suga10 said:

he's trying to get attention and distract people like i said

Michael Jackson 'Thriller' demos unearth lost gems
02:10 PM PT, Aug 4 2009

In the continuing rush by Michael Jackson fans to celebrate his musical legacy, sales of his most popular songs and albums have set records since his unexpected death in June.

But for the more hardcore historians, it’s meant digging deeper to find the most obscure and often unreleased material possible. In the case of the “The Unheard Music” blog, that search has uncovered a trove of studio demos for Jackson’s legendary “Thriller” album produced by Quincy Jones -- the famed recording that won the Grammy for album of the year.

While many longtime fans have been collecting these versions for years, for the rest of us it’s a fascinating and ultimately rewarding glimpse into the inner workings of a classic.

There are songs that didn’t make the final cut, like “Hot Street,” which houses a potentially great chorus amid dated synthesizer sounds, and a solid if relatively pedestrian ballad, “Carousel.” An early take on “Billie Jean” stands out due to a bleating keyboard bass line instead of the cool funk of the final version.

From there it dives into random outtakes and studio detritus, such as a vocal snippet from a song called “Groove of Midnight” that features Jackson and an engineer discussing his hair growth (Jackson shouts out Sebastian hair products). There’s even a clip of “Starlight,” which was the original title of “Thriller” before Jackson decided it needed to be something catchier.

But the real find here . . .

. . .is “Love Never Felt So Good,” a fantastic song that features a multi-tracked Jackson singing over just a piano and finger snaps. It’s a classic vocal performance, rich with his trademark emotion and percussive singing style. It’s truly baffling how this song was never developed further or simply released as is.

Altogether, this collection of demos is an intriguing glimpse into the blueprints of the bestselling album of all time.

-- Scott T. Sterling

Credit: Reed Saxon / Associated Press

Joe Jackson won't help raise son's children
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY (AP) – 1 hour ago

LOS ANGELES — Joe Jackson doesn't plan to help raise Michael Jackson's three children.

The Jackson family patriarch lives in Las Vegas and wrote in a statement filed in a Los Angeles court on Monday that he only occasionally visits the family home in the San Fernando Valley, north of downtown Los Angeles.

"I have had a close family relationship with these grandchildren since their birth," Jackson wrote in the declaration dated July 13. "I do visit the family residence from time to time and will continue to do so, however I will not be involved in raising the children."

His two-page declaration expresses support for his wife, Katherine, who on Monday was granted permanent custody of Michael Jackson's three children.

Joe Jackson wrote that his wife is "a wonderful caretaker and guardian."

A judge on Monday awarded Katherine Jackson a monthly stipend to help upkeep the family's home, where her three grandchildren are staying.

Court records released on Tuesday include forms signed by Jackson's two oldest children, Prince Michael, 12, and Paris-Michael, 11, consenting to their grandmother serving as their guardian. The documents do not include any statements by the children.

Michael Jackson named his mother as the person he wanted to raise his children if he died, according to a 2002 will.

Records filed on Monday also include consent by Jackson's ex-wife, Deborah Rowe, to Katherine Jackson's guardianship of Prince Michael and Paris-Michael, who she gave birth to while married to the King of Pop.

Under an agreement reached last week, Rowe will have some visits with the children that will be supervised by a child psychologist. A summary of the agreement filed with the court states that Rowe doesn't have any parental rights to Jackson's youngest son, Prince Michael II, also known as Blanket.

One of Katherine Jackson's attorneys, Diane Goodman, told a judge on Monday that Blanket, 7, was born to a surrogate who has no parental rights. The surrogate mother has never been identified.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
[Edited 8/4/09 18:06pm]

they need to leave joe alone..damn



such a cute lil boy


[Edited 8/4/09 18:46pm]

Timmy84 said:

"Love Never Felt So Good" was recorded in 1984, so I don't think that falls under a demo for Thriller

ViintageJunkiie said:

It's questionable on when MJ recorded it unless it was confirmed on his recording career catalog that he did record it in '84 tho I can believe it did. Anyway, Johnny Mathis ended up recording it. Michael and Paul Anka wrote it. I'm guessing it was Paul who re-wrote the lyrics tho.

Timmy84 said:

Yeah, but Johnny Mathis version does the original NO justice

ViintageJunkiie said:

He really doesn't.

Timmy84 said:

Nope, not at all! I'd love to hear the demos that Michael did for other people.

ViintageJunkiie said:

Speaking of, I wonder how the demos for "Muscles" and "Centipede" sounded like.

Jermaine Jackson will make another appearance on Larry Kind Live this Friday for the entire hour.

dreamfactory313 said:

Oh won't that be fun?

I heard Frank DiLeo said MJ was "ok" with the 50 shows because he wanted to top Prince... YEAH RIGHT! I thought Mike wanted to do 10. What gives? It's a he-say, he-say thing.

Timmy84 said:

Exactly! I would love to hear those demos. I also wanna hear his solo version of "Why"

ViintageJunkiie said:

Me too. I still don't get why he gave "Why" to 3T, that would've been a great addition to "HIStory", itself a good album.

Timmy84 said:

really? I don't think it would have fit with the feel of HIStory.

midiscover said:

Somebody needs to tell her you can't show your stomach after age 35 or after you have kids (I don't think she has any kids, btw), no matter how petite you are.

ViintageJunkiie said:

"You Are Not Alone" can be argued that it didn't fit the HIStory album either (and "Come Together"). Just saying.

graecophilos said:[quote]

novabrkr said:

i like them...

StillDirrty said:

Joan needs to sit her botoxed puffed face down.

Timmy84 said:

OMG, WHY was "Come Together" even on there? That was better off on "Bad" album where it SHOULD have been. I think they put that on HIStory because they wanted something that would rival with D.S

ViintageJunkiie said:

I have no clue WHY it was on there to begin with. Without it, "HIStory" would've definitely be seen as a concept album/song cycle (well that could've worked if Bruce Swedien had segued the songs on "HIStory" together). Matter of fact it would've been better putting "Ghosts", "Is It Scary", "On the Line", "Morphine" and "Superfly Sister" on "HIStory", maybe it wouldn't be a popular opinion but that definitely would've made the album more of a great album to me.

Timmy84 said:

Definitely! I would have loved to see an ACTUAL video to "Is It Scary". I can picture it now

tmo1965 said:

after her divorce she just busted out to dress how she wants ike mariah, i think it's because they were contolled for so many years that now they just what they want...it's kind of understandable but damn cover up a bit and get a stylist

stll love ya toy

ViintageJunkiie said:

I agree I can see the video too.

kibbles said:

Thanks for that input. I didn't know that stuff, but if it's true, it doesn't surprise me. F Paul McCartney.

And F JOAN RIVERS!!! She said it was good that Michael died because now she can let her grandson out. Karma is a biotch is all I have to say.

I wish Larry King would ask better questions sometimes.Like when Frank Dileo said that the kids were talented I wanted him to inquire more.

Timmy84 said:

Why is this news? These are all old and have been out there for quite some time.

Ellie said:

Probably new to the majority of the general public.

yall need to watch this... i love everything about this performance

-the color
-the afros
-the dancing