CrabalockerFishwife said:

godyssey said:

Aside from clean rappers like Heavy D, I didn't like Michael using or working with rappers and I hated all of the collaborations on the Thriller anniversary release. Didn't even buy it.

I felt that Michael was so far above most everyone else. It was such a disappointment to have them on his recordings imo. I only wanted to hear him or unknowns (to me) like Siedah Garret at the time of their duet. I think everyone else not only destroyed the record, but they tainted his image. Again, imo.

Agree, except I didn't like him working with any rappers.. at all.

But the thing I never understood about him and Prince is why they both used unknown rappers.. most MJ and Prince fans don't like rap, so they weren't pleasing their fan base by doing it; and if they were trying to expand their fan base, then why use unknown rappers like the guys on "Black or White", "Invincible", "Heartbreaker".. it never made sense to me. The raps on "Heartbreaker" and "Invincible" nearly ruin those songs for me.

The rap on "Black or White" is performed by none other than co-producer and songwriter on the song, Bill Bottrell. He had written the rap part and did a guide vocal for "a real rapper" to follow. Michael liked it so much that he decided Bill's guide should be kept on the song. So, he's not an unknown rapper, because he's not actually a rapper at all!

As for "Invincible" and "Heartbreaker", that guy is named Fats and he was a protege of Rodney Jerkins, who produced the songs. I guess Rodney put him on the songs to give him some shine and MJ was fine with that.

As for Prince, most of the time it was the same deal - people he was trying to give an opportunity to. Tony M, TC Ellis, etc.

Bill is credited as "L.T.B." in the "Black or White" single.

Militant said:

As for "Invincible" and "Heartbreaker", that guy is named Fats and he was a protege of Rodney Jerkins, who produced the songs. I guess Rodney put him on the songs to give him some shine and MJ was fine with that.

As for Prince, most of the time it was the same deal - people he was trying to give an opportunity to. Tony M, TC Ellis, etc.

A bit more about Fats, MJ wanted an unknown rapper for the tracks "Heartbreaker" and "Invincible" so enter Fats. Also, if anyone cares, Fats still makes music and is still rapping.

[Edited 8/24/12 21:44pm]

My book review of the book "Michael Jackson Treasures"

Next book I'm reviewing is "Michael Jackson: American Master"

Slightly off topis question, I remember reading either here or on another board MJ saying about his family something like "tight knit" or what. What does it mean?

dag said:

Slightly off topic question, I remember reading either here or on another board MJ saying about his family something like "tight knit" or what. What does it mean?

"Tight-knit my ass" - Michael Jackson, http://www.youtube.com/wa...AzarSbfPEk.

Tight-knit more or less means they were a close family.

[Edited 8/25/12 1:01am]

CrabalockerFishwife said:

dag said:

Slightly off topic question, I remember reading either here or on another board MJ saying about his family something like "tight knit" or what. What does it mean?

"Tight-knit my ass" - Michael Jackson, http://www.youtube.com/wa...AzarSbfPEk.

Tight-knit more or less means they were a close family.

[Edited 8/25/12 1:01am]

Thanks.

http://hitsdailydoub...s/rumormill.cgi

DOUBLE-DIP SUPER TUESDAY UPDATE: Here are the latest label forecasts on some of the Sept. 18 and Sept. 25 releases (see 8/23 item below): G.O.O.D. Music compilation 200k, Pink 200k, The Killers 125k, Carly Rae Jepsen 100k, No Doubt 175k and Michael Jackson 150k. In other news, Diana Krall and the Barbra Streisand CD move to Oct. 2 (Columbia is releasing the LP on Sept. 25 to make it eligible for Grammy consideration), while Ne-Yo moves to Nov. 6. Expect some of the forecasts to change as we get closer to release. You can also expect some label estimates to be over-projected and/or very bullish, which could lead to some major disappointments for certain key artists and top label execs, but par for the course heading into Q4. (8/24a)

CrabalockerFishwife said:

godyssey said:

Aside from clean rappers like Heavy D, I didn't like Michael using or working with rappers and I hated all of the collaborations on the Thriller anniversary release. Didn't even buy it.

