daPrettyman said:

Timmy84 said:

Michael's sold by word of mouth of how brilliant the videos/the album in general was... plus radio played more than anything. Michael being OFF TV did real wonders.

I wouldn't say it was all word of mouth. I feel that Thriller's success was mostly based on MTV airplay. Also, radio played the hell out of every track on the album, with or without singles. I remember "Lady In My Life" and "PYT" getting LOTS of airplay in my area not long after the album's release.

I think it was a mixture of things. MTV (and BET) played a part in the success. It was also the accessibility of the material. There's an article from December 1982 about Beat It gaining airplay on pop and rock stations along with Billie Jean gaining traction, and this was a month before Billie Jean was even released

Swa said:

Prince is gonna be a handsome man when he grows up. He also looks like he's gonna be completely out of control too though, lol.

Swa said:

THRILLER SINGLES

This is what frustrated me during the Thriller and Bad era. The single choices were on point but they offered nothing new to people who already had the album - no b-sides or remixes. Of course I bought every one as they came out but I used to get annoyed that there wasn't anything new on them for the most part - an occassional instrumental of Thriller, but never anything unreleased. That said though - it was a semi-smart move - if I had heard Carousel or Slapstick as a b-side I would have been like, 'really? You were considering this?'

At least by the time Bad came around they started doing extended mixes.

I know what you mean. I think there were a few exteneded mixes (WBSS and Billie Jean come to mind), but for the most part, NOTHING. I guess MJ didn't care because he was banking and didn't want to put the effort in mixing the finished products.

Swa said:

Michael Jackson's friend and the show's choreographer Travis Payne also took to the red carpet

Man, I am LOVING this outfit, lol. And Travis is showing you how it's worn too!

daPrettyman said:

Swa said:

THRILLER SINGLES

This is what frustrated me during the Thriller and Bad era. The single choices were on point but they offered nothing new to people who already had the album - no b-sides or remixes. Of course I bought every one as they came out but I used to get annoyed that there wasn't anything new on them for the most part - an occassional instrumental of Thriller, but never anything unreleased. That said though - it was a semi-smart move - if I had heard Carousel or Slapstick as a b-side I would have been like, 'really? You were considering this?'

At least by the time Bad came around they started doing extended mixes.

I know what you mean. I think there were a few exteneded mixes (WBSS and Billie Jean come to mind), but for the most part, NOTHING. I guess MJ didn't care because he was banking and didn't want to put the effort in mixing the finished products.

I don't think he knew how BIG it would get, I mean I know he mentioned it but it seemed he was more about making singles profitable for radio and not just disk jockeys. If he had been that affront with disk jockeys, imagine the 12' mix of "Thriller"!

daPrettyman said:

Swa said:

THRILLER SINGLES

This is what frustrated me during the Thriller and Bad era. The single choices were on point but they offered nothing new to people who already had the album - no b-sides or remixes. Of course I bought every one as they came out but I used to get annoyed that there wasn't anything new on them for the most part - an occassional instrumental of Thriller, but never anything unreleased. That said though - it was a semi-smart move - if I had heard Carousel or Slapstick as a b-side I would have been like, 'really? You were considering this?'

At least by the time Bad came around they started doing extended mixes.

I know what you mean. I think there were a few exteneded mixes (WBSS and Billie Jean come to mind), but for the most part, NOTHING. I guess MJ didn't care because he was banking and didn't want to put the effort in mixing the finished products.

Michael and felt that the singles should stand on their own and didn't include new songs, which I think was wrong in the long run although all the singles were hits

There was an extended version of Beat It but it was only released in certain areas on 12'

bboy87 said:

daPrettyman said:

I know what you mean. I think there were a few exteneded mixes (WBSS and Billie Jean come to mind), but for the most part, NOTHING. I guess MJ didn't care because he was banking and didn't want to put the effort in mixing the finished products.

Michael and felt that the singles should stand on their own and didn't include new songs, which I think was wrong in the long run although all the singles were hits

There was an extended version of Beat It but it was only released in certain areas on 12'

I'm going to have 2 hunt that one down. Thanx 4 the info.

daPrettyman said:

bboy87 said:

Michael and felt that the singles should stand on their own and didn't include new songs, which I think was wrong in the long run although all the singles were hits

There was an extended version of Beat It but it was only released in certain areas on 12'

I'm going to have 2 hunt that one down. Thanx 4 the info.

