”.

Are there other songs that just missed out in MJ or the J5’s discography?
 
'Cheater' also almost made the official track list of the 'BAD' album.

It has been written that Michael Jackson's solo version of 'Eaten Alive' also almost made the official track list of the 'BAD' album.

'Monkey Business' was one of the songs that was being discussed a lot in the press (in the summer of 1991) for inclusion on his upcoming 'Dangerous' album.

But at the last minute, 'Monkey Business' did not make the 'Dangerous' album (for unknown reasons).

'Shout' was replaced by 'You Are My Life' (on the 'Invincible' album), at the last minute.

'A Place With No Name' was one of the strongest candidates for the 'Invincible' album, but eventually it did not make the album.
 
I remember hearing Streetwalker almost made the Bad Album, it was knocked off by Another Part Of Me.
(Bad 2001 edition extras)

I believe Carousel was going to be on Thriller, until Quincy heard the original work tape of Human Nature (Thriller 2001 edition extras)

I'm not sure about any others, I'd be fascinated to know more though it's such a mystery as to what songs were truly considered for each album.
 
mj_frenzy said:
'Cheater' also almost made the official track list of the 'BAD' album.
Click to expand...
Considering how raw the demo from March 1987 is, that we all know, it is highly unlikely that ‘Cheater’ was a strong contender for the ‘Bad’ album. Most songs which were considered for ’Bad’ were written between early 1983 and mid- 1986. The sessions commenced on August 4, 1986 and the strongest demos were selected for recording during these early sessions at Westlake.
By January 1987, the A-Team would have had a more or less clear idea in mind which songs were going to be included on the album, and by that time ‘Cheater’ had not even been recorded.
mj_frenzy said:
It has been written that Michael Jackson's solo version of 'Eaten Alive' also almost made the official track list of the 'BAD' album.
Click to expand...
Whoever wrote that clearly doesn’t have a clue what they’re talking about. A cover of a Diana Ross track from 1985 would most certainly not find a place on Michael Jackson’s album from 1987.
 
Fuzball said:
Thriller album was intended to be a 10-track LP. After the first mastering Hot Street had to be removed from side A; on side B BJ and TLIML had to be trimmed.
Click to expand...
I did not know this. How did you find this out? Was this something Damien Shields covered? If true, have we heard the final mastered version?

Where was it on Side A?
 
Also - the first prints of BOTDF album has a different track-list as far as I remember.

Superfly Sister took the place from a song - but I can't remember which... :)
 
Derek1984 said:
I did not know this. How did you find this out? Was this something Damien Shields covered? If true, have we heard the final mastered version?

Where was it on Side A?
Click to expand...
Bruce Swedien had mentioned this several times.

Hot Street was placed either before or after TGIM, I can't recall it exactly atm.
 
Maxym said:
Technically the whole Farewell My Summer Love album missed out in 1973.
Click to expand...
I think Farewell would have been released in 1974 if it had been released at the that time. Also, that record would have had "Whatever You Got I Want", "What You Don't Know" and "If I Don't Love You This Way" on it as well as MJ said in an interview in 1974 on Soul Train that those were supposed to be released on his solo album that year but they pulled them and put them on the J5 album instead with newly added backgrounds from the Brothers.
 
SmoothCriminal1995 said:
I believe Carousel was going to be on Thriller, until Quincy heard the original work tape of Human Nature (Thriller 2001 edition extras)
Click to expand...
This. Steve Porcaro has also mentioned it in a couple of interviews. Quincy listening to Steve's take on the work tape was an accident, but he loved it and so did MJ when he heard it, so it was favoured over Carousel.
 
Michael Jackson in 1999 revealed that 'I Have This Dream' was actually on the 'Invincible' album.

But he eventually removed 'I Have This Dream' from it.

'Xscape' is another song that was also on the 'Invincible' album at one point, but it was eventually removed from it, as well.

Michael Jackson's odd decision to remove 'Xscape' made certain of his collaborators scratch their heads (because they were absolutely sure that he was going to include that song on the album).
SmoothCriminal1995 said:
I remember hearing Streetwalker almost made the Bad Album, it was knocked off by Another Part Of Me.
(Bad 2001 edition extras)

I believe Carousel was going to be on Thriller, until Quincy heard the original work tape of Human Nature (Thriller 2001 edition extras)

I'm not sure about any others, I'd be fascinated to know more though it's such a mystery as to what songs were truly considered for each album.
Click to expand...
'Human Nature' took the place of 'Carousel' because apparently both songs could not coexist in the same album (due to sounding both musically very similar).
dethorro said:
Considering how raw the demo from March 1987 is, that we all know, it is highly unlikely that ‘Cheater’ was a strong contender for the ‘Bad’ album. Most songs which were considered for ’Bad’ were written between early 1983 and mid- 1986. The sessions commenced on August 4, 1986 and the strongest demos were selected for recording during these early sessions at Westlake.
By January 1987, the A-Team would have had a more or less clear idea in mind which songs were going to be included on the album, and by that time ‘Cheater’ had not even been recorded.