I felt that Michael was so far above most everyone else. It was such a disappointment to have them on his recordings imo. I only wanted to hear him or unknowns (to me) like Siedah Garret at the time of their duet. I think everyone else not only destroyed the record, but they tainted his image. Again, imo.

Agree, except I didn't like him working with any rappers.. at all.

But the thing I never understood about him and Prince is why they both used unknown rappers.. most MJ and Prince fans don't like rap, so they weren't pleasing their fan base by doing it; and if they were trying to expand their fan base, then why use unknown rappers like the guys on "Black or White", "Invincible", "Heartbreaker".. it never made sense to me. The raps on "Heartbreaker" and "Invincible" nearly ruin those songs for me.

I would rather he left the rapping off of his songs as well. However since he was steadfast in going down that road, I was just saying that I'd rather him at least use someone with a good image or an unknown.

Why he liked adding rappers is curious to me. I don't know if he actually thought that it enhanced his music or if he thought that it pleased his fans?

Mystery About Unreleased Michael Jackson Songs from “Bad” Anniversary Album

EXCLUSIVE There are some mysteries about a couple of unreleased tracks including in the upcoming Michael Jackson “Bad25″ album. Two of the eight tracks– which are really wonderful–are unknown entirely to the engineers who worked on “Bad” in 1986. Those tracks are a lovely ballad called “I’m So Blue” and a slice of funk called “Song Groove (aka Abortion Papers).”

Neither Bruce Swedien nor Bill Bottrell has any memory of them. I played the songs for each of them this weekend, and came up with no answers. “Michael must have gotten out and recorded with someone else,” Bottrell told me.

But don’t worry–they are completely by Michael Jackson. They’re the genuine article.

The anniversary boxed set of the huge-selling 1987 album contains quite a few surprises. Eight of them, actually. There are eight unreleased tracks that didn’t make it onto the “Bad” album. Surprisingly, they’ve remained in the vaults at Sony all this time. One of them, called “Don’t Be Messin’ Around,” was released earlier this summer as the “B” side of a re-released single on “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” from Wal-Mart. I have no idea why Sony did that, since it seemed a squandered opportunity.

Now these eight tracks are coming as a separate CD inside “Bad25,” which contains four discs. The first disc is a remastered version of the original album. The second disc has these eight songs. The third disc is a live CD from a concert Michael performed on July 16, 1988 at Wembley Stadium in London. The fourth disc is a DVD of live performances from that time. Target customers get a disc of the original music videos from “Bad.” What’s unclear is what happens to a Spike Lee documentary about the making of “Bad,” which should have footage from the recording sessions with Quincy Jones, engineer Bruce Swedien, and manager mastermind Frank DiLeo.

“Bad25″ will be released on September 18th.

But it’s the eight songs that are going to make fans very, very happy. A couple of them are known, like “Don’t Be Messin’ Around” and . But the others are real surprises, especially a track called “Streetwalker.” It the vague feel of “The Way You Make Me Feel” in that it’s a Motown oriented shuffle. But it’s also a dynamite track. The version on “Bad25″ was mixed by Bottrell, but there are others by Swedien. Jackson was never satisfied with any of them. “Streetwalker” will be known to players of the video game “The Michael Jackson Experience.” But it’s also a hit. We’re going to be hearing ir on the radio– a lot. (“Streetwalker” and another track, “Fly Away,” were first included in the “Bad” re-release back in 2001.)

The others are all gems. “I’m So Blue” is beautiful ballad, with a vocal by Michael that recalls his best work. If Sony were smart, they’d release it as their first single from this set. It also has a harmonica solo that either is by Stevie Wonder or sounds just like him. The other tracks– “Al Capone,” “Free,” “Fly Away”– are also excellent.

There are reasons the songs didn’t make the final album.

“Price of Fame” is a mixture of a “Billie Jean” outtake, musically, combined with the Police’s “Spirits in the Material World.” Michael’s vocal on this track sometimes dips into his “real” voice–a lower register–than his stage falsetto and whisper that he perfected. “Free” is just another breezy ballad, and “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” was already on the album, and a hit. “Al Capone” is a different take on the hit, “Smooth Criminal.”

