Author: Fred Colby

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.

ERA

Thriller (1981-1983)

RECORDING DATE

Recorded in 1982 during the “Thriller” album sessions. The song almost made the final cut, until deciding it should be replaced by Human Nature. Rod Temperton during an interview on Thriller: Special Edition: “One of them was Carousel, which is a great song, that slow-ish song from Michael Sembello, which was beautiful. But lyrically, and at that point in time, it didn’t seem, that that was were the album was heading to […]”

STUDIO(S)

Westlake (Los Angeles, California)

SONGWRITER(S)

Michael Sembello and Don Freeman

PRODUCER(S)

Quincy Jones & Michael Jackson

RELEASE DATE :

The song leaked in the 2000’s. A short edit of the song was finally released on October 16, 2001 on “Thriller: Special Edition” and later rereleased on Thriller 25. The longer version was released on August 22, 2008 (Italian & French versions of King Of Pop).

LABEL

Sony Music

LENGTH

3:39

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

No alternate version known to exist

MUSICIANS

???

PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :

Not released as a single

SHORT FILM (filmed by MJ during his lifetime)

No short film

LIVE PERFORMANCES ON TV SHOWS

Never performed on a TV show

LIVE PERFORMANCES IN CONCERTS

Never performed in concerts

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.

ERA

Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5

RECORDING DATE

Recorded on July 10th & 15th 1969 with the Jackson 5.

STUDIO(S)

Motown Studios in California

SONGWRITER(S)

Thom Bell & William Hart

PRODUCER(S)

Bobby Taylor

RELEASE DATE :

December 12, 1969 (Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5).

LABEL

Motown

LENGTH

3:10

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

No other version known to exist

MUSICIANS

???

PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :

Never released as a single

SHORT FILM

No short film

LIVE PERFORMANCES ON TV SHOWS

October 18, 1969 : Diana Ross & The Supremes introduce the Jackson 5 on ABC’s Hollywood Palace Special where they perform Sing A Simple Song, Can You Remember, I Want You Back and There Was A Time (with Diana Ross & Sammy Davis Jr)

LIVE PERFORMANCES IN CONCERTS

Never performed in concerts

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.

ERA

Invincible (1998-2004)

RECORDING DATE

Written by Sisqó and Teddy Riley during the “Invincible” album sessions in 1999-2001 but unknown if MJ recorded it.

STUDIO(S)

???

SONGWRITER(S)

Sisqó and Teddy Riley

PRODUCER(S)

Sisqó and Teddy Riley

RELEASE DATE :

Unreleased

LABEL

Unreleased

LENGTH

???

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

No other version known to exist

MUSICIANS

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 a TV show

LIVE PERFORMANCES IN CONCERTS

Never performed in concerts

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.

ERA

Triumph (1980)

RECORDING DATE

In March 1980 with The Jacksons

STUDIO(S)

Capitol

Hollywood Sound

Davien Sound

Sound City

Devonshire Sound

Westlake (Hollywood, California)

SONGWRITER(S)

Michael Jackson & Jackie Jackson

PRODUCER(S)

The Jacksons & Greg Phillinganes (co–producer)

RELEASE DATE :

October 18, 1980 (Triumph album)

March 5, 1981 (Can You Feel It single)

LABEL

Epic CBS Records

LENGTH

5:58 (album version)
3:50 (U.S. 7-inch edit)
3:59 (European 7-inch edit)

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

Can You Feel It (Guide Vocal Demo) : Full demo leaked online in 2020 but remains unreleased.

Can You Feel It (Scratch Vocals) : Leaked in 2025 but remains unrelased.

Can You Feel It (short film soundtrack version) : Mix done in 1980/1981 for the Triumph short film. Remains unreleased.

MUSICIANS

Written and composed by Michael Jackson and Jackie Jackson
Produced by the Jacksons
Lead vocals: Michael & Randy Jackson
Arrangement by Michael & Jackie Jackson
String arrangement by Tom Tom 84
Instrumentation:
Keyboards: Greg Phillinganes, Ronnie Foster, Bill Wolfer (uncredited)
Guitars: Tito Jackson, David Williams
Bass: Nathan Watts
Drums: Ollie E. Brown
Vibes: Gary L. Coleman
Background vocal coordinator and choir director: Stephanie Spruill
The Children’s Choir: Yolanda Kenerly, Brigette Bush, Audra Tillman, Lita Aubrey, Rhonda Gentry, Roger Kenerly II, Soloman Daniels, Brian Stilwell, Gerry Gruberth, Peter Wade
The Adults’ Choir: Stephanie Spruill, Paulette McWilliams, Bunny Hull, Carolyn Dennis, Venetta Fields, Josie James, Paulette Brown, Carmen Twillie, Lisa Roberts, Phyllis St. James, Roger Kenerly-Saint, Ronald Vann, Louis Price, Gregory Wright, Arnold McCuller, Roy Galloway, Jim Gilstrap, Gerry Garrett, Bob Mack, Tyrell (Rock) Deadrick

PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :

77

SHORT FILM

Date of shooting : January 1981

Date of premiere : March 1981

Directed by : Robert Abel, Bruce Gowers

Official release : On DVD in 2010 (Vision, long version) but NOT on The Jacksons’ You Tube official page.

LIVE PERFORMANCES ON TV SHOWS

Never performed on TV

LIVE PERFORMANCES IN CONCERTS

Triumph Tour (July 8 – September 26, 1981)
Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Special (September 7+ 10, 2001)

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.

ERA

The last recordings (2005-2009)

RECORDING DATE

Written by Michael Jackson, will.i.am and worked on in early 2007.

STUDIO(S)

???

SONGWRITER(S)

Michael Jackson & will.i.am

PRODUCER(S)

Michael Jackson & will.i.am

RELEASE DATE :

Unreleased.

LABEL

Unreleased

LENGTH

???

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

No other version known to exist

MUSICIANS

???

PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :

Never released as a single

SHORT FILM

No short film

LIVE PERFORMANCES ON TV SHOWS

Never performed on TV

LIVE PERFORMANCES IN CONCERTS

Never performed in concerts

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.

ERA

The last recordings (2005-2009)

RECORDING DATE

One of the songs listed by MJ on a handwritten note of songs he wanted to finish in June 2009.

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.

STUDIO(S)

???

SONGWRITER(S)

Michael Jackson

PRODUCER(S)

Michael Jackson

RELEASE DATE :

Unreleased.

LABEL

Unreleased

LENGTH

???

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

No other version known to exist

MUSICIANS

???

PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :

Never released as a single

SHORT FILM

No short film

LIVE PERFORMANCES ON TV SHOWS

Never performed on TV

LIVE PERFORMANCES IN CONCERTS

Never performed in concerts

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.

ERA

1989-1993 : Dangerous era

RECORDING DATE

Recorded in 1990-1991.

STUDIO(S)

Westlake, Los Angeles
Record One, Los Angeles
Larrabee, Hollywood

SONGWRITER(S)

Michael Jackson & Teddy Riley

PRODUCER(S)

Michael Jackson & Teddy Riley

RELEASE DATE :

November 26, 1991 (Dangerous).

LABEL

Sony Music

LENGTH

4:59 (album version)

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

Can’t Let Her Get Away (Extended Mix with rap by MJ and new adlibs) : A snipper from a different mix featuring a rap by MJ leaked online in 2020 in bad quality and remains unreleased. This mix leaked on January 07, 2026 (unreleased take of the rap verse, alternate overall mix with new ad-libs).

MUSICIANS

Recorded and mixed by Bruce Swedien, Teddy Riley, Dave Way and Jean-Marie Horvat
Solo and background vocals by Michael Jackson
Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson
Rhythm arrangement by Teddy Riley
Synthesizer arrangement by Teddy Riley
Keyboards and synthesizers by Teddy Riley
Sequencing and programming by Wayne Cobham

PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :

Not released as a single

SHORT FILM

No short film

LIVE PERFORMANCES ON TV SHOWS

Never performed on TV

LIVE PERFORMANCES IN CONCERTS

Never performed in concerts

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.

ERA

Rare and unreleased songs from Motown years (1969-1975)

RECORDING DATE

Song originally performed by Willie Hutch and also recorded by The Miracles.

Recorded in ??? with the Jackson 5.

STUDIO(S)

Motown Recording Studios, Hollywood, California

SONGWRITER(S)

Richard Hutch & Willie Hutch

PRODUCER(S)

Willie Hutch

RELEASE DATE :

Released on June 20, 1995 (Soulsation!).

LABEL

Motown Records

LENGTH

3:48

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

No other version known to exist

MUSICIANS

PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :

Not released as a single

SHORT FILM

No short film

LIVE PERFORMANCES ON TV SHOWS

Never performed on TV

LIVE PERFORMANCES IN CONCERTS

Never performed in concerts

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.

ERA

Third Album (1970)

RECORDING DATE

Recorded in April–July 1970 with The Jackson 5.

STUDIO(S)

Motown Recording Studios, Hollywood, California

SONGWRITER(S)

Deke Richards

PRODUCER(S)

The Corporation & Hal Davis

RELEASE DATE :

September 8, 1970 (Third Album).

LABEL

Motown Records

LENGTH

3:09

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

No other version known to exist

MUSICIANS

PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :

Not released as a single

SHORT FILM

No short film

LIVE PERFORMANCES ON TV SHOWS

Never performed on TV

LIVE PERFORMANCES IN CONCERTS

Never performed in concerts

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.

ERA

1977-1978 : The Wiz era

RECORDING DATE

You Can’t Win (Film version) : Recorded from November 1977 to January 1978.

You Can’t Win (extended version) : Recorded in January 1978. After the original soundtrack version of “You Can’t Win” was recorded in 1977, Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones went back into the studio in January 1978 and re-recorded the track. It was the re-recording that was released in January 1979 as the second single from The Wiz. The 7-inch version split the song in half, with “Part 1” as the A-side and “Part 2” as the B-side; the full-length version was released as a 12-inch single and later was included on The Ultimate Collection in 2004.

STUDIO(S)

A & R Recording (New York City)

SONGWRITER(S)

Charlie Smalls

PRODUCER(S)

Quincy Jones

RELEASE DATE :

September 18, 1978 (The Wiz soundtrack).

January 11, 1979 (You Can’t Win single)

LABEL

Epic CBS Records

LENGTH

7:17

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

The Wiz film version (performed in the film and released on VHS/DVD but never on disc)

Can’t Get Outta the Rain

MUSICIANS

???

PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :

81

SHORT FILM

No short film but the song is performed during the film “The Wiz” filmed in 1977 ans released on October 24, 1978.

LIVE PERFORMANCES ON TV SHOWS

Never performed on TV

LIVE PERFORMANCES IN CONCERTS

Never performed in concerts