Whoever wrote that clearly doesn’t have a clue what they’re talking about. A cover of a Diana Ross track from 1985 would most certainly not find a place on Michael Jackson’s album from 1987.
Click to expand...
'Cheater' almost made the 'BAD' album also because it was one of Michael Jackson's favourite songs at that time.
Hess said:
Also - the first prints of BOTDF album has a different track-list as far as I remember.

Superfly Sister took the place from a song - but I can't remember which... :)
Click to expand...
'Superfly Sister' took the place of 'In The Back' (on the 'Blood On The Dance Floor' album), at the last minute.
 
mj_frenzy said:
'Cheater' almost made the 'BAD' album also because it was one of Michael Jackson's favourite songs at that time.
Click to expand...
Has he ever disclosed that himself? It’s the first time I’ve ever heard about it. Even if it was one of Michael’s favorite songs at that time, it doesn’t mean it almost made it onto “Bad”.

The song selection was a group effort. Quincy had a say in it, Bruce most likely also had a say in it, and obviously Michael. But it wasn’t solely Michael’s decision.

Michael was very fond of Buffalo Bill in late- 1983 and ”knew” it would be a big hit. Yet we still haven’t heard it, til’ this day. He also preferred ‘Streetwalker’ over ‘Another Part of Me’, yet the latter made the album.

And again, ‘Cheater’ was written very late during the ‘Bad’ sessions and it couldn’t have been considered for the album. They would have had another 4 months to record and still had to do a lot of work on the existing songs chosen by Quincy and Michael for proper recording with the A-team. Not to even mention that Michael was filming ‘Chicago Nights’ a.k.a ‘Smooth Criminal’ at the same time.
 
jaorecords said:
I think Farewell would have been released in 1974 if it had been released at the that time. Also, that record would have had "Whatever You Got I Want", "What You Don't Know" and "If I Don't Love You This Way" on it as well as MJ said in an interview in 1974 on Soul Train that those were supposed to be released on his solo album that year but they pulled them and put them on the J5 album instead with newly added backgrounds from the Brothers.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'm a bit surprised because all those 3 songs sound nothing like Farewell My Summer Love for me (espescially Whatever You I Want) ...
And then I guess that some of the songs on current Farewell My Summer Love albums would have had to be dropped to hold on a record (I haven't done the calculation, just a guess).
 
dethorro said:
He also preferred ‘Streetwalker’ over ‘Another Part of Me’, yet the latter made the album.
Click to expand...
I thought the story was that he and Quincy couldn't decide between those two songs because they liked both of them. and Another Part Of Me was picked because Frank Dileo started dancing to it in the studio. I don't think Michael preffered one over the other

And while he listened to other people's opinions I think Michael did have final say on what would eventually end up on the albums. Smooth Criminal is an example of this.
 
Last edited:
Maxym said:
Thanks, I'm a bit surprised because all those 3 songs sound nothing like Farewell My Summer Love for me (espescially Whatever You I Want) ...
And then I guess that some of the songs on current Farewell My Summer Love albums would have had to be dropped to hold on a record (I haven't done the calculation, just a guess).
Click to expand...
Also you should consider that the album released as FAREWELL MY SUMMER LOVE would probably have a different tracklist had it come out in 74 besides those 3 tracks I mentioned. It is unlikely they would have released MELODIE on that album as it was actually cut during the MUSIC AND ME sessions. You might have seen some of those tracks but I am sure it would have been very different song wise as to what was chosen. The original version of DON'T LET IT GET YOU DOWN has a sound that would work with the 3 DANCING MACHINE tracks but it's hard to say if the Bob Crewe productions would have made the cut at the time. I think they had to pull together what they had available that had not come out by 84 to make up that record. I think tracks like I'LL COME HOME TO YOU would have probably made the cut as that is the oldest song on FOREVER, MICHAEL as it was cut in December 73 making it a likely contender for the 74 album but it was held until they started work on another new set of recordings in late 74. I'm sure some of the tracks that were used on JOYFUL JUKEBOX MUSIC could have also been contenders for the 74 record. I just do not think the tracklist that came out in 84 is the same tracklist that would have come out in 74.
 
dethorro said:
Has he ever disclosed that himself? It’s the first time I’ve ever heard about it. Even if it was one of Michael’s favorite songs at that time, it doesn’t mean it almost made it onto “Bad”.