The strangest of the eight songs is titled “Song Groove (aka Abortion Papers).” Swedien doesn’t remember this track. Neither does Bottrell. It’s got a killer rhythm track and a very catchy hook and melody. But the lyrics–and I’m not sure whether Michael wrote them–are like the real flip side of “Billie Jean.” He sings “Those abortion papers/think about signing your name…”

I don’t know if Sony had producers fiddle with these tracks to make them sound more modern. They could very well have been augmented. But I hope the Jackson fans don’t try to destroy them the way they did the songs on the “Michael” album. Like those tracks, these are completely real, they’re Michael Jackson’s vocals, and they’re a wonderful reminder of the King of Pop at his zenith.

http://www.showbiz411.com...sary-album

NaughtyKitty said:

But the others are real surprises, especially a track called “Streetwalker.”

NaughtyKitty said:

Like those tracks, these are completely real, they’re Michael Jackson’s vocals, and they’re a wonderful reminder of the King of Pop at his zenith.

NaughtyKitty said:

I don’t know if Sony had producers fiddle with these tracks to make them sound more modern. They could very well have been augmented. But I hope the Jackson fans don’t try to destroy them the way they did the songs on the “Michael” album. Like those tracks, these are completely real, they’re Michael Jackson’s vocals, and they’re a wonderful reminder of the King of Pop at his zenith.

Oh please, they're still standing their ground on the cascio tracks.

smoothcriminal12 said:

NaughtyKitty said:

But the others are real surprises, especially a track called “Streetwalker.”

NaughtyKitty said:

Mystery About Unreleased Michael Jackson Songs from “Bad” Anniversary Album

EXCLUSIVE There are some mysteries about a couple of unreleased tracks including in the upcoming Michael Jackson “Bad25″ album. Two of the eight tracks– which are really wonderful–are unknown entirely to the engineers who worked on “Bad” in 1986. Those tracks are a lovely ballad called “I’m So Blue” and a slice of funk called “Song Groove (aka Abortion Papers).”

Neither Bruce Swedien nor Bill Bottrell has any memory of them. I played the songs for each of them this weekend, and came up with no answers. “Michael must have gotten out and recorded with someone else,” Bottrell told me.

But don’t worry–they are completely by Michael Jackson. They’re the genuine article.

The anniversary boxed set of the huge-selling 1987 album contains quite a few surprises. Eight of them, actually. There are eight unreleased tracks that didn’t make it onto the “Bad” album. Surprisingly, they’ve remained in the vaults at Sony all this time. One of them, called “Don’t Be Messin’ Around,” was released earlier this summer as the “B” side of a re-released single on “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” from Wal-Mart. I have no idea why Sony did that, since it seemed a squandered opportunity.

Now these eight tracks are coming as a separate CD inside “Bad25,” which contains four discs. The first disc is a remastered version of the original album. The second disc has these eight songs. The third disc is a live CD from a concert Michael performed on July 16, 1988 at Wembley Stadium in London. The fourth disc is a DVD of live performances from that time. Target customers get a disc of the original music videos from “Bad.” What’s unclear is what happens to a Spike Lee documentary about the making of “Bad,” which should have footage from the recording sessions with Quincy Jones, engineer Bruce Swedien, and manager mastermind Frank DiLeo.

“Bad25″ will be released on September 18th.

But it’s the eight songs that are going to make fans very, very happy. A couple of them are known, like “Don’t Be Messin’ Around” and . But the others are real surprises, especially a track called “Streetwalker.” It the vague feel of “The Way You Make Me Feel” in that it’s a Motown oriented shuffle. But it’s also a dynamite track. The version on “Bad25″ was mixed by Bottrell, but there are others by Swedien. Jackson was never satisfied with any of them. “Streetwalker” will be known to players of the video game “The Michael Jackson Experience.” But it’s also a hit. We’re going to be hearing ir on the radio– a lot. (“Streetwalker” and another track, “Fly Away,” were first included in the “Bad” re-release back in 2001.)

The others are all gems. “I’m So Blue” is beautiful ballad, with a vocal by Michael that recalls his best work. If Sony were smart, they’d release it as their first single from this set. It also has a harmonica solo that either is by Stevie Wonder or sounds just like him. The other tracks– “Al Capone,” “Free,” “Fly Away”– are also excellent.

There are reasons the songs didn’t make the final album.