You don't have to

PDogz said:

Swa said:

Prince is gonna be a handsome man when he grows up. He also looks like he's gonna be completely out of control too though, lol.

Nah, I think he'll be alright. Blanket's gonna be a lady killer though...

Timmy84 said:

daPrettyman said:

I know what you mean. I think there were a few exteneded mixes (WBSS and Billie Jean come to mind), but for the most part, NOTHING. I guess MJ didn't care because he was banking and didn't want to put the effort in mixing the finished products.

I don't think he knew how BIG it would get, I mean I know he mentioned it but it seemed he was more about making singles profitable for radio and not just disk jockeys. If he had been that affront with disk jockeys, imagine the 12' mix of "Thriller"!

Thriller as a single was released a year after the album came out - they had produced a 12" version of Billie Jean (which was basically the original take for the album before it got edited), so they could have done something by the time Thriller was released as a single.

I still remember doing my own edits between the album cut and instrumental back in the day on vinyl and cassette, lol.

bboy87 said:

daPrettyman said:

I know what you mean. I think there were a few exteneded mixes (WBSS and Billie Jean come to mind), but for the most part, NOTHING. I guess MJ didn't care because he was banking and didn't want to put the effort in mixing the finished products.

Michael and felt that the singles should stand on their own and didn't include new songs, which I think was wrong in the long run although all the singles were hits

There was an extended version of Beat It but it was only released in certain areas on 12'

Obviously not here in Australia - I still have all the original releases from back then. Never heard it.

Now I need to.

By BENJY EISEN

December 6, 2011 11:15 AM ET

Tito Jackson and Jackie Jackson appear at Michael Jackson Fan Fest prior to the Las Vegas premiere of Michael Jackson 'The Immortal' World Tour by Cirque du Soleil at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino

Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Cirque du Soleil

Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson the Immortal World Tour opened in Las Vegas this past weekend, where it will run through December 27th before traveling the world. In conjunction with the premiere of the Cirque show, a memorabilia exhibit called Michael Jackson Fan Fest opened at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Resort (now through December 14th).

To celebrate the fanfare, Jackson brothers Tito and Jackie attended both openings, along with their mother, Katherine, Michael’s children, and family friends including producer Berry Gordy and "Thriller" director John Landis. Rolling Stone caught up with the Jackson brothers to get their take on the celebrity-filled affair.

What's been the most emotional part of all of this for you?
Tito: It's all emotional, I must say to you, because my brother's my brother. I don't look at him through a fan's eye. I look at him through a brother's eye. At Fan Fest, just being around his clothing and all that – it's emotional. I mean, they’re beautiful costumes and some of them I’ve seen him wear before. Just to know that he actually wore these things and these were his belongings but he's not in them anymore – it's emotional.

They were playing "I Want You Back" on the intercom and all of the sudden here's Mr. Berry Gordy standing next door to me, right there, and it's like full circle. We both looked at each other and got a little teary eyed and I said, "Boss, do you remember those days?" He said, "How could I forget? Thank you for reminding me."

Those were beautiful times in our life. We were young, we were kids, we were full of energy, everything was polished, we were ready to go and we did it like that – five boys from Gary, Indiana.

Jackie: Hearing "ABC" and "I Want You Back" and all those songs that we did together as a group – it was so emotional then.

The wonderful thing about the Immortal show is that Cirque didn't try to find someone to impersonate Michael; they just try to recreate his essence. Is this it, in terms of large scale productions, for Michael Jackson?
Jackie: I wouldn't say no – you never know what's going to happen next. But Cirque is an icon; so is Michael Jackson. So you put the two together like this, people expect to see something fantastic. And it is. It's such a great show. It's very entertaining.

Tito: I feel that as far as Michael's legend, there will be even greater things coming in the future for Michael. Because I feel that he was more than just a performer – he was a humanitarian. And that part of his life was most important for me, because he really cared about our world and our society and feeding hunger and making this world a better place. So with that being said, I feel that that overrides...I would like for him to be remembered in those aspects as well as his music.

