Thriller 40th Anniversary - Songs Discussion

[waldo]

Starlight's audio is the worst to me due to the chopping sound that's present throughout the entire recording.

it's so bad. i'm guessing there was zero quality control throughout the making of this.

 

[Derek1984]

what a lovely way to go is actually good too but I think the song would have needed a final polish then it would be better

Trying to guess when this was recorded. Perhaps 1977 before he went to film The Wiz is my guess.

 

[Mister_Jay_Tee]

Do you think his 2010 mix will ever leak?

Could've sworn it was said that it'd be leaking this week lol. @dam would probably know more about it, but my understanding is most of that stuff is just freed from the vault and can arrive at any minute.

 

[SmoothGangsta]

I guess I'm the minority but this demo to Behind The Mask is better than that 2010 mix.

I would absolutely enjoy it but it's been butchered so hard by the estate that it's hard for me.

 

[SmoothGangsta]

I’m going to play the devils advocate here and say it really depends on the source. Even the best mastering in the world cannot do much with a 40 year old cassette tape, especially if it already has been mixed and stored poorly (I’m referring to the toy) in the same way that the best video remastering cannot save a 25 year old vhs cassette. It all boils down do the sources of these demos. I’m starting to think that they dont have the multitracks for a lot of his songs.

Dunno man, as I stated in another thread there's Beatles home cassette recordings that have been presented in listenable quality. I'm not gonna pretend that these realistically HQ recordings couldn't have been made to sound decent with some effort.

If they can't be bothered to mix something from multis that is also a problem and not something that excuses to should be made for.

Also audio and video comparisons are not valid in my opinion. Totally different things.

 

[wonderouzmj]

In his grave telling branca

 

[MJ5]

i really want to know how Starlight can sound worse than the Leak we have. We should contact them about the main issues. and ask for answers!

 

[victoras]

thry sound like seminar recordings lol

 

[victoras]

Finally took my time to listen to all of the bonus tracks and well, here are some thoughts (not considering all of the obvious and already mentioned issues).

Unpopular opinion but it feels so good to listen to GTH after so long! It's so nostalgic to me despite all the flaws about this release. Starlight's quality annoys me so much that I don't think I'll ever listen to it again. Who Do You Know is a gem!!! And I'm glad it's long enough. Carousel is... okay. I wish the BTM demo had a better mix, love it's stripped nature. CGOOTR is pointless (as a song itself AND in this release). The Toy is cute despite the cringy toy/boy line. Lovely Way is another gem. And I don't remember Trouble being such a bop??? Hearing it in better quality has changed the way I see it - now I'm really digging it. Love love love its post chorus.

Ahh this release had everything to be a 10/10. So sad how they handled it.

it is not stripped, sound stripped because is taken from a damaged tape

 

[victoras]

What A Lovely Way is surely mid to late seventies? Hes doing things with his voice he didnt do after 78

most likely is a Jacksons song, you can hear the brothers in the background

 

[victoras]

I don’t like the lyrics or the music. The production is definitely interesting, but as a song, it’s very bland and forgettable (in my opinion).

No, it’s definitely from the 1970s.

Playing devil’s advocate here, but I’m assuming you used an AI to strip the drums. That’s not evidence that the estate did anything to it. There’s also nothing to suggest they removed the drums from WALWTG.

the song is at least 84-85 with that linn drum prince used at that time

 

[victoras]

Ngl the sound quality on most these demos is rancid. WTF did they do to achieve this horrible sound??

use damaged tapes then record them with a phone near a small speaker and play it on a zoom call. would still sound better

 

[MJ5]

so when were the songs recorded? maybe someome can provide an useful list

 

[MJ5]

most likely is a Jacksons song, you can hear the brothers in the background

where exactly?

 

[victoras]

where exactly?

no idea man, i won't listen to that again. near the end you can clearly hear randy and he is probably on the piano too

 

[Mister_Jay_Tee]

I actually do really like WALWTG. What's bad about it? Aside from the quality of the mastering I guess.

 

[Themidwestcowboy]

What a lovely Way to Go- 10/10
Who Do you know- 8.5/10
The Toy- Isn't this virtually the exact same vocals as Best of Joy, with the word Toy being replaced? Was Best of Joy really 80's vocals? I'm confused by this one...
Behind the Mask- Quality is not great, hard to rate

Despite the differences in some lyrics, if you listen closely you will hear that he pronounces some words slightly different. There is also an extra harmony line on “I am forever “ that is not present on BOJ 08.

 

[victoras]

just a simple 70s singalong on a train when you're drunk with your buddies, it's not bad but definattley not up to thriller standards

 

[t2fk]

After listening - the unreleased demos sounding rough I can let slide… as the off the wall demos sounded similar in that rough state…

But, the previously released/leaked songs sounding as TERRIBLE as they do I will NOT let slide

Carousel sounds HORRIBLE
Starlight HORRIBLE
CGOTR EVEN SOUNDS HORRIBLE (who could’ve thought the song could get WORSE)

Who Do You Know is the only highlight here for me - good vibes

BTM demo I quite like how rough and raw it is obv a touch up would’ve been nice

But overall I’m in disbelief it actually turned out to be this bad

NEVER supporting another estate release

 

[victoras]

After listening - the unreleased demos sounding rough I can let slide… as the off the wall demos sounded similar in that rough state…

But, the previously released/leaked songs sounding as TERRIBLE as they do I will NOT let slide

Carousel sounds HORRIBLE
Starlight HORRIBLE
CGOTR EVEN SOUNDS HORRIBLE (who could’ve thought the song could get WORSE)

Who Do You Know is the only highlight here for me - good vibes

BTM demo I quite like how rough and raw it is obv a touch up would’ve been nice

But overall I’m in disbelief it actually turned out to be this bad

NEVER supporting another estate release

Now add the years to this and it gets even worse lol. Some early 70s some 84-85 at least (the linn drum on WDYK)

 

[Mister_Jay_Tee]

After listening - the unreleased demos sounding rough I can let slide… as the off the wall demos sounded similar in that rough state…

But, the previously released/leaked songs sounding as TERRIBLE as they do I will NOT let slide

Carousel sounds HORRIBLE
Starlight HORRIBLE
CGOTR EVEN SOUNDS HORRIBLE (who could’ve thought the song could get WORSE)

Who Do You Know is the only highlight here for me - good vibes

BTM demo I quite like how rough and raw it is obv a touch up would’ve been nice

But overall I’m in disbelief it actually turned out to be this bad

NEVER supporting another estate release

I'm comparing the tracks from T40 to the versions I've been listening to and I really cannot tell a negative difference. I can hear the actual bass in the new Carousel, in comparison to the mediocre snippet from T25. What are you hearing that I'm just not detecting?

 

[mack77]

Despite the differences in some lyrics, if you listen closely you will hear that he pronounces some words slightly different. There is also an extra harmony line on “I am forever “ that is not present on BOJ 08.

Yes your right. Do you think that BOJ is completely from 2008, or are there parts from the 80's? I'm going to listen again carefully when I'm free, but vocally it seems suspiciously similar, like a lot of it was recorded around the same time, like when he says "I am your friend, through thick and thin" and "We are forever" its near identical

 

[t2fk]

I'm comparing the tracks from T40 to the versions I've been listening to and I really cannot tell a negative difference. I can hear the actual bass in the new Carousel, in comparison to the mediocre snippet from T25. What are you hearing that I'm just not detecting?

What speakers / headphones are you listening on?

I played it on my amp n speakers and my senhieser HD600 headphones and it sounds horrible the sound is crushed together and muffled almost as if it’s under a blanket with clipping and ‘crackle’ sounds from it being too loud

Reminiscent of the bad2012 masters compared to the original 87 master

Everything is really really loud

- praying for the iTunes master to be better

 

[JohnC]

No drums have been added to any of these songs.

the song is at least 84-85 with that linn drum prince used at that time

It's not even close to sounding like a Linn Drum. Korg and Maestro were making drum machines in the 70's that had similar sounds to what's on Who Do You Know.

 

[MJ5]

No drums have been added to any of these songs.


It's not even close to sounding like a Linn Drum. Korg and Maestro were making drum machines in the 70's that had similar sounds to what's on What A Lovely Way To Go.

Thanks for clarifying.

 

[Mister_Jay_Tee]

What speakers / headphones are you listening on?

I played it on my amp n speakers and my senhieser HD600 headphones and it sounds horrible the sound is crushed together and muffled almost as if it’s under a blanket with clipping and ‘crackle’ sounds from it being too loud

Reminiscent of the bad2012 masters compared to the original 87 master

Nothing extravagant or audiophile quality. Everyday mobile stuff.

I'll just go ahead and say I don't have anything that advanced, not consistently anyway. But obviously, every master was better before the 2000s. Anything they do today that isn't SACD/ Proper Vinyl Restore obviously isn't as good as the old days. But are you saying the Thriller Special Edition/25/King of Pop stuff was actually good quality, master wise? Because what you're describing just makes me think of The Ultimate Collections awful compression.

 

[victoras]

No drums have been added to any of these songs.


It's not even close to sounding like a Linn Drum. Korg and Maestro were making drum machines in the 70's that had similar sounds to what's on Who Do You Know.

well for me it sounds just like Im so blue and Fly away, thats not a 80-82 song

 

[SeriousFX]

no idea man, i won't listen to that again. near the end you can clearly hear randy and he is probably on the piano too

My hypothesis is that Lovely Way was either meant for the Jackson's Destiny album or one of the home demos Michael made for OTW (alongside Don't Stop, Day and Night, Sunset Driver, Little Susie, and Startin' Somethin').

 

[rbn]

I was actually just wondering about that. Are people overreacting! These are unfinished songs, maybe that is the quality Estate could release. If they polished them too much fans would complain that they messed with Michael's originals?

Nah, listen to carousel, cgotr those songs have been released in good quality, and now they suck. So either the cd that is going around the fans might be a very bad rip, or the estate messed up. We will know more on Friday.

 

[t2fk]

I'll just go ahead and say I don't have anything that advanced, not consistently anyway. But obviously, every master was better before the 2000s. Anything they do today that isn't SACD/ Proper Vinyl Restore obviously isn't as good as the old days. But are you saying the Thriller Special Edition/25/King of Pop stuff was actually good quality, master wise? Because what you're describing just makes me think of The Ultimate Collections awful compression.

yeah overtime they definitely got more crushed - the iTunes ultimate fans extra (not sure if it’s still available) was always the carousel I’ve ever listened to and after hearing the thriller40 version it was a clear night and day

I haven’t tried it but I assume even listening to an old YT rip of carousel or Can’t Get Out Of The Rain would be better

I have an image comparing the audio waves unable to post it but t40 is more compressed and thicc