“Price of Fame” is a mixture of a “Billie Jean” outtake, musically, combined with the Police’s “Spirits in the Material World.” Michael’s vocal on this track sometimes dips into his “real” voice–a lower register–than his stage falsetto and whisper that he perfected. “Free” is just another breezy ballad, and “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” was already on the album, and a hit. “Al Capone” is a different take on the hit, “Smooth Criminal.”

The strangest of the eight songs is titled “Song Groove (aka Abortion Papers).” Swedien doesn’t remember this track. Neither does Bottrell. It’s got a killer rhythm track and a very catchy hook and melody. But the lyrics–and I’m not sure whether Michael wrote them–are like the real flip side of “Billie Jean.” He sings “Those abortion papers/think about signing your name…”

I don’t know if Sony had producers fiddle with these tracks to make them sound more modern. They could very well have been augmented. But I hope the Jackson fans don’t try to destroy them the way they did the songs on the “Michael” album. Like those tracks, these are completely real, they’re Michael Jackson’s vocals, and they’re a wonderful reminder of the King of Pop at his zenith.

http://www.showbiz411.com...sary-album

i'm really scared.....

worked with someone else? how come they don't know who ?

the fans destroyed the songs on the michael album ? shut up already , lets pray that those are not another fake fraudcascios songs .............

[Edited 8/27/12 18:33pm]

smoothcriminal12 said:

NaughtyKitty said:

But the others are real surprises, especially a track called “Streetwalker.”

I know. But then he goes on to acknowledge that Streetwalker was first released during the re-release of Bad in 2001 So how can it be considered a real surprise? Anyways Rog just made another post about Bad25, this one about the linear notes--looks pretty interesting actually.

Michael Jackson: Exclusive Liner Notes from “Bad25″

Exclusive: Here’s some more info from the boxed set of Michael Jackson’s “Bad 25″ anniversary project coming on September 18th. Jackson fans should be ears up on this since we get some explanations for how the estate put the project together after Frank DiLeo unexpectedly and tragically passed away. Here’ an excerpt, plus a description of some of the unreleased songs I wrote about this morning. I’m telling you, “I’m So Blue” is one I cannot get out of my head. Very annoying, in a good way.

Excerpt: “A lot of time was spent listening to all of the recordings in the archives from the BAD era… Some tracks we found were very early recordings. They had no lyrics except possibly the chorus but more complete music tracks. Some were actually so complete that any other artist but Michael Jackson – who worked tirelessly to make sure his songs reflected his vision – might consider them finished tracks… As such, we have given a little information for each recording. As Michael wrote in a note at the time, he was determined to get exactly what he wanted on the recordings of his songs… In addition to the demo recordings, also on the “bonus” disc are the three recordings that were included in the 2001 re-release of the BAD album – “Fly Away,” “Streetwalker” and the Spanish version of “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You.” In addition, a French version of “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” is included along with the earlier mentioned remixes.”

DON’T BE MESSIN’ ROUND

It is well-known that Michael might start a song for one album, and then choose not to use it. The song would later be pulled from his vaults for possible use on a subsequent album project. “Don’t Be Messin’ Round” is an example of one such song, and how it took shape at the time of BAD. Indeed, Bruce Swedien has called it one of his favorites.

I’M SO BLUE

For Michael, creating a demo is how he let someone (in this case Quincy and Bruce) know what he wanted to hear in the finished recording. It also was a vehicle for writing both the lyrics and the music (since he didn’t actually write leadsheets). And because he was such a perfectionist, this really meant giving them a demo that, to most people, would be considered a finished “record” and not a demo at all as Bruce Swedien, among others, have noted. This is an example of one of those “demos.”

SONG GROOVE (A/K/A ABORTION PAPERS)

As noted earlier, this is a song that Michael knew could be controversial and, as a result, he spent a lot of time thinking about the story for the song and the voice through which the song should be told. The song is about a girl whose father is a priest; she was raised in the Church and on the Bible. She gets married in the Church but decides, against the Bible, to have an abortion and she wants “Abortion Papers.” As Michael indicated in his notes, “I have to do it in a way so I don’t offend girls who have gotten abortions or bring back guilt trips so it has to be done carefully… I have to really think about it.“ This is an early example of a song with a controversial subject.

FREE

Generally, Michael’s process for creating a song would start with the chorus and harmonies first and it would build from there to include melodies and the lyrics for the verses. This piece shows a song that is clearly still a “work in progress” but with a full, finished chorus and harmonies.

PRICE OF FAME

Sometimes a song is written with a story in mind. In Michael’s work notes we found the story for this song – blind obsession. He described the story as “the girls who are over-obsessed with me, who follow me, who almost make me kill myself in my car, who just give their lives to do anything with me, to see me – they’ll do anything and it’s breaking my heart. It’s running me crazy. It’s breaking up my relationship with my girl, with my family. That’s the ‘Price of Fame’.”

AL CAPONE

When you listen to some early demos of songs, you can tell instantly what song it is. This is NOT one of those songs. It is an example of how different a song can be during its early stages of development from its later, finished polished version. If it were not a well known fact that “Smooth Criminal” was developed out of “Al Capone,” it would be hard to know that it had its roots in the material based on listening to this early recording.

http://www.showbiz411.com...from-bad25

musicology54 said:

God if you hear me Please don't let those last two songs be cascio tracks.

That would be funny hearing excuses if they were seeing as Frank Cascio was about 5 years old at that time and his brother even younger.

Ellie said:

musicology54 said:

God if you hear me Please don't let those last two songs be cascio tracks.

That would be funny hearing excuses if they were seeing as Frank Cascio was about 5 years old at that time and his brother even younger.

"I remember as a kid, Michael holding me up, and letting me walk across the keyboard, and that is how the keybord part was written. And Michael was upset, when my shoes would have mud on them from us playing outside, and so his voice sounded different after he was screaming. But, it's really him. His voice never sounded so good." - Frank Cascio on Bad 25 tracks.

......JUST KIDDING!!!!

“BAD25” DOCUMENTARY FROM ACCLAIMED DIRECTOR SPIKE LEE TO AIR ON ABC

Thanksgiving Special Celebrating the 25^th Anniversary of

Michael Jackson’s Landmark “BAD” Album and Tour

ABC has acquired the television rights to “BAD25,” a documentary film by the award-winning director Spike Lee. Airing at Thanksgiving (details to be announced at a later date), “BAD25” shares fresh insights into the King of Pop’s creative vision that resulted in his landmark “BAD” album, this year marking its 25^th anniversary.

“This will be a very special Thanksgiving for all families to enjoy the genius of Michael Jackson,” said Spike Lee. “Big thanks to ABC for allowing people to witness the making of Michael Jackson’s ‘BAD’ album. Shamon.”

Academy Award® nominated filmmaker Spike Lee teamed with The Estate of Michael Jackson and Legacy/Epic Records, carefully culling The Estate’s archives for rare and never-before-seen footage for the film which focuses on the creative forces that pushed Jackson to make the “BAD” album and launch the BAD Worldwide Tour. “BAD25” marks the first ever in-depth, behind-the-scenes film project to chronicle a Michael Jackson album and tour, and was filmed in advance of the 25^th anniversary celebration of the iconic album, the record-breaking world tour and the groundbreaking short films that changed music history. The album’s 25^th Anniversary will be celebrated on September 18, 2012 with the Legacy/Epic Records release of deluxe 25^th Anniversary editions of the album.

The documentary features numerous interviews conducted personally by Spike Lee, including Jackson’s confidants, choreographers, musicians and collaborators, such as Oscar-winning film director Martin Scorsese, Joe Pytka and others who worked on many of the iconic “BAD” videos, bringing Jackson’s songs to life on the screen through short films that remain some of the most vivid and creative storytelling by a musical artist.

ABC will air a version of “BAD25,” offering Michel Jackson fans across the country a rare look at the man who changed the music world forever (time to be announced at a later date.) Spike Lee documentaries include the Peabody and Emmy Award®-winning “When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts” and its follow up, “If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise,” “Kobe Doin’ Work” and the Oscar-nominated “4 Little Girls.” Lee directed both short films for Michael Jackson’s “They Don’t Care About Us” in 1996.

