Recording sessions : June 1989 – October 1991
Studios : Larrabee Sound, Record Plant, Record One, and Westlake (Los Angeles, California), Ocean Way Recording (Hollywood, California), Smoketree Ranch (Chatsworth, California), Toad Hall (Pasadena, California)
Label : Sony Music
Release date : November 26, 1991
Peak on Billboard 200 : 1
Original track listing
Jam (featuring Heavy D)
Why You Wanna Trip on Me
In the Closet (featuring Princess Stéphanie of Monaco)
She Drives Me Wild (featuring Wreck-n-Effect)
Remember the Time
Can’t Let Her Get Away
Heal the World
Black or White (featuring L.T.B.)
Who Is It
Give In to Me (featuring Slash)
Will You Be There
Keep the Faith
Gone Too Soon
Dangerous
ALTERNATIVE VERSIONS*
*Worked by MJ during his lifetime. Covers and remixes by other artists are not included.
Jam (demo) : Recorded in 1991. Leaked in 2018. Remains unreleased.
Dangerous (demo 1) : Recorded in 1990/1991, played in a courtroom in 1994 during the trial for the song “Dangerous”. Slightly different version from the one released in 2004. It remains unreleased.
Dangerous (demo 2) : Recorded in 1990/1991 & released in 2004 (The Ultimate Collection Box Set).
Dangerous (1993 mix) : Mix done for the American Music Awards 1993 and Dangerous World Tour 1993 performances. Remains unreleased.
Dangerous (1995 mix) : Mix done for the MTV Video Music Awards 1995 performance. Remains unreleased.
Dangerous (HBO 1995 mix) : Mix done for the canceled HBO Special in December 1995. Remains unreleased.
Dangerous (History Tour mix) : Mix done for the History World Tour 1996-1997 performances. Remains unreleased.
Dangerous (Michael Jackson And Friends) : Mix done for the Michael Jackson And Friends performances in June 1999. Remains unreleased.
Dangerous (American Bandstand) : Mix done for the American Bandstand and Apollo Theatre performances in April 2002. Remains unreleased.
Dangerous (This Is It) : Mix done for the canceled This Is It performances in June 2009. Remains unreleased.
Keep The Faith (demo) : Recorded in 1989-1991 & leaked online but remains unreleased.
In The Closet (solo demo) : Recorded in 1989-1991 & leaked online but remains unreleased.
In The Closet (video version featuring the voice of Naomi Campbell) : Recorded in 1992 and used in the short film for the song but remains unreleased.
Gone Too Soon (demo) : Recorded in 1989-1991 & leaked online but remains unreleased.
Give In To Me (demo) : Recorded in 1989-1991. It leaked but remains unreleased.
Give In To Me (Recording Sessions) : It was played at a musical seminar and leaked on You Tube but remains unreleased.
Who Is It (demo) : Recorded in 1989-1991 & leaked online but remains unreleased.
Black Or White (Pepsi version) : Recorded in 1991 & used in a Pepsi commercial in 1992. Remains unreleased.
Black Or White (short film version) : Mix done in 1991 for the short film. Remains unreleased.
Remember The Time (short film version) : Mix done in 1991 for the short film. Remains unreleased.
Can’t Let Her Get Away (extended version) : Recorded in 1991. 8 minutes version with an unreleased rap from Michael. A snippet leaked in 2020 but full version remains unreleased.
OUTTAKES FROM THE ALBUM RECORDING SESSIONS
Earth Song (1st demo) : Demo recorded in 1988. A snippet leaked in 2020 but full demo remain unreleased.
Earth Song (2nd demo) : Recorded in 1991 & leaked online in 2007 but remains unreleased.
Someone Put Your Hand Out : Recorded in 1989-1991 & released in 1992 (Pepsi exclusive promo cassette single) and in 2004 on CD (The Ultimate Collection).
She Got It (demo) : Recorded in 1989-1990 with Bryan Loren. It leaked online in 2005 but remains unreleased.
All The Truth : Written by Bryan Loren. One of 20-25 songs recorded with Bryan Loren. Loren sings on this song, with Michael in the choruses. Song registered with Broadcast Music Incorporated. Remains unreleased.
Serious Effect (demo) : Recorded in 1989-1990 with Bryan Loren. It leaked in 2005 but remains unreleased.