What about the Jackson brothers? Do you guys ever plan on doing something new, again?
Jackie: Oh, there's going to be a lot of great things in the future. We're working on some things right now. I can't say what though, just now.

How involved were you with the Immortal production?
Jackie: From the very beginning, I was there helping them put things together and they brought me down before the show came out and they did a whole run through for me and I was with the whole team. I was just so happy to help them and they were so excited just to meet me; it brought back tears in my eyes.

To everybody else, Michael is an icon and a legend. But, to you two, he's your brother. So what do you think about something like Fan Fest, where they display some of his personal belongings?
Tito: Well, you know, first of all, to come here and to see how many people love my brother, and to be around his fans – which are Jacksons fans as well – it makes you feel good. It makes you feel that you're part of Michael and that you're being around what he loved. So I actually get a good feeling when I'm around Michael's belongings and his fans and that whole thing. It makes you feel good. It makes you feel like my brother's still alive – it’s a good feeling.

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.c...z1foBf7vrP

Totally feelin' this right now...

ThruTheEyesOfWonder said:

Totally feelin' this right now...

one of my favorite outtakes from the Dangerous session. Didn't fit the mood of the album but would've made a nice b-side to Black or White

Timmy84 said:

bboy87 said:

Another leak

A unreleased version of 2000 Watts surfaced. It's the same song but without the vocoder so Michael's voice isn't as low as in the album version

Interesting... someone said that they didn't think Michael's voice was really that low on the track, guess this confirms it.

Michael could hit the low f (bass range) so those notes in 2000 watts with or without effect, he could hit. Believe me on this Brotha Jackson (you know now who it is lol)

^ mistermaxx??????????

I love the extended Billie Jean mix, I have the LP single with it, and it's on the MJ-12 inch mixes CD which has 5 tracks including it. Would love to hear the Beat It one.

alphastreet said:

^ mistermaxx??????????

I love the extended Billie Jean mix, I have the LP single with it, and it's on the MJ-12 inch mixes CD which has 5 tracks including it. Would love to hear the Beat It one.

No not maxxx...Lol

But couldve.

I need money and I love cheese

ThruTheEyesOfWonder said:

PDogz said:

Prince is gonna be a handsome man when he grows up. He also looks like he's gonna be completely out of control too though, lol.

Nah, I think he'll be alright. Blanket's gonna be a lady killer though...

I also think Prince'll be fine. He seems smart and well-spoken.

ThruTheEyesOfWonder said:

Totally feelin' this right now...

I LOVE this song... I use to play this non stop ALL the time.

bboy87 said:

So...for those who don't know.....

the full version of Slapstick surfaced yesterday

Still haven't heard any of those leaks.

Wow Blanket sounds like little MJ!!!

alphastreet said:

Wow Blanket sounds like little MJ!!!

He does, doesn't he. I've noticed first in the Gary interview.

Because I just had to....

[img:$uid]http://gifsoup..../img:$uid] GIFSoup

I love this child. : I love'em all...

dag said:

alphastreet said:

Wow Blanket sounds like little MJ!!!

He does, doesn't he. I've noticed first in the Gary interview.

yeah that's the one I thought of

mjscarousal said:

ThruTheEyesOfWonder said:

Totally feelin' this right now...

I LOVE this song... I use to play this non stop ALL the time.

Without doubt one of the best demos that was officially released - so dark and brooding. Be good to see where he would have taken it and how he would have fleshed out the lyrics - considering all that was going on with his family at the time... lol.

I'm thinking Dangerous may have been rushed. Parts of it sounded like it wasn't ready on Michaeltime.

Michaeltime = "It ain't good until I say it is... fuck you."

PDogz said:

Swa said:

Prince is gonna be a handsome man when he grows up. He also looks like he's gonna be completely out of control too though, lol.

I'm not gonna try to prejudge Prince like I almost about prejudge Paris on how they're gonna be once they reach 21... hopefully if anything their grandmother will continue to lead them in the direction - if not the same - that their father did. Same with Blanket.

Timmy84 said:

I'm thinking Dangerous may have been rushed. Parts of it sounded like it wasn't ready on Michaeltime.

Michaeltime = "It ain't good until I say it is... fuck you."

Why you think it sound rushed? I think it came out great...