Hot topic What unreleased demos and remixes do you think will be on Thriller 40 Disc 2?

[SmoothGangsta]

Having to wait a week and be told the next track is something we've had for years won't be great, but I will say I am excited for each week's news.

It's a good way imo to keep engaged until release.

Yeah, with the first reveal I think it is fun to discuss, I agree that momentum will probably slow down when we get to tracks we've already heard. If they put a few unexpected tracks in there I think it could be fun, though.

 

[MJ5]

It is on the official Michael Jackson website, under their News Section.

"MICHAEL JACKSON THRILLER 40 - BEHIND THE MASK" is the title of that news announcement.

I simply post it here then, so cool!

Michael Jackson Thriller 40 - Behind The Mask

After hearing the original instrumental recording of this song by the group Yellow Magic Orchestra, Michael reached out to them to ask if he could create a version of the song with lyrics. They readily agreed and Michael wrote the lyrics and recorded the demo which he played at a listening...

www.michaeljackson.com

 

[Nite Line]

On second thought, I am excited to hear the demo version of Behind The Mask. It’s one of my favourite posthumous songs, so it will be interesting to see how different it is from the Michael album version. I wonder if it sounds like the Greg Philligagnes version.

 

[filmandmusic]

On second thought, I am excited to hear the demo version of Behind The Mask. It’s one of my favourite posthumous songs, so it will be interesting to see how different it is from the Michael album version. I wonder if it sounds like the releases Greg Philligagnes version.

There seem to be a couple of years between Greg's version and Michael's original recording so it will sound a bit different I think.
The version on "Michael" leaves me a bit cold but I like the Greg's version (I refuse to type his full name because I will fuck it up lol)

 

[Richard76]

They could give us upgradet version of BTM.... (As far as i know Michael worked on this song for a long time... He planned to release it after TII tour....) Or at least mix his LAST changes into a new version... But they will give us 80s version....

 

[Dorian]

They could give us upgradet version of BTM.... (As far as i know Michael worked on this song for a long time... He planned to release it after TII tour....) Or at least mix his LAST changes into a new version... But they will give us 80s version....

Well it’s a thriller anniversary. Do you want the Darkchild remix of it on T40?

Also where did you get this info regarding BTM? From what I’ve read lately it seems that he was working on all his demos to be released after TII (behind the mask, Hollywood tonight, best of joy, blue Gangsta, etc)

 

[Richard76]

Well it’s a thriller anniversary. Do you want the Darkchild remix of it on T40?

Also where did you get this info regarding BTM? From what I’ve read lately it seems that he was working on all his demos to be released after TII (behind the mask, Hollywood tonight, best of joy, blue Gangsta, etc)

Yes... And? He was working on a lot of songs (actually Blue Gangsta is not one them). I would like to listen songs with his last changes...

 

[filmandmusic]

Michael probably revisited most of his unfinished tracks he ever worked on before each album, he seemed to be the kind of guy that never forgot any of his music. That way most songs can be connected to most other eras.

Sometimes I wonder if he revisited or reworked songs that had already made it on an album, perhaps he has dangerous versions of thriller songs, who knows…

 

[dethorro]

They could give us upgradet version of BTM.... (As far as i know Michael worked on this song for a long time... He planned to release it after TII tour....) Or at least mix his LAST changes into a new version... But they will give us 80s version....

I've never heard that before. It was always my understanding that Behind The Mask never made it to Westlake, and that it was never revisited after the Thriller sessions began.

I doubt Michael would have wanted to release his version after Greg Phillinganes and Eric Clapton had released theirs.

Furthermore, Behind The Mask was not written on Michael's to-do list in his bedroom, which contained songs he wanted to work on for his next album. I know the Estate has written that Michael worked on the song for a long time. However, that could be a justification for their decision to release it on Michael in 2010, when the whole idea was to release Michael's last songs, not some demos from the 1980s.

 

[Fuzball]

I've never heard that before. It was always my understanding that Behind The Mask never made it to Westlake, and that it was never revisited after the Thriller sessions began.