The third and final album collaboration for Jackson and Quincy Jones, “BAD” marked a pivotal coming of age for the King of Pop as a performer, composer and producer. The album was No. 1 around the world, made history with five consecutive No. 1 singles on the Billboard chart, produced nine chart-topping singles, nine groundbreaking short films, and to date has generated over 45 million units in sales. “BAD” was nominated for six Grammys and won two; the album also earned Jackson the Video Vanguard Award at the MTV VMA Awards. Songs on the original album are “Bad,” “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “Speed Demon,” “Liberian Girl,” “Just Good Friends” featuring Stevie Wonder, “Another Part of Me,” “Man in the Mirror,” “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You,” “Dirty Diana,” “Smooth Criminal,” with “Leave Me Alone” added to the CD version of the album once released.

http://tvbythenumbers.zap...bc/146503/

tomorrow - August 29, 2012 MJ's Birthdate. Thank you Michael for the music you gave to the world during your lifetime. I know for sure that when the sun rises each day, somewhere on the planet your music is playing and creating joy!

[Edited 8/28/12 16:11pm]

godyssey said:

CrabalockerFishwife said:

Agree, except I didn't like him working with any rappers.. at all.

But the thing I never understood about him and Prince is why they both used unknown rappers.. most MJ and Prince fans don't like rap, so they weren't pleasing their fan base by doing it; and if they were trying to expand their fan base, then why use unknown rappers like the guys on "Black or White", "Invincible", "Heartbreaker".. it never made sense to me. The raps on "Heartbreaker" and "Invincible" nearly ruin those songs for me.

I would rather he left the rapping off of his songs as well. However since he was steadfast in going down that road, I was just saying that I'd rather him at least use someone with a good image or an unknown.

Why he liked adding rappers is curious to me. I don't know if he actually thought that it enhanced his music or if he thought that it pleased his fans?

MJ spoke about Hip-Hop in 2002. Vibe magazine. I'm not personally surprised he liked Hip-Hop, many rappers through the years have sampled and honored Michael even before his death, it comes as no surprise he was working with Kanye, Will.I.Am, Akon, Jay-Z Biggie Smalls and so on because they loved him and were greatly inspired by him as an artist and he felt honored. One of the best hip hop songs of all time "It aint hard to tell" by Nas, is a sample from Human Nature and MJ approved of it. In that Geraldo interview back in 05, he commented that he liked Mr Eminems work but that he thought the song & video was disrespectful.

VIBE: Are you feeling hip hop?
MJ: I like a lot of it, a lot of it. I like the music. I don't like the dancing that much. It looks like they're doing aerobics.
VIBE: How did you decide to feature Biggie Smalls on "Unbreakable", off Invincible?
MJ: It wasn't my idea, actually. It was Rodney Jerkins's, one of the writer/producers working on the album. It was my idea to put a rap part on the song, and he said, "I know just the perfect on - Biggie." He put it in, and it worked perfectly.
VIBE: Why did you choose Jay-Z for the remix of the first single, "You Rock My World"?
MJ: He's hip, the new thing, and he's with the kids today. They like his work. He's tapped into the nerve of popular culture. It just made good sense.
VIBE: What was it like for you to appear at New York's Hot 97 Summer Jam concert as Jay-Z's guest?
MJ: I just showed up and gave him a hug. There was a tumultuous explosion of applause and stomping, a lovely, lovely welcome, and I was happy about that. It was a great feeling - the love, the love.
VIBE: Does it bother you to see people emulate you, such as Usher, Sisqo, Ginuwine, and even Destiny's Child?
MJ: I don't mind it at all. These are artists who grew up with my music. When you grow up listening to somebody you admire, you tend to become them. You want to look like them, to dress like them. When I was little, I was James Brown, I was Sammy Davis Jr., so I understand. It's a compliment.

[Edited 8/28/12 14:46pm]

seeingvoices12 said:

NaughtyKitty said:

Mystery About Unreleased Michael Jackson Songs from “Bad” Anniversary Album

EXCLUSIVE There are some mysteries about a couple of unreleased tracks including in the upcoming Michael Jackson “Bad25″ album. Two of the eight tracks– which are really wonderful–are unknown entirely to the engineers who worked on “Bad” in 1986. Those tracks are a lovely ballad called “I’m So Blue” and a slice of funk called “Song Groove (aka Abortion Papers).”

