Tabloid Junkie : Recorded from February 1994 to March 1995. Released on June 20, 1995 (History).
Take Me Back : Recorded in October–December 1974. Released on January 16, 1975 (Forever Michael).
Take My Heart : Recorded with The Jackson 5 in 1968. Found on a metal acetate with Take My Heart on Side 1 and Jackson Man on Side 2 by Adey Piere in Indiana in 2000. Remains unreleased.
TEARS OF STONE : Recorded at the Hit Factory, in 1994. Considered lost. Remains unreleased.
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.
Teenage Symphony : Recorded November 1972 – April 1973, during G.I.T.: Get It Together and Dancing Machine sessions. Released on February 11, 1986 (Looking Back to Yesterday).
Thank Heaven : Written in 1998. Damien Shields : “MJ spoken intro (dedicating the song to “my son Michael Jackson Jr”) but the song itself is sung by a woman + choir. Sounds like a lullaby/nursery rhyme. One of the songs listed by MJ on a handwritten note of songs he wanted to finish in June 2009. Written and produced by Michael Jackson, “Thank Heaven” was developed during the Invincible era and is believed to have remained under consideration for both Invincible and a later, unreleased studio project before ultimately being shelved. Unlike many of Michael’s unreleased tracks, “Thank Heaven” stands out for its gentle, lullaby-like atmosphere. The recording opens with Michael speaking directly to his son, Prince Jackson, before transitioning into a song built around female lead vocals, choir arrangements, and Michael’s creative direction behind the scenes rather than a traditional solo vocal performance.
The full demo leaked on August 02, 2026 but remains unreleased.
Thank You For Life : Written circa 1976. Cited by MJ in his 1993 deposition. Registered with the United States Copyright Office in November 1984. Remains unreleased.
That : Registered with the United States Copyright Office in November 1998. Remains unreleased.
That Girl : Recorded with The Jacksons in 1978-1980. Remains unreleased.
That Kind of Lover : Written circa 2001 by MJ & Ray Ruffin. Failed to make the Invincible album. Remains unreleased.
That’s How Love Goes : Jermaine Jackson’s song featuring The Jackson 5 recorded on January 6th, 1972. Released on June 14, 1972 (Jermaine).
That’s How Love Is (Original Complete Version) : Recorded with The Jackson 5 in 1969-1974. Released posthumously on November 10, 2009 (I Want You Back, Unreleased Masters).
That’s What Christmas Means To Me : Recorded with The Jackson 5 in 1970 for the Christmas album. Remains unreleased.
That’s What Love Is Made Of : Recorded December 1969 & January 1970 – December 1971, during the Jackson 5’s Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 and ABC sessions. Released on February 11, 1986 (Looking Back to Yesterday).
That’s What You Get (For Being Polite) : Recorded in 1978 and released on December 17, 1978 (Destiny).
The Boogie Man : Recorded with The Jackson 5 in 1972–1973. Released on March 29, 1973 (Skywriter).
THE BEST THING : Auctioned off in 2016, along with Family Thing, Ask DD, and a few others. It is supposedly only an instrumental, but nothing seems to known about it other than that. Remains unreleased.
The Children’s Hour : Cited by MJ in his 1993 deposition. Remains unreleased.
The Choice : Song written by Bryan Loren for Michael Jackson and intended for the Dangerous album. The track was recorded during sessions for the Dangerous album between 1989-1990. The title was included on the insert of a DAT featuring an early configuration of the album (dated April 19, 1990), which was found during the Brad Sundberg laptop theft. However, no information was given on the track. The song is complete but for whatever reason it was cut form Dangerous album the song have a very funky beat vibes with alot of percussion.
The Choir Song : Demo recorded in 1986 at Hayvenhurst. Remains unreleased.
March 13, 1986 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “The Choir Song”.
March 14, 1986 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “The Choir Song”.
The Christmas Song : Recorded in 1970 with The Jackson 5. Released on October 15, 1970 (Jackson 5 Christmas Album).
The Dude : The song was recorded late 1980 and released in March 1981 on Quincy Jones’s album. James Ingram is the lead vocalist. MJ does background vocals.