They've worked on BTM at Westlake at least until August of '82 before Q decided to replace the 4 weakest songs.





edit:
music sheets from the recording sessions

MICHAEL JACKSON UNPRODUCED SKETCH SCORES

A group of Michael Jackson scores for the following songs: Hot Street sketch score marked (Not Used) and dated 7-20-82 ; Slapstick sketch score marked D

www.julienslive.com

MICHAEL JACKSON THRILLER ALBUM SKETCH SCORES

A group of musical scores from Michael Jackson's Thriller album including Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' marked demo listing Michael Jackson as the p

www.julienslive.com

 

[dethorro]

They've worked on BTM at Westlake at least until August of '82 before Q decided to replace the 4 weakest songs with others.

That's Joe Vogel's version from the 2019 reissue of his book. In 2009, he wrote that Behind The Mask never made it to Westlake.

Mike Smallcombe writes in Making Michael that Carousel was replaced by Human Nature, and that Hot Street, Got The Hots and She's Trouble were replaced by P.Y.T, Beat It and The Lady In My Life. No mention of Behind The Mask.

Even though John McClain reworked it significantly, on the Michael album, there is no mention of Quincy producing Behind The Mask. For other tracks which were reworked, for example Chicago, the original producer is credited, in that case, Cory Rooney. Even if he didn't work on the remixed version.

Edit (just saw your edit lol):

edit:
music sheets from the recording sessions

MICHAEL JACKSON UNPRODUCED SKETCH SCORES

A group of Michael Jackson scores for the following songs: Hot Street sketch score marked (Not Used) and dated 7-20-82 ; Slapstick sketch score marked D

www.julienslive.com

MICHAEL JACKSON THRILLER ALBUM SKETCH SCORES

A group of musical scores from Michael Jackson's Thriller album including Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' marked demo listing Michael Jackson as the p

www.julienslive.com

I guess you might be right, then. Haha!

 

[Richard76]

I've never heard that before. It was always my understanding that Behind The Mask never made it to Westlake, and that it was never revisited after the Thriller sessions began.

I doubt Michael would have wanted to release his version after Greg Phillinganes and Eric Clapton had released theirs.

Furthermore, Behind The Mask was not written on Michael's to-do list in his bedroom, which contained songs he wanted to work on for his next album. I know the Estate has written that Michael worked on the song for a long time. However, that could be a justification for their decision to release it on Michael in 2010, when the whole idea was to release Michael's last songs, not some demos from the 1980s.

oh. you are right. i thought that song was on his list too...

 

[SmoothGangsta]

They've worked on BTM at Westlake at least until August of '82 before Q decided to replace the 4 weakest songs.





edit:
music sheets from the recording sessions

MICHAEL JACKSON UNPRODUCED SKETCH SCORES

A group of Michael Jackson scores for the following songs: Hot Street sketch score marked (Not Used) and dated 7-20-82 ; Slapstick sketch score marked D

www.julienslive.com

MICHAEL JACKSON THRILLER ALBUM SKETCH SCORES

A group of musical scores from Michael Jackson's Thriller album including Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' marked demo listing Michael Jackson as the p

www.julienslive.com

Stuff like that is super interesting!

 

[Derek1984]

There was a deposition in 1984 Denver? where MJ said he thought there was stronger material left off Thriller. Not sure what he was referring to. We know he thought highly of Hot Street so maybe that or there could be something else in the vaults...

 

[SmoothCriminal1995]

There was a deposition in 1984 Denver? where MJ said he thought there was stronger material left off Thriller. Not sure what he was referring to. We know he thought highly of Hot Street so maybe that or there could be something else in the vaults...

I don't know anything about this deposition. Is there anywhere we can read a transcript of it?
I love the 93 one and the Dangerous one in 94, more than I do most of Mike's interviews to be honest

 

[AlwaysThere]

I don't know anything about this deposition. Is there anywhere we can read a transcript of it?
I love the 93 one and the Dangerous one in 94, more than I do most of Mike's interviews to be honest

A full transcript isn’t available, unfortunately; portions of it were published in Jet magazine (available here).

 

[dethorro]

I don't know anything about this deposition. Is there anywhere we can read a transcript of it?
I love the 93 one and the Dangerous one in 94, more than I do most of Mike's interviews to be honest

Technically, it‘s not a deposition. It was his testimony in court, during the trial, similar to the Denver Trial from 1994.

