If you clicked on this topic then you were probably wondering what I'm talking about. Before the musical marriage with Q that produced Off The Wall, Thriller, and Bad, Michael had a few solo albums back at Motown. One of these was the album Forever, Michael. This album debuted in 1975 around the same time as Dancing Machine. I have this album in my record collection. Actually it was an accident that I got this rare album. Back in 1979, this is when Off The Wall debuted, I told my mother I wanted Santa Clause to bring me Michael's album for Christmas that year. Well he did but not OTW. I got instead Forever, Michael. An album I really knew anything about and I was only 4 years old when it originally came out. But I did my research and found out this LP did produce a hit for Mike called "Just A Little Bit Of You" which reached #4 on the R&B charts and #23 on pop. It also carries a song called "Dear Michael" which Kim Fields remade on her debut solo album back in '84. Anyway, in disappointment I listened to the record anyway and got used to it and enjoyed it. It had catchy tunes and some songs stood out for me like "Cinderella Stay Awhile" and "We're Almost There". If anyone knows of this album or has it I will like to know your opinion about it. It's not a definitive Michael album but I guess it was good for its time. And yes, I did get the OTW Lp.

I don't have the album but it trips me out because Santa Clause bought you the album. He used to bring me clothes with brand names on them and I always wondered how the elves made the clothes since they had that brand name on them. Maybe the elves had a partnership with Levi's and I guess Michael Jackson went to The North Pole that year and recorded his album.

I used to carry that record to school everyday..I dont think it is "Forgotten" to real J5 lovers...
Now if you Really want to talk about forgotten albums here's one..
"JOYFUL JUKEBOX MUSIC"

Forever, Michael is not a forgotten album. Most fans recognise it as probably his best album with Motown (a bit of dispute between Forever and Got To Be There). Prince fans have been telling me for years that MJ fans are so shallow because they haven't even heard of Forever, Michael and don't even think twice about his pre Off The Wall career. Wrong. Most fans have Forever, Michael and most fans love it.

What will become of the shelved Stevie Wonder-produced album? I wanna know. There was some heavy talk about it back in the day but somehow it fell between the cracks.

prettymansson said:

If I remember correctly,this album (released in 1975) bombed big time and the guys angrily left Motown,signing to Epic where they were paired with producers Gamble and Huff.It seems that,after their early 70s hits,Motown didn't treat them like a priority anymore.

SoulAlive said:

'Cos it's shit.

Cloudbuster said:

The brothers thought so too I can't recall what it sounds like...what were the singles?

SoulAlive said:

I believe there weren't any singles. I wonder why.

Cloudbuster said:

is "All I Do Is Think Of You" on this album?

SoulAlive said:

I think that's on Moving Violation.

SoulAlive said:

Nah, it's on Moving Violation.

prettymansson said:

ahh...so that's probably why it's such a lousy album it contains weak, leftover tracks that otherwise wouldn't have appeared on their albums.

Motown was notorious for doing this.Whenever one of their artists would leave the label,they would retaliate by throwing together a collection of old,leftover tracks and usually releasing it at the same time the artist was releasing a new album for a rival label (which confused record-buyers).

I don't have this album, but a large number of these songs is on the Two-disc Michael Jackson Motown Anthology and I love them!!! Cinderella Stay Awhile is my jam!!!!! I've already decided that when I finally write that novel I've planning on since way back when Jesus left that I'm going to get permission to have this as the title of my book!
Just a Little Bit of You and We're Almost There are cool tracks. But I much prefer
One Day in Your Life, Take Me Back and Dear Michael. His voice was strong and reflective on this album that it just makes your heart melt. It was a preview of the Mike to come.
[Edited 9/19/07 9:24am]

Lovesexy82 said:

I can't find this album anywhere in San Francisco. It's long out of print and if I do find it, God knows how much they'll want me to pay for it.

I was hoping this was a Forever Michael thread!



I love these songs!

I am TotalAlisa for this MJ album!

Cloudbuster said:

This was just an album of random outtakes and shit.

Cloudbuster said:

Was "We are Here To Entertain You" on this album, because I love that song.

prettymansson said:

Joyful Jukebox Music was actually released in 1976 after the brother had already left Motown It actually came out aweek or two before their CBS debut appeared in stores. It was no singles or even promtion for this release it just appeared. This album included shelced tracks the brothers had recored including their last track ever recored for Motown "We're Gonna Change Our Style"


Motown would do this throughout the years releasing "Boogie" right after Destiny hit stores. The first singles for Destiny was titled "Blame it on the Boogie," so this was to confusse fans.

