Girlfriend

Sources : My personal research, Wikipedia, Michael Jackson: For The Record by Chris Cadman & Craig Halstead, Twitter account of Damien Shields and the amazing archives of the MJCast.

RECORDING DATE

From December 1978 to June 1979.

“Girlfriend” is a song by British-American rock band Wings, from their 1978 album London Town. It was written by Wings frontman Paul McCartney, who originally intended it to be sung by Michael Jackson.McCartney thought of “Girlfriend” as a song that Michael Jackson might like to record, and mentioned this to Jackson at a party in Hollywood. Jackson had stated in interviews with the music press in the 1970s that he was a fan of the Beatles and the chance to record a McCartney original helped to inspire his next project.[citation needed] However, McCartney ended up recording it himself with his band Wings, and it was issued in 1978 on the album London Town. Quincy Jones heard the song and suggested it as a possible track for Jackson to record for his 1979 album Off the Wall, not aware that the song had been written for Jackson in the first place.[citation needed] Jackson’s recording omitted the middle eight heard in McCartney’s version.

STUDIO(S)

Allen Zentz (Los Angeles, California)

Westlake (Los Angeles, CA)

Cherokee (Los Angeles, CA)

SONGWRITER(S)

Paul McCartney

PRODUCER(S)

Quincy Jones

RELEASE DATE :

August 10, 1979 (Off The Wall).

It was issued exclusively in the UK on July 04, 1980, as the fifth and final single from the Off the Wall album.

LABEL

CBS Epic Records

LENGTH

3:05

ALTERNATE VERSIONS RECORDED BY MJ (covers and remixes by other artists are not included)

Girlfriend (demo) : Recorded on 1978. Full demo leaked in 2017 but remains unreleased.

MUSICIANS

Produced by Quincy Jones
Recorded and mixed by Bruce Swedien
Lead and background vocals: Michael Jackson
Bass: Louis Johnson
Drums: John Robinson
Rhodes piano: Greg Phillinganes
Synthesizer: David Foster, George Duke
Synthesizer programming: Steve Porcaro and George Duke
Guitar: Wah Wah Watson and Marlo Henderson
Horns arranged by Jerry Hey and performed by The Seawind Horns:
Trumpet and flugelhorn: Jerry Hey
Tenor, alto saxophones and flute: Larry Williams
Baritone, tenor saxophones and flute: Kim Hutchcroft
Trombone: William Reichenbach
Trumpet: Gary Grant
Alto sax solo: Larry Williams
Rhythm arrangement by Quincy Jones, Tom Bahler and Greg Phillinganes
Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones

PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :

Not released as a single in the US.

SHORT FILM

No short film

LIVE PERFORMANCES ON TV SHOWS

Never performed on TV

LIVE PERFORMANCES IN CONCERTS

Never performed in concerts