Neither Bruce Swedien nor Bill Bottrell has any memory of them. I played the songs for each of them this weekend, and came up with no answers. “Michael must have gotten out and recorded with someone else,” Bottrell told me.

But don’t worry–they are completely by Michael Jackson. They’re the genuine article.

The anniversary boxed set of the huge-selling 1987 album contains quite a few surprises. Eight of them, actually. There are eight unreleased tracks that didn’t make it onto the “Bad” album. Surprisingly, they’ve remained in the vaults at Sony all this time. One of them, called “Don’t Be Messin’ Around,” was released earlier this summer as the “B” side of a re-released single on “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” from Wal-Mart. I have no idea why Sony did that, since it seemed a squandered opportunity.

Now these eight tracks are coming as a separate CD inside “Bad25,” which contains four discs. The first disc is a remastered version of the original album. The second disc has these eight songs. The third disc is a live CD from a concert Michael performed on July 16, 1988 at Wembley Stadium in London. The fourth disc is a DVD of live performances from that time. Target customers get a disc of the original music videos from “Bad.” What’s unclear is what happens to a Spike Lee documentary about the making of “Bad,” which should have footage from the recording sessions with Quincy Jones, engineer Bruce Swedien, and manager mastermind Frank DiLeo.

“Bad25″ will be released on September 18th.

But it’s the eight songs that are going to make fans very, very happy. A couple of them are known, like “Don’t Be Messin’ Around” and . But the others are real surprises, especially a track called “Streetwalker.” It the vague feel of “The Way You Make Me Feel” in that it’s a Motown oriented shuffle. But it’s also a dynamite track. The version on “Bad25″ was mixed by Bottrell, but there are others by Swedien. Jackson was never satisfied with any of them. “Streetwalker” will be known to players of the video game “The Michael Jackson Experience.” But it’s also a hit. We’re going to be hearing ir on the radio– a lot. (“Streetwalker” and another track, “Fly Away,” were first included in the “Bad” re-release back in 2001.)

The others are all gems. “I’m So Blue” is beautiful ballad, with a vocal by Michael that recalls his best work. If Sony were smart, they’d release it as their first single from this set. It also has a harmonica solo that either is by Stevie Wonder or sounds just like him. The other tracks– “Al Capone,” “Free,” “Fly Away”– are also excellent.

There are reasons the songs didn’t make the final album.

“Price of Fame” is a mixture of a “Billie Jean” outtake, musically, combined with the Police’s “Spirits in the Material World.” Michael’s vocal on this track sometimes dips into his “real” voice–a lower register–than his stage falsetto and whisper that he perfected. “Free” is just another breezy ballad, and “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” was already on the album, and a hit. “Al Capone” is a different take on the hit, “Smooth Criminal.”

The strangest of the eight songs is titled “Song Groove (aka Abortion Papers).” Swedien doesn’t remember this track. Neither does Bottrell. It’s got a killer rhythm track and a very catchy hook and melody. But the lyrics–and I’m not sure whether Michael wrote them–are like the real flip side of “Billie Jean.” He sings “Those abortion papers/think about signing your name…”

I don’t know if Sony had producers fiddle with these tracks to make them sound more modern. They could very well have been augmented. But I hope the Jackson fans don’t try to destroy them the way they did the songs on the “Michael” album. Like those tracks, these are completely real, they’re Michael Jackson’s vocals, and they’re a wonderful reminder of the King of Pop at his zenith.

http://www.showbiz411.com...sary-album

i'm really scared.....

worked with someone else? how come they don't know who ?

the fans destroyed the songs on the michael album ? shut up already , lets pray that those are not another fake fraudcascios songs .............

[Edited 8/27/12 18:33pm]

I'm seriously scared too! Gosh... I hope they give us REAL songs, what about they give us the other remaining songs that he recorded for the Bad album. =(

mookie said:

“BAD25” DOCUMENTARY FROM ACCLAIMED DIRECTOR SPIKE LEE TO AIR ON ABC

Thanksgiving Special Celebrating the 25^th Anniversary of

Michael Jackson’s Landmark “BAD” Album and Tour

ABC has acquired the television rights to “BAD25,” a documentary film by the award-winning director Spike Lee. Airing at Thanksgiving (details to be announced at a later date), “BAD25” shares fresh insights into the King of Pop’s creative vision that resulted in his landmark “BAD” album, this year marking its 25^th anniversary.

“This will be a very special Thanksgiving for all families to enjoy the genius of Michael Jackson,” said Spike Lee. “Big thanks to ABC for allowing people to witness the making of Michael Jackson’s ‘BAD’ album. Shamon.”

Academy Award® nominated filmmaker Spike Lee teamed with The Estate of Michael Jackson and Legacy/Epic Records, carefully culling The Estate’s archives for rare and never-before-seen footage for the film which focuses on the creative forces that pushed Jackson to make the “BAD” album and launch the BAD Worldwide Tour. “BAD25” marks the first ever in-depth, behind-the-scenes film project to chronicle a Michael Jackson album and tour, and was filmed in advance of the 25^th anniversary celebration of the iconic album, the record-breaking world tour and the groundbreaking short films that changed music history. The album’s 25^th Anniversary will be celebrated on September 18, 2012 with the Legacy/Epic Records release of deluxe 25^th Anniversary editions of the album.

The documentary features numerous interviews conducted personally by Spike Lee, including Jackson’s confidants, choreographers, musicians and collaborators, such as Oscar-winning film director Martin Scorsese, Joe Pytka and others who worked on many of the iconic “BAD” videos, bringing Jackson’s songs to life on the screen through short films that remain some of the most vivid and creative storytelling by a musical artist.

ABC will air a version of “BAD25,” offering Michel Jackson fans across the country a rare look at the man who changed the music world forever (time to be announced at a later date.) Spike Lee documentaries include the Peabody and Emmy Award®-winning “When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts” and its follow up, “If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise,” “Kobe Doin’ Work” and the Oscar-nominated “4 Little Girls.” Lee directed both short films for Michael Jackson’s “They Don’t Care About Us” in 1996.

The third and final album collaboration for Jackson and Quincy Jones, “BAD” marked a pivotal coming of age for the King of Pop as a performer, composer and producer. The album was No. 1 around the world, made history with five consecutive No. 1 singles on the Billboard chart, produced nine chart-topping singles, nine groundbreaking short films, and to date has generated over 45 million units in sales. “BAD” was nominated for six Grammys and won two; the album also earned Jackson the Video Vanguard Award at the MTV VMA Awards. Songs on the original album are “Bad,” “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “Speed Demon,” “Liberian Girl,” “Just Good Friends” featuring Stevie Wonder, “Another Part of Me,” “Man in the Mirror,” “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You,” “Dirty Diana,” “Smooth Criminal,” with “Leave Me Alone” added to the CD version of the album once released.

http://tvbythenumbers.zap...bc/146503/

Thanks for posting mookie A Thanksgiving TV special eh? So I guess this means this isnt being released in theaters which was said at first. Well I hope this will at least get a DVD release at some point.

I think this is good that the Spike Lee Documentary will be aired on ABC. To be honest, I am looking forward to this more than the actual album. The only thing that's going to suck are the commerical breaks.

Katt Williams had a special on Showtime this past weekend.

He basically flipped his whole feeling about MJ. If you've seen his Pimp Chronicles special, you know how he goes off on Michael. He starts off by offering an apology (though doesn't really apologize.) Then he goes in on Conrad Murray, (not MJ.) He didn't talk bad about him one bit, but it comes off very fake.

It's on youtube.

Happy "what would have been his 54th" birthday MJ!

Today is Michael Jackson's birthday ... he would have been 54 years old ... and his kids are honoring his memory with a family trip to MJ's boyhood home in Indiana.

Prince, Paris and Blanket were spotted in Gary, IN yesterday ... along with their co-guardian Katherine Jackson and their aunt La Toya. TJ Jackson -- the OTHER co-guardian -- also made the trip.

Michael will be honored at the annual "Goin Back to Indiana" celebration in Gary ... which kicks off tonight with a candlelight vigil in front of MJ's childhood home.

The kids are also expected to throw out the first pitch at a Gary SouthShore RailCats baseball game this week.

Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2012/08/29/michael-jackson-birthday-kids-gary-indiana-photos/#ixzz24xI4FQiE