The song selection was a group effort. Quincy had a say in it, Bruce most likely also had a say in it, and obviously Michael. But it wasn’t solely Michael’s decision.

Michael was very fond of Buffalo Bill in late- 1983 and ”knew” it would be a big hit. Yet we still haven’t heard it, til’ this day. He also preferred ‘Streetwalker’ over ‘Another Part of Me’, yet the latter made the album.

And again, ‘Cheater’ was written very late during the ‘Bad’ sessions and it couldn’t have been considered for the album. They would have had another 4 months to record and still had to do a lot of work on the existing songs chosen by Quincy and Michael for proper recording with the A-team. Not to even mention that Michael was filming ‘Chicago Nights’ a.k.a ‘Smooth Criminal’ at the same time.
Click to expand...
It has been revealed by people who worked with him on that album.

Note also that 'Cheater' continued to be one of his favourite songs in the following years, considering that he later decided to include it on the 'The Ultimate Collection' box set.

'Streetwalker' was another of his favourite songs (from the 'BAD' album sessions), and it also almost made that album.

Generally, the song selection was a group effort, but in certain cases Quincy Jones' role was the most important one in that regard.

The 'Thriller' album comes to mind, for example.

As the producer revealed to Jian Ghomeshi broadcaster, when they reached to the final track list of the album (with 9 songs), then Quincy Jones chose the 4 weakest ones that they had to be removed.

In the place of those songs that Quincy Jones had removed, they later put 'Beat It', 'Human Nature', 'P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)' and 'The Lady In My Life', and after those changes the official track list of the album was born.
 
Prince Of Pop said:
Pretty sure Price Of Fame was almost on the Bad album and pulled at the last minute, considering there are Pepsi promo adds featuring the song.
Click to expand...
Really?
IMO that track is not good enough but I wouldnt mind if it replaced JGF…that one I dont like at all.
If Streetwalker was included instead of JGF that would be perfect…for me that is.
As for topic I once read in a Michael Recordings book that Men In Black almost made the Dangerous album….the track was even included on a ultra rare promo cd that only a few people (bosses) in Sony was lucky enough to get.
True or not…no idea.
 
mj_frenzy said:
It has been revealed by people who worked with him on that album.

Note also that 'Cheater' continued to be one of his favourite songs in the following years, considering that he later decided to include it on the 'The Ultimate Collection' box set.
Click to expand...
Share some quotes, then.

Also, TUC was put together without Michael’s involvement. He had final say on the track listing, but given his state of mind at the time it’s fair to assume he wasn’t in any mood to work with Sony or worry about a box set. Seeing that he kept working on it afterwards, he clearly wasn’t happy with that decision.
 
Blood on the Dance Floor was originally planned for the Dangerous album. I have to check my notes from the Brad Sundberg seminar, but I want to say it was going to be the closing track. Also, Someone Put Your Hand Out was going to be the closing song for Side A of Dangerous. Michael specifically said he wanted to include it "for the girls" which, as a girl, I find both satisfying to hear was important to him, while also devastating since it was taken off.
 
staywild23 said:
Blood on the Dance Floor was originally planned for the Dangerous album. I have to check my notes from the Brad Sundberg seminar, but I want to say it was going to be the closing track. Also, Someone Put Your Hand Out was going to be the closing song for Side A of Dangerous. Michael specifically said he wanted to include it "for the girls" which, as a girl, I find both satisfying to hear was important to him, while also devastating since it was taken off.
Click to expand...
I attend June 25th seminar. I confirm this
 
staywild23 said:
Blood on the Dance Floor was originally planned for the Dangerous album. I have to check my notes from the Brad Sundberg seminar, but I want to say it was going to be the closing track. Also, Someone Put Your Hand Out was going to be the closing song for Side A of Dangerous. Michael specifically said he wanted to include it "for the girls" which, as a girl, I find both satisfying to hear was important to him, while also devastating since it was taken off.
Click to expand...
i wonder what the rest of the tracklist was like
 
staywild23 said:
Blood on the Dance Floor was originally planned for the Dangerous album. I have to check my notes from the Brad Sundberg seminar, but I want to say it was going to be the closing track. Also, Someone Put Your Hand Out was going to be the closing song for Side A of Dangerous. Michael specifically said he wanted to include it "for the girls" which, as a girl, I find both satisfying to hear was important to him, while also devastating since it was taken off.
Click to expand...
Dangerous would have been a much stronger album than it already is if those two songs were included.
 
Another song that almost made the Dangerous album is the song Earth Song, MJ recorded a demo for this track in his hotel room and it recently leaked onto the internet. Some say that this song is related to the track "Earth Song" that was released on the HIStory album but these claims are false.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top