DarlingDiana said:

Are you sure about that? I know alot of fans have never heard the album. Matter of fact, many fans don't even count the Motown albums as part of his solo discography

Here is a fan made video of "We're Here To Entertain You":
http://www.youtube.com/wa...NARjlWnL7Q

One Day In Your Life(from Soul Train 1975):
http://www.youtube.com/wa...QGrEjfz6v8

whatsgoingon said:

yes

LoDog said:

I don't consider that album as 'rare'. Every Michael Jackson-Fan I know has that record. It was his 4th solo album.

It sold 1,7 million copies worldwide:

http://www.mjjcharts.com/...Motown.htm

I love almost every song on that record, because Michaels voice is just perfect on it.

Invincible1958 said:

it's pretty rare because it's basically out of print, same with Music and Me

bboy87 said:

Do you know if the Stevie Wonder-produced album is ever going to be released?

Rodya24 said:

The only possible way that project will get released is Motown started raiding their vaults, and if Michael released his new album. Whenever Michael releases a new album, Motown releases their own version When word got out Bad was coming out in late 1986, Motown released Looking Back At Yesterday. When he released the 2 CD HIStory, they released the 2 CD Anthology. In 2001, Michael released the 2001 reissues, Motown released the J5 reissues.....you get the point. It may also take fans letting them know they want unreleased material...get the hint?

Here is some info on Forever Michael:

Released in 1975. Peaked at #101 on the Billboard 200 and #10 on the R&B charts, Didn't chart in the UK.

3 singles:
We're Almost There(Peaked at #54 on the Hot 100 and #7 on the R&B chart)
One Day In Your Life(not released in the US. Did not chart in the UK)
Just A Little Bit Of You(#23 on the Hot 100 and #4 on the R&B chart. Did not chart in the UK)

6 years later, though, Motown released the compilation One Day In Your Life that charted at #29 in the UK. The title track, which originally flopped in the UK, peaked #1. We're Almost There also charted at #46 in the UK around that time.

'Forever Michael' has become difficult to get on cd just like 'Get It Together' here in the UK. But its not as rare as 'Joyful Jukebox Music' and 'Boogie'.
There are some really good songs on Joyful Jukebox Music including - 'We're Here to Entertain You' and 'Make Tonight All Mine'. As for Boogie the top songs on there are 'I Was Made To Love Her' and 'Love's Gone Bad'.

As for 'Forever Michael', that cd is full of quality songs no doubt about that.
'Farewell My Summer Love' is the true forgotten / lost album, very difficult to get.

prettymansson said:

This was re-issued on hip-o select's site with the album "Boogie".


From Hip-o Select's Website:

With the release of this collection, the Jackson 5 album catalog on CD is finally complete. Two hard-to-find albums return, with a bonus track to boot!


After the J5’s explosive success at Motown, the group left to join Epic Records in 1975. When their new label debuted The Jacksons, Motown did what any smart label would: issue tracks from the vaults. Joyful Jukebox Music came out in 1976. The bulk of Joyful’s tracks were cut in 1972-1973, around the Skywriter and Get It Together sessions.



In 1979, the Jacksons jumped back into the Top 10 with Destiny, just as Michael was beginning his ascent to solo super-stardom with Off TheWall. Motown again dipped into its archive and issued Boogie on its Natural Resources label. J5 fans were ecstatic - the seven unreleased tracks weren’t throwaways, but great finds. It was only out in the market for a very brief window before being withdrawn.



This disc closes with a previously unheard, uncut version of “Hum Along And Dance.” Originally an 8:36 album track from Get It Together, “Hum” has been restored to its original near-15 minute length.



Both Boogie and Joyful Jukebox Music have long been highly sought by collectors, and we’re elated to have them available for the first time on CD. No mere sweeping of the dusty corners of the vaults, this.


Track List:
Disc 01
1. Joyful Jukebox Music
2. Window Shopping
3. You're My Best Friend, My Love
4. Love Is The Thing You Need
5. The Eternal Light
6. Pride And Joy
7. Through Thick And Thin
8. We're Here To Entertain You
9. Make Tonight All Mine
10. We're Gonna Change Our Style
11. Love's Gone Bad
12. I Ain't Gonna Eat My Heart Out Anymore
13. ABC
14. I Was Made To Love Her
15. One Day I'll Marry You
16. Never Can Say Goodbye
17. Oh, I've Been Bless'd
18. Penny Arcade
19. Just Because I Love You
20. Dancing Machine
21. Hum Along And Dance (Uncut) [previously unreleased]
[Edited 9/19/07 17:50pm]