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The Discussion of MJ's Unreleased Tracks

BlackAnon said:
Another hit that got away is Rufus and Chaka Khan's "Ain't Nobody". Quincy wanted it for Thriller but Hawk already promised it to Chaka but when Hawk asked it be a single, Chaka said it might not be and Hawk threatened to give it to Quincy for Michael

Spice of Life was written for Thriller according to Derek Bramble. Derek said he and Rod wrote it for Michael and said it was the last song submitted and the first song rejected but he did say they started recording it so a partial demo more than likely exists
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Interesting, can you tell me where this information comes from?

I was left with the fact that "Spice Of Life" had indeed been recorded according to Derek Bramble:

www.muzines.co.uk

The Producers (International Musician & Recording World, Jan 1985)

Chas de Whalley records the thoughts of David Bowie's young, gifted and black producer, Derek Bramble
www.muzines.co.uk www.muzines.co.uk

His first solo effort was called Spice Of Live and it was co-written with another ex-Heatwaver Rod 'Songsmith To The Stars' Temperton. It made the final shortlist for Michael Jackson's Thriller — pipping people like Stevie Wonder to the post in the process. Unfortunately the song wasn't included on the album but Manhattan Transfer picked it up instead and enjoyed a huge hit with it virtually everywhere in the world bar the UK.
 
Last song submitted, first song rejected but at least partially recorded, perhaps we can assume that all submitted songs were partially recorded then?

Wishful thinking, likely.
 
filmandmusic said:
Last song submitted, first song rejected but at least partially recorded, perhaps we can assume that all submitted songs were partially recorded then?

Wishful thinking, likely.
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I doubt all submitted songs -except perhaps only Temperton tracks- were recorded.
 
zinniabooklover said:

MJ's Interview With Smash Hits (Transcribed by me)

THE SMASH HITS INTERVIEW CHRISTMAS 1982: IT’S JUST GONE MIDNIGHT IN THE SMASH HITS OFFICE WHEN A YOUNG MARK ELLEN PICKS UP THE PHONE. AT THE OTHER END, LIVE FROM LOS ANGELES, IS AN EVEN YOUNGER MICHAEL JACKSON, WHOSE NEW LP “THRILLER” HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED. THEIR 35-MINUTE CONVERSATION HAS...
www.mjjcommunity.com www.mjjcommunity.com
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worth posting this part here

Who offered you songs that you didn’t accept? I heard there was one by Stevie Wonder?
Well, Stevie had a one which was good. It was a good song, more a danceable-type thing. There was also… ah, what’s his name?
 
Fuzball said:
worth posting this part here

Who offered you songs that you didn’t accept? I heard there was one by Stevie Wonder?
Well, Stevie had a one which was good. It was a good song, more a danceable-type thing. There was also… ah, what’s his name?
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Yeah, good pick. :)

I adore the entire interview. His last ever print interview in the UK.
 
Fuzball said:
worth posting this part here

Who offered you songs that you didn’t accept? I heard there was one by Stevie Wonder?
Well, Stevie had a one which was good. It was a good song, more a danceable-type thing. There was also… ah, what’s his name?
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An unreleased Stevie Wonder song would be huge. But if he didn't record it then we'll never hear it.
 
Fuzball said:
I doubt all submitted songs -except perhaps only Temperton tracks- were recorded.
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Yeah. The number's exaggerated, but I remember once hearing how Quincy got at least 200 submissions for Thriller...including Stand Tall, Ain't Nobody, She's Trouble, Nite Line, and Spice of Life (dunno if Mystery was also submitted), among others. There was only so much Michael recorded, and we know for a fact that he didn't record all of them.
 
SeriousFX said:
Yeah. The number's exaggerated, but I remember once hearing how Quincy got at least 200 submissions for Thriller...including Stand Tall, Ain't Nobody, She's Trouble, Nite Line, and Spice of Life (dunno if Mystery was also submitted), among others. There was only so much Michael recorded, and we know for a fact that he didn't record all of them.
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Rod came with 30-something written songs to the Encino house. According to Bruce they've had demoed 10 or 12 songs.
 
Fuzball said:
this means SoL was developed from BbM
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Fuzball said:
Rod came with 30-something written songs to the Encino house. According to Bruce they've had demoed 10 or 12 songs.
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Ok, so what we know: Starlight, Baby Be Mine, The Lady in My Life, Got The Hots, Slapstick, Rolling The Dice, Someone In The Dark?... What am I missing? That's 7.
 
SeriousFX said:
Yeah. The number's exaggerated, but I remember once hearing how Quincy got at least 200 submissions for Thriller...including Stand Tall, Ain't Nobody, She's Trouble, Nite Line, and Spice of Life (dunno if Mystery was also submitted), among others. There was only so much Michael recorded, and we know for a fact that he didn't record all of them.
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Exaggerated numbers. Quincy said they went through 800 songs at one point which doesn’t even sound realistic. My guess is they shuffled through maybe 40 songs but I’d said they recorded maybe around 20 full tracks
 
SmoothMel7 said:
Interesting, can you tell me where this information comes from?

I was left with the fact that "Spice Of Life" had indeed been recorded according to Derek Bramble:

www.muzines.co.uk

The Producers (International Musician & Recording World, Jan 1985)

Chas de Whalley records the thoughts of David Bowie's young, gifted and black producer, Derek Bramble
www.muzines.co.uk www.muzines.co.uk

His first solo effort was called Spice Of Live and it was co-written with another ex-Heatwaver Rod 'Songsmith To The Stars' Temperton. It made the final shortlist for Michael Jackson's Thriller — pipping people like Stevie Wonder to the post in the process. Unfortunately the song wasn't included on the album but Manhattan Transfer picked it up instead and enjoyed a huge hit with it virtually everywhere in the world bar the UK.
Click to expand...
Finally, some solid confirmation! Thankful to know this had a demo recorded.
 
Derek1984 said:
Ok, so what we know: Starlight, Baby Be Mine, The Lady in My Life, Got The Hots, Slapstick, Rolling The Dice, Someone In The Dark?... What am I missing? That's 7.
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Some of the not known demos could have been released by other artists around that time🤷‍♂️

a wild guess:
 
SmoothCriminal1995 said:
I hope Mystery released by Manhattan Transfer was recorded by Michael. That song is brilliant
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I also really like it. I wonder where this rumor for an MJ version comes from. Maybe because there are musicians present from the album Thriller...?

Hollywood_Tonight said:
There is a copyright entry for that one, so a demo most likely exists.
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I've never seen this, do you have a screenshot?
 
SmoothMel7 said:
I also really like it. I wonder where this rumor for an MJ version comes from. Maybe because there are musicians present from the album Thriller...?
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Greg Phillinganes and Michael Boddicker are given credits on Mystery (and only! on Mystery) so I assume Q and Bruce have probably just used the existing multitrack tape from Thriller sessions
 
Fuzball said:
Greg Phillinganes and Michael Boddicker are given credits on Mystery (and only! on Mystery) so I assume Q and Bruce have probably just used the existing multitrack tape from Thriller sessions
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Looks like we are never getting it because Quincy is a hog
 
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