Recording sessions : November 1983-May 1984
PRODUCED BY The Jacksons
ARRANGERS Michael Jackson, Tito Jackson, Jackie Jackson, Marlon Jackson, David Paich
Studios : Hayvenhurst home studio, A&R Recording (New York City), Can-Am Recorders, Evergreen Studios, Hog Manor Studios, Image Recorders, The Ponderosa Studio, Record One Studio, Soundcastle Studios, Sunset Sound; The Villa, Westlake Audio, Bill Schnee Studio, Hollywood Sound, Ocean Way Studios, Sunset Sound Recorders, Village Recorders (Los Angeles)
Label : CBS Epic Records
Release date : July 2, 1984
Peak on Billboard 200 : 4
Original track listing
Torture
Wait
One More Chance
Be Not Always
State of Shock
We Can Change the World
The Hurt
Body
ALTERNATIVE VERSIONS*
*Worked by MJ during his lifetime. Covers and remixes by other artists are not included.
State Of Shock (demo with Freddie Mercury) : Recorded in 1983 & leaked in 2002. Remains unreleased.
OUTTAKES FROM THE ALBUM RECORDING SESSIONS
There Must Be More To Life Than This (demo with Freddie Mercury) : Recorded in 1983 & leaked in 2002. A remixed version was released in 2014 (Queen Forever Deluxe Edition). Original demo remains unreleased.
Victory (demo) : One of three songs MJ worked on with Queen’s Freddie Mercury in 1983. The foundation of the track was laid with Mercury’s manager Peter Freestone banging on the toilet door in perfect time for 5 minutes as there were no instruments or musicians around at Hayvenhurst. Remains unreleased.
Buffalo Bill (demo) : Written by Michael Jackson. Recorded in 1983 as first studio collaboration with John Barnes. Inspired by poker player Wild Bill Hickok or bison hunter William Cody. MJ speaks about it in the “Hayvenhurst” home video in 1983). Remains unreleased.
Chicago 1945 : Recorded in 1983, based on one of the grooves Steve Porcaro submitted to Michael. Vocally complete song about three girls who went out and mysteriously disappeared throughout the night, with a hook of “never to be found again. Revisited during the HIStory and Invincible sessions, but was left off both albums. Porcaro was approached by the estate about using it on Xscape, but declined to give permission on the basis that the song didn’t need any “contemporizing”, and that he disapproves of the estate’s “straight to remix” approach to Michael’s unreleased material. The song leaked on YouTube on November 13, 2022 but remains unreleased.
Dream Away : Written by Steve Porcaro. Recorded in December 1982, one week after the release of Thriller. Vocally complete song, a beautiful ballad revealed and played for the first time by Steve Porcaro at a fan seminar in Paris on November 12, 2022. The song leaked on YouTube on November 13, 2022 but remains unreleased.
OTHER SONGS FROM THIS ERA
Scared Of The Moon (demo) : Recorded in 1984 & released in 2004 (The Ultimate Collection Box Set).
The Surprise Song : Song recorded with The Jacksons at their Hayvenhurst Home studio in May 1983 and included in an all original 7″ Fan Club Pack. Never released on CD.
Centipede : The song was written and produced by MJ in spring 1984 . He and The Weather Girls also sang backing vocals on the song. The song was released as a single in September 1984.
Don’t Stand Another Chance : The song was written by Marlon Jackson and John Barnes. Marlon also produced it, and provided backing vocals along with his brothers Michael, Tito, and Jackie. The song was released as the lead single from Dream Street on August 13, 1984 by A&M Records.
Tell Me I’m Not Dreamin’ (Too Good to Be True) : Duet between Jermaine & MJ recorded late 1983. The song was released in April 1984 on Jermaine’s Dynamite album.
Somebody’s Watching Me : The song was recorded late 1983 by American singer Rockwell, released by the Motown label in January 1984, as the lead single from his debut studio album of the same name. The song features guest vocals by brothers Michael Jackson (in the chorus) and Jermaine Jackson (additional backing vocals).
Concerts
Previous era : Thriller (1982)
Jackson Dynasty 