The Eternal Light : Recorded with The Jackson 5 in 1972-1975. Released on October 26, 1976 (Joyful Jukebox Music).
The Fields of Athenry : Written by Pete St. John. Recorded in 2006 with the Caheraggin Village Choir. Remains unreleased.
The Future : Written by Michael Jackson, will.i.am. Worked in 2006/07. On the 13th of August 2007, will.i.am told reporters at a Black Eyed Peas press conference in South Korea that another track he recorded with Jackson is titled “The Future”. Song about environmental issues. A dance track. Remains unreleased.
The Gloved One : Written by Sisqo circa 2001. Failed to make the Invincible album. Remains unreleased.
The Lady In My Life (demo with unreleased lyrics) : Recorded in 1982 & leaked in 2008. Remains unreleased.
The Lady In My Life : Recorded from April 14 – November 8, 1982. Released on November 30, 1982.
The Little Drummer Boy : Recorded in 1970 with The Jackson 5. Released on October 15, 1970 (Jackson 5 Christmas Album).
The Lost Children : Recorded from July 1998 to July 2001. Released on October 30, 2001 (Invincible). A demo leaked on August 31, 2026.
The Love I Saw In You Was Just a Mirage : Recorded in April–July 1970 with The Jackson 5. Released on September 8, 1970 (Third Album).
The Love You Save : Recorded in March 1970. Released on May 8, 1970 (ABC).
The Life Of The Party : Recorded with The Jackson 5 in 1974. Released on September 15, 1974 (Dancing Machine).
The Man : recorded in May 1981 with Paul McCartney and released in October 1983 on Paul’s solo album “Pipes of Peace”.
The Mirrors Of My Mind : Recorded with The Jackson 5 in 1974. Released on September 15, 1974 (Dancing Machine).
The Nightmare of Edgar Alan Poe : Written circa 2000 by MJ & Walter Afanasieff. Had been scheduled to feature in the shelved independently financed film The Nightmare of Edgar Alan Poe, which MJ was slated to appear in. Alternatively titled “Edgar Alan Poe”. Remains unreleased.
The Pain : Written by Shawn Stockman, Jay Harvey Mason, Rodney Jerkins. Failed to make the Invincible album. Remains unreleased.
There Must Be More To Life Than This (demo with Freddie Mercury) : The song was written solely by Mercury and first recorded by Queen in 1981 for their album Hot Space. However, it didn’t make the cut in the end. Two years prior, he first met Jackson backstage at Queen’s The Game Tour. They stayed in contact since then, and in August 1983, the two started recording songs together at Jackson’s house in Encino, California. They recorded all of their collaborations in one day, one of which was a re-recording of “There Must Be More to Life Than This”. Unfortunately, due to scheduling issues, the duets never saw any further development. The track almost landed on Queen’s 1984 album The Works, but ultimately ended up on Mercury’s solo record a year later, Mr. Bad Guy without Jackson featured.
After Jackson’s passing in 2009, Freddie’s bandmates, Brian May and Roger Taylor, began talks with the Michael Jackson Estate to release all the collaborations, as the interest in Jackson’s unreleased material began to rise. After troubled negotiations, they eventually settled only on “There Must Be More to Life Than This”.[1]
In 2012, a new mix of the song, often referred to as the “Golden Duet”, found its way online after being featured in a Mercury-based documentary, The Great Pretender. Earlier in the film, a snippet of the 1983 demo was also featured. These sparked speculations online that the band was in contact with the Estate to finally release the song. Queen has mentioned they made their mix, but that it was rejected by the estate in favor of one made by a British record producer, William Orbit, which re-uses instrumentation from the Hot Space sessions recording, and the members still described as “very much sounding like the band”. It is unknown if their version was the one featured in The Great Pretender.
On July 7, 2002, a one-take recording of Jackson singing the song over piano (played by Mercury) was leaked online. Freddie can also be heard directing Jackson to ad-lib.
A remixed version was released in 2014 (Queen Forever Deluxe Edition). Original demo remains unreleased.
There Was a Time : perfomed in concerts in 1970
The Sky Is The Limit : Cited by MJ in his 1993 deposition. Remains unreleased.
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.
The Wall : Recorded with The Jackson 5.in June 1970 – February 1971. Released on April 12, 1971 (Maybe Tomorrow).