For All Time (demo) : Recorded in 1989-1990, leaked in 2002 & released in 2008 (Thriller 25)
For All Time (alternate take) : Recorded in 1989-1990, leaked in 2020 in low quality but remains unreleased.
To Satisfy You : Recorded in 1989-1990 with Bryan Loren. A version featuring background vocals by MJ was released in 1992 on Bryan Loren’s album « Music From The New World ».
Work That Body (demo) : Recorded in 1989-1990 with Bryan Loren. It leaked online in 2005 but remains unreleased.
Superfly Sister : Recorded in 1989-1990 with Bryan Loren & released in 1997 (Blood On The Dance Floor).
Monkey Business : Recorded in 1989, leaked in 2002 & released in 2004 (The Ultimate Collection Box Set).
Blood On The Dance Floor (1991 demo) : Recorded in 1989-1991. The song was reworked in 1997 and released in 1997 (Blood On The Dance Floor)
Planet Earth : Recorded in 1991 & released in 2009 (This Is It)
Slave To The Rhythm : Demo recorded in 1991. A remix leaked in 2010. A virtual duet with Justin Bieber featuring new vocals from MJ leaked in 2013. Original demo + new remix by Timbaland released in 2014 (Xscape).
Man In Black : Written and recorded during the dangerous album sessions (1989-1991). Planned for release on the later cancelled greatest hits compilation album “Decade 1979-1989”. One of around 20–25 songs that Michael and Bryan Loren worked on. A low quality snippet leaked in 2018, full demo leaked in 2020 but remains unreleased.
If You Don’t Love Me : Recorded in 1989-1991 & leaked online in 2005 but remains unreleased.
Bumper Snippet : Recorded in 1989-1991 & leaked in 2004. Remains unreleased.
Ghost of Another Lover : Bootleg snippet leaked online without intro in low quality. Full demo remains unreleased.
Jane Is A Groupie : Written and recorded during “Dangerous” album sessions. Incomplete and repetitive draft. Short edited snippet leaked online. Run time: 3:43. Full demo remains unreleased.
Don’t Believe It : A 10 second snipped leaked in 2019. Full demo remains unreleased.
Seven Digits : A 10 second snipped leaked in 2019. Full demo remains unreleased.
Bottle of Smoke : Written by Michael Jackson. Written and possibly recorded in 1989. Remains unreleased.
Best Of Joy (1991 demo) : New version of “The Toy” written by Michael Jackson and recorded in 1981 for a Richard Pryor movie. In April 1991, Michael recorded new vocals for the track, including a new opening lyric. The original lyric, “I am your toy, I am your boy,” was changed to: “I am your joy, your best of joy”. In November 2008, Michael recorded new vocals for the track in the bathroom of his suite at the Bel-Air Hotel in LA, including a never-heard alternate option for a third verse. New lyrics include: “I am the rock that stands on solid ground, I am that friend always around. After Michael died, “Best of Joy” was remixed Ron “Neff-U” Feemster for the ‘Michael’ album in 2010. The vocals that appear on Neff-U’s remix are those recorded at the Bel-Air Hotel in November 2008. Demo from 1991 remains unreleased.
They Don’t Care About Us (demo) : Recorded in 1989-1991. The song was reworked in 1994-1995 ans released on History. Demo from 1991 remains unreleased.
OTHER SONGS FROM THIS ERA
Mind Is The Magic : Recorded in 1989 & released in 1995
Do The Bartman : Recorded in 1991 with Bryan Loren & released in 1991 (The Simpsons)
I’ll Be There (Adult version) : Recorded in 1989, used in a Pepsi commercial in 1992. Remains unreleased.
Happy Birthday Lisa : Recorded in 1991 & leaked online in 2007 but remains unreleased
Family Thing (demo) : Recorded in 1993 but never completed. Planned song for Addams Family Values movie. Cancelled due to allegations of 1993. Also known as “Addams’s Groove”, “Family values”, or “Family morales”. Demo leaked in 2018 but remains unreleased.
Dangerous : Singles & Videos (1991-1993)
Concerts
Dangerous World Tour 1992-1993
Previous era : « Bad » (1987)
Next era : « History » (1995)
Jackson Dynasty 