There is a deposition from October 1989 from a similar case, involving The Girl Is Mine, which the lawyers kept referring to during the 93 Mexico deposition. There must be footage of that somewhere. Would be nice to see!

 

[Derek1984]

A full transcript isn’t available, unfortunately; portions of it were published in Jet magazine (available here).

OK, thanks for this. This is exactly what I was referring to and reveals so much information. Once of the best articles.

So confirmed, Paul McCartney had a film crew for TGIM sessions. What I would do to watch that! But we'll probably never get to see it.

Also, we have several unreleased songs confirmed by MJ himself. "Why Can't I Be" and "Thank You for Life". Also, The Toy (which we already knew about).

 

[AlwaysThere]

OK, thanks for this. This is exactly what I was referring to and reveals so much information. Once of the best articles.

So confirmed, Paul McCartney had a film crew for TGIM sessions. What I would do to watch that! But we'll probably never get to see it.

Also, we have several unreleased songs confirmed by MJ himself. "Why Can't I Be" and "Thank You for Life". Also, The Toy (which we already knew about).

If I’m not mistaken, Paul screened some of it during his 1990 (?) world tour.

Just saying, estate… Thriller 40 is a great opportunity to let us see some of it…

 

[Derek1984]

If I’m not mistaken, Paul screened some of it during his 1990 (?) world tour.

Just saying, estate… Thriller 40 is a great opportunity to let us see some of it…

Yeah, but I doubt it. Paul would need to give approval and the Estate would need to agree to pay him some kind of cut. Unfortunately, we know these things never work out.

 

[mj_frenzy]

Video footage from the 'The Girl Is Mine' recording sessions does exist, as confirmed also by Michael Jackson himself.

"We do have footage of it, but it's never been shown … Maybe one day we'll give you a sneak preview of it" (Michael Jackson)

Paul McCartney, on selected venues, indeed screened segments of it during 'The Paul McCartney World Tour' (1989-1990).

At one point, very few seconds of that footage (taken from that tour) were even available on YouTube.

 

[dethorro]

That's, unfortunately, all we have at the moment (better than nothing, I guess):

There are also two pictures of Michael arriving at Westlake on that day (probably April 16, 1982).

https://twitter.com/x/status/1341439953272791040

 

[jaorecords]

That short clip of video footage from "The Girl Is Mine" session was released on Paul's 1991 concert DVD GET BACK. It is very short and does not contain audio. It is just a quick shot shown during a montage.

 

[filmandmusic]

Nice looks great, Im glad it exists, there is hope for it to surface one day.

 

[wonderouzmj]

Nice looks great, Im glad it exists, there is hope for it to surface one day.

That footage has been in existence since 1981/82...its 2022 almost 2023...I highly doubt we'll ever see that footage unless after Paul passes & someone from his camp leaks it. Although I don't know how or when the footage of them at the ranch is but it's just them hanging out.

 

[dethorro]

That footage has been in existence since 1981/82...its 2022 almost 2023...I highly doubt we'll ever see that footage unless after Paul passes & someone from his camp leaks it. Although I don't know how or when the footage of them at the ranch is but it's just them hanging out.

The footage of them hanging out is from early/mid-1981. New footage comes out or leaks all the time. It's not impossible that we will see it in the not too distant future.

 

[Derek1984]

Do we have any info on the registered song Remember This Night? Might be from the McCartney sessions. Wondering if any vocals were ever recorded?

 

[Arif Emirhan Alkan]

THis was something that ı been thinking about too how many songs are there at least in a releasable state

 

[Pentum]

If The Estate and Sony wanted to "re-launch" Thriller again, to new generations and sort of bring it up again, they should for example, release a full music video of The Girl Is Mine with MJ and Paul in the studio singing. And that's just one idea for one song. Use unreleased footage. What's the point of it just laying around?

Would be so cool. Michael always so happy in the studio singing, it would bring a lot of positivity and "new" fans as everyone seems to want.

It's all about creativity. Not some random montage music video or something unrelated to MJ. They need real MJ footage to succeed for videos, not fan/other people stuff

So many opportunities. Release Thriller in 4K like the people want. Try imitate the launch of Thriller in the 80s but with new stuff

 

[SmoothGangsta]

So many opportunities.

Yes, the amount of so far unexplored stuff that could be done with just the slightest bit of creativity is kinda staggering.