The Way You Love Me : Recorded in 2000. Second mix recorded and released on November 16, 2004 (The Ultimate Collection Box Set) + new remix released posthumously on December 10, 2010 (Michael).
In November 2008, Rod Temperton has a meeting with MJ at his hotel suite during which MJ plays Rod several songs. Some of the songs already had lyrics, which MJ wanted to improve. Others were instrumentals without any lyrics at all. The songs MJ plays for Rod are Best of Joy, Hollywood Tonight, The Loser, The Way Your Love Me, Beautiful Girl, Dark Lady, DIE, and Can’t Stop Loving You.
The Way You Make Me Feel (demo version aka Hot Fever) : Demo recorded at Hayvenhurst in 1985-1986. Remains unreleased.
October 3, 1985 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Hot Fever” (later known as “The Way You Make Me Feel”.
January 08, 1986 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Hot Fever”.
The Way You Make Me Feel (album version) : The song was re recorded in 1987 during the Westlake sessions with the title “The Way you Make Me Feel” and released on August 31, 1987 (Bad).
The Way You Make Me Feel (short film soundtrack version) : Mixed done in the spring of1987 for the short film. Remains unreleased.
The Way You Make Me Feel (1988 Grammy Awards version) : Recorded in February 1988 with Greg Philingames during Bad Tour rehearsals in Pensacola. This version was used during the Grammy Awards 1988 performance, 1996’s concert in Brunei, 2001’s concerts in New York and 2009’s This Is It rehearsals. Remains unreleased.
The Young Folks : Recorded late 1969/early 1970 with the Jackson 5. Released on May 8, 1970 (ABC).
They Don’t Care About Us (demo) : Recorded in 1989. Song listed by MJ on a handwritten note during the Dangerous album sessions in 1989-1991. Remains unreleased.
August 14 + 15 + 16 + 17 + 18 + 21 + 22 + 23 + 25, 1989 : Michael, Bill Bottrell and Michael Boddicker work on the song “They Don”t Care About Us” at Weslake Studio C.
Demo from 1989 remains unreleased.
They Don’t Care About Us : Recorded from February 1994 to March 1995. Released on June 20, 1995 (History).
They Don’t Care About Us (Prison version) : Mix done in January 1996 for the Prison version of the short film. Remains unreleased.
They Don’t Care About Us (Brazil version) : Mix done in January 1996 for the Brazil version of the short film. Remains unreleased.
Things I Do for You : Recorded in 1978 and released on December 17, 1978 (Destiny).
Think Happy : Recorded with The Jacksons from June to October 1976. Released on November 27, 1976 (The Jacksons).
Think Twice : Brad Buxer composition for MJ. Damien Shields : “I just found a note for “Think Twice” in an old binder folder. My notes say it’s an instrumental with synthesised electric guitars on it. No vocals.” Remains unreleased.
THINKING ABOUT YOU : Recorded at the Hit Factory, in 1994. Considered lost. Remains unreleased.
This Had To Be : The song was recorded late 1980 and released in April 1981 on The Brothers Johnson’s album Light Up the Night. MJ co-wrote the song.
This Is It aka I Never Heard : Demo recorded in 1980 with Paul Anka. New remix released posthumously on October 12, 2009 (This Is It). Snippet from the original demo leaked but full original demo remains unreleased.
This Is Our Time : Written by MJ, Lauryn Hill and David Foster in 1999. Failed to make the Invincible album. Despite rumors to the contrary, the song was not recorded as a duet with Hill. Remains unreleased.
This Place Hotel aka Heartbreak Hotel : Recorded in 1980 with The Jacksons and featuring LaToya Jackson. Released on October 18, 1980 (Triumph).
This Time Around : Recorded from February 1994 to March 1995. Released on June 20, 1995 (History).
Threatened : Recorded from March 1999 to July 2001. Released on October 30, 2001 (Invincible).
Thriller : Recorded from April 14 – November 8, 1982. Released on November 30, 1982 (Thriller).
Thriller (short film soundtrack version) : mix done in 1983 for the short film. Remains unreleased.
Thriller’s Vincent Price Voice-Over Session” Temperton Jones 0:24. Recorded in 1982. Released on February 8, 2008 (Thriller 25).
Through Sick And Thin : Recorded with The Jackson 5 in 1972-1975. Released on October 26, 1976 (Joyful Jukebox Music).
Throwin’ Your Life Away (demo) : Recorded in 1986 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. The song started production in December 15, 1986 and continued until January 4, 1987. It was produced by Bill Bottrell. It was intended for the Bad album but it unfortunately failed to make the final cut.
In February 25, 1988, while MJ was touring. Quincy Jones continued producing the song while the two were still working together.
The track was reworked in 2009, with the CD appearing in court documents of Jeffré Phillips’ lawsuit. One of the songs listed by MJ on a handwritten note of songs he wanted to finish in June 2009.
It was picked up to be reworked again in 2010 for Jackson’s first posthumous studio album, Michael, and retitled to “(Stop) Throwing Your Life Away”. The remix was made by Neff-U, and the full runtime is 3:40. However, due to him not having access to the multitrack, it unfortunately didn’t make the final cut.
Damien Shields on X : “these are the copyright registration papers, filed on September 26, 1988 by Karen Langford. Attached to this registration was a black TDK cassette tape of the song with “Dolby B 09/08/88 Michael Jackson 1) “Throwin’ Your Life Away” Ruff Mix of MJ 424” written in blue marker. Neff-U used a digital copy of this version when he did the 2010 remix. Like I said, he didn’t have access to the multi-track, but he tried to work with what he had. The results were underwhelming and the song ultimately wasn’t in contention for the Michael album. The original 1988 Throwing Your Life Away is much stronger. Neff-U did the 2010 remix, but he didn’t have access to a multi-track. He added new strings and guitar on top of the 88 original. Those new layers drowned MJ’s vocal out, so the remix is far less powerful, in my opinion.”
A snippet leaked in 2018. The full demo (low quality) leaked in June 2020. The full demo and 2010 remix leaked in august 2025 but remain unreleased.
Bill Bottrell on X (December 6, 2024) : “Throwing” got a lot of work put into it.
One night M did lead vocals. I thought the key was too high, he couldn’t find the right voice for it. He never brought it up again. Like I said, we moved fast at Hayvenhurst. Put some love into a track, and if it doesn’t work, on to the next thing”.
Time Explosion : Recorded with The Jackson 5 in 1974-1975. Released on May 15, 1975 (Moving Violation).
Time Waits For No One : Recorded in 1980 with The Jacksons. Released on October 18, 1980 (Triumph).
Todo Mi Amor Eres Tu (Spanish version of I Just Can’t Stop Loving You) : Recorded & released in 1987.
Toda Para Ti aka What More Can I Give
To Know : Recorded with The Jackson 5 in 1971-1972. Released on May 23, 1972 (Lookin’ Through the Windows).
To Make My Father Proud : Recorded January – October 1973. Released on May 8, 1984 (Farewell My Summer Love).
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 ». In 2024, a trove of unreleased Michael Jackson tapes were found in a storage unit deep in the San Fernando Valley. Musgrove’s journey to the tapes began when an associate contacted Greg Musgrove about a storage unit he’d recently bought in Van Nuys. The unit once belonged to Bryan Loren, a music producer and singer. On the tapes are 12 unreleased tracks, music Jackson worked on prior to the Dangerous album, around 1989 to 1991 including the song “To Satisfy You” (complete Loren & Jackson). He and the attorney he brought on approached the Jackson Estate with their findings earlier this year. The estate, who Musgrove says did their own research into the tapes, declined to purchase the tapes for an unknown reason, but did provide him with an official letter stating that the estate does not claim ownership. They make it clear in the letter, however, that he and anyone else who might purchase these tapes down the line do not own the copyright on the recordings or the compositions, the estate does. Essentially, these tapes can never be released publicly. Remains unreleased.
Solo demo sung by MJ remains unreleased.
To Sir, with Love : Recorded in May-August 1969 with the Jackson 5. Remains unreleased.
To The World : Written by MJ in 2000. Remains unreleased.
Tomboy : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger.
-November 08, 1985 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Tomboy”.
-January 22, 1986 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Tomboy”.
Contains a melody identical to the “I bet you remember” line in Remember the Time. Features Roger Troutman as guest musician. Damien Shields: “Tomboy, I don’t know. I heard a version at the US Copyright Office, but the version I heard was instrumental. It had a VERY “Captain EO” vibe to it, and a melody line in the music strikingly similar to (basically the same as) the “I bet you remember” line in Remember The Time.“No lyrics/vocals” on the version I heard. The version I heard was sent to the copyright office on October 28, 1985, on the same cassette as Smooth Criminal, Dirty Diana, Hot Fever (which is an instrumental of The Way You Make Me Feel) and What You Do To Me”. The instrumental version of this song was renamed to “Stop That” on Zapp Album. Michael gave the Multitrack of the song to Roger Tourtman we can heard Roger Voice on it too. Remains unreleased.
Too Late To Turn Back Now : One of the songs listed by MJ on a handwritten note of songs he wanted to finish in June 2009. Remains unreleased.
Too Young : Recorded in March 1972 – January 1973. Released on April 13, 1973 (Music And Me).
Torture : Duet with Jermaine recorded from November 1983 to May 1984. Released on July 2, 1984 (Victory).
Touch : Recorded with The Jackson 5 in 1972–1973. Released on March 29, 1973 (Skywriter).
Touch The One You Love : Recorded January – October 1973. Released on May 8, 1984 (Farewell My Summer Love).
Track Of My Tears : Recorded in 1967 with the Jackson 5. Released in 1989 (The Jackson 5 – Beginning Years 1967-1968).
Tragedy of a Cheer-leader : Written by MJ. Cited by MJ in his 1993 deposition. Remains unreleased.
Trash Can Song : May 21, 1986 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the songs “Florida Groove” and “Trash Can Song”. Remains unreleased.
Triple Threat Cable : Written and recorded in 1999 for an album that was shelved. Remains unreleased.
True Love Can Be Beautiful : Recorded late 1969/early 1970. Released on May 8, 1970 (ABC).
Truth Or Youth : Song listed by MJ on a handwritten note during the Dangerous album sessions in 1989-1991. The song was produced by Bryan Loren and recorded between 1990 and 1991. The full runtime is 5:02
In 2024, a trove of unreleased Michael Jackson tapes were found in a storage unit deep in the San Fernando Valley. Musgrove’s journey to the tapes began when an associate contacted Greg Musgrove about a storage unit he’d recently bought in Van Nuys. The unit once belonged to Bryan Loren, a music producer and singer. On the tapes are 12 unreleased tracks, music Jackson worked on prior to the Dangerous album, around 1989 to 1991 including the song “Truth On Youth” completed (duet rap with LL Cool J). He and the attorney he brought on approached the Jackson Estate with their findings earlier this year. The estate, who Musgrove says did their own research into the tapes, declined to purchase the tapes for an unknown reason, but did provide him with an official letter stating that the estate does not claim ownership. They make it clear in the letter, however, that he and anyone else who might purchase these tapes down the line do not own the copyright on the recordings or the compositions, the estate does. Essentially, these tapes can never be released publicly. Remains unreleased.
Tubeway : Written circa 1999. Failed to make the Invincible album. Remains unreleased.
Turning Me Off :
-January 29, 1986 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Tutning Me Off”.
-February 24, 1986 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Turning Me Off”.
-March 09 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Turning Me Off”.
-October 30, 1986 : Scratch vocal recorded at Hayvenhurst.
July 20 + 21 + July 31 + August 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + November 06, 1989 : Michael, Bill Bottrell and John Barnes work on the song “Turnin Me Off” at Weslake Studio C.
Described as “one of Michael’s edgier experiments” and “very groove-oriented” by Matt Forger. Reworked in 1989. Failed to make the Dangerous album
Track is vocally complete and ready for release.
The song leaked on YouTube on November 19, 2025 but remains unreleased.
Twenty-Five Miles : Recorded with The Jackson 5 in the early 1970’s. Released in October 1987 (The Original Soul of Michael Jackson). The original recording of the song was released posthumously on September 1, 20092 (Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection).
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Me : Song recorded with The Jackson 5 in 1970 for the Christmas album. Remains unreleased.
