ShellyMcG said:

I can't find the new leaks anywhere.

TrivialPursuit said:

MrSharon said:

TrivialPursuit said:

I can't find the new leaks anywhere.

They are on YouTube Finding them as downloads is a challenge though

Roger that.

ShellyMcG said:

Chicago 1945 is now my favourite Michael Jackson song. Thank you so much for bringing this to my attention.

""Chicago 1945" is a(n) unreleased song by Michael Jackson. It was written by Michael Jackson and Steven Porcaro and was intended for The Jacksons album 'Victory'."

.

"The sad thing is that everybody could have heard it by now if only the record label had been willing to do right by it. Porcaro was approached about the song for Xscape album, but he didn’t give his permission to use it. “It seems songs are going straight to remix these days,” he told us. It was obvious this approach didn’t sit well with him. And while a fan in me would have loved to be able to buy the song and have it in my collection, I felt nothing but respect for Porcaro’s position. I thought that as a musician and a songwriter, he must understand how much the integrity of a song means to the artist. And as a colleague of Michael, he undoubtedly knows how much Michael cared about his compositions. “Less is more” was a principle he, too, cited as very important for MJ and Quincy. “Chicago 1945” is a great song that certainly doesn’t need any “contemporizing” and deserves to be heard and appreciated in its own right.

Porcaro cannot release the song either without the approval of the Michael Jackson Estate, so for now the song remains in a deadlock. We can only hope that a time will come when Michael’s creative partners, his estate executors and the record label are able to see eye to eye about how the unreleased material should be handled. And for now we, fans, will take what we can get and be grateful for every opportunity to hear the original music Michael left behind. Thank you, Mr. Porcaro, it was an honor to meet you and hear all the stories and music you shared with us that evening."

Welp found most of them. "Chicago 1945" is a banger of a track. Just WOW. One of his best written songs ever.

Even the demo level version of "Streetwalker" and (especially) "Keep The Faith" (one of my all time favorite tracks) are so fucking good.

One thing I found myself doing (again) was listening to his acapella stuff. It's just so dang good. You listen to him on something like "Remember The Time," "The Way You Make Me Feel," or "In the Closet" acapella, and it's soooo fucking good.

Interesting song . . . the background music is a bit generic 1980's but nice to hear.

In a way, the song is not "big enough" for a proper MJ song. It would've been filler on Bad.

^^^

Correction: I see now that it was meant for Victory. It might have actually fit on that album.

Se7en said:

^^^

Correction: I see now that it was meant for Victory. It might have actually fit on that album.

I thought about this. I can see why it didn't end up on Victory. "Chicago 1945" feels more cinematic. Nothing on Victory has that feeling, IMO. It reminds me of the mood of something like "Who Is It."

I kind of wonder if MJ knew it was a really good song, and pulled it from Victory consideration because he simply wanted it for himself. While I enjoy Victory a lot, it's not a majestic album, it's not cinematic or even dramatic. They're edgy (for the times) pop/soul songs. "Chicago 1945" would've stood out like a sore thumb on there if it were inserted anywhere on it as is.

Although, I'm quite willing to drop a Randy or that one Tito song in favor of it in the tracklist. Victory already suffers from a lot of personalities. It sounds like a compilation album rather than a cohesive set of songs. Sorta glad MJ didn't put it on there.

Hell, issue it as a b-side to "Smooth Criminal," that's where it should've been.

Se7en said:

MrSharon said:

Se7en said:

Interesting song . . . the background music is a bit generic 1980's but nice to hear.

In a way, the song is not "big enough" for a proper MJ song. It would've been filler on Bad.

It would've been a lot better than "Just good friends". Thats the only weak track on BAD imo

I'd agree. Take out "Just Good Friends" and "Speed Demon," and add "Chicago 1945" and "Streetwalker" and you got yourself an album. Let those other two songs be b-sides.

TrivialPursuit said:

MrSharon said:

TrivialPursuit said:

I'd agree. Take out "Just Good Friends" and "Speed Demon," and add "Chicago 1945" and "Streetwalker" and you got yourself an album. Let those other two songs be b-sides.

Speed demon is one of my favorites. I would take out "I just can't stop loving you"

Eeehhhhh, I don't know man. I'd agree that IJCSLY is a bad choice (no pun) for a lead single (kind of the way "If I Was Your Girlfriend" wasn't the best choice for a debut album single). But it belongs on that record.

I sort rethought the songs I'd pull, and since it was "Another Part of Me" vs "Streetwalker" when deciding the tracklist back then, there's where I'd make the replacement. I could nix "Just Good Friends" altogether (or add it as a bonus track on the end).

Bad

The Way You Make Me Feel (with Grammy intro)

Chicago 1945

Speed Demon

Liberian Girl

Streetwalker

I Just Can't Stop Loving You

Man in the Mirror

Dirty Diana

Smooth Criminal

Leave Me Alone

Another Part of Me (bonus)

Just Good Friends (bonus)

TrivialPursuit said:

One good surprise 4 me is "Someone In The Dark (Closing Version)". I just realized that this version was included in "The E.T. Storybook".

Ramzoo said:

Too busy (we can keep up though 4 new music!) with Prince's music (huge fan since 84'), which may explain this discovery. I used to like MJ's music but as he wasn't as profilic, talented as our beloved Prince...

On top of that MJ was a kind of weird at the end, not playing any instrument, lip syncing sometimes.

My best MJ's songs R "The Lady In My Life" (the extended version should have appeared on Thriller 40), "She's Out Of My Life", "Someone Put Your Hand Out" & "Smile".

Ramzoo said:

It's indeed a good song but not one of my favorites.

Another good one "Love Never Felt So Good"....

Interesting.

I find most of his leaked tracks lifeless.

Kool 2 hear though.

I do like Monkey Business. Nice.

[Edited 3/6/23 20:00pm]

MrSharon said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Bad

The Way You Make Me Feel

Chicago 1945

Speed Demon

Liberian Girl

Streetwalker

I Just Can't Stop Loving You

Man in the Mirror

Dirty Diana

Smooth Criminal

Leave Me Alone

Another Part of Me (bonus)

Just Good Friends (bonus)

Now your cooking!!

Actually giving this a test run today.

MrSharon said:

Se7en said:

Interesting song . . . the background music is a bit generic 1980's but nice to hear.

In a way, the song is not "big enough" for a proper MJ song. It would've been filler on Bad.

It would've been a lot better than "Just good friends". Thats the only weak track on BAD imo

I can see that - I think he wanted the style of duet that he'd had with Paul McCartney or even Mick Jagger. Just this time with Stevie Wonder.

It's not a horrible song, but should've been a B-side. "Leave Me Alone" wasn't even on the CD I had, it was only added later.

TrivialPursuit said:

TrivialPursuit said:

nayroo2002 said: