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

Moving Violation (1975)

RECORDING DATE

Recorded with The Jackson 5 in February 1975.

STUDIO(S)

Motown Recording Studios, Hollywood, California

SONGWRITER(S)

Mel Larson & Jerry Marcellino

PRODUCER(S)

Mel Larson & Jerry Marcellino

RELEASE DATE :

May 15, 1975 (album version on “Moving Violation”).

LABEL

Motown

LENGTH

2:33

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

No other version known to exist

MUSICIANS

Troop (John Harreld, Allen McNeil, Reggie Warren, Rodney Benford, Steve Russell): vocals
Derek Organ: drums (overdubs)
Chuckii Booker: all other instruments

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

1989-1993 : Dangerous era

RECORDING DATE

Song listed by MJ on a handwritten list during the Dangerous album sessions in 1989-1991. Lyrics were leaked on Shana Mangatal’s Instagram. It was written and produced by Bryan Loren with Michael Jackson providing background vocals on the chorus.

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 “Call It Off” (dated March 27, 1991, Loren with MJ on chorus). 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.

STUDIO(S)

???

SONGWRITER(S)

Michael Jackson

PRODUCER(S)

Unknown

RELEASE DATE :

Unreleased

LABEL

Unreleased

LENGTH

???

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

???

MUSICIANS

???

PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :

Remains unreleased

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

Unknown era

RECORDING DATE

Song cited by MJ in his deposition in November 1993. Date of recording remains unknown.

STUDIO(S)

???

SONGWRITER(S)

Michael Jackson

PRODUCER(S)

Unknown

RELEASE DATE :

Unreleased

LABEL

Unreleased

LENGTH

???

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

???

MUSICIANS

???

PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :

Remains unreleased

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

1998-2004 : Invincible/Number Ones/The Ultimate Collection era

RECORDING DATE

The song was recorded in 2001 for his tenth studio album, Invincible, which was released the same year. The song was written by Andre Harris and Marsha Ambrosius, who is one half of the London bred neo-soul act Floetry and was produced by Jackson and Harris.Jackson first met Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart, who is also a member of Floetry, through John McClain, who was DreamWorks’s senior urban executive and Jackson’s manager. Stewart said she was surprised that Jackson invited her and Ambrosius to a studio and asked for their input on the recording of the track. She recalled in an interview with LAUNCH magazine, “It was incredible because he asked, he continually asked, ‘Marsh, what’s the next harmony? Girls, does this sound right? What do you think? Is this what you were looking for? He was so open”.

The song was only released in the United States to radio airplay.

STUDIO(S)

Los Angeles (California)

SONGWRITER(S)

Andre Harris & Marsha Ambrosius

PRODUCER(S)

Michael Jackson & Andre Harris

RELEASE DATE :

October 30, 2001 (Invincible)

November 27, 2001 (single)

LABEL
Sony Music

LENGTH

4:40

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

Michael Jackson – Butterflies (Track Masters Remix)
A1. “Butterflies” (Master Mix) (featuring Eve) – 3:47
A2. “Butterflies” (Michael a cappella) – 2:13
B1. “Butterflies” (Eve a cappella) (featuring Eve) – 3:47
B2. “Butterflies” (Master Mix Instrumental) – 3:47

MUSICIANS

Written and composed by Andre Harris and Marsha Ambrosius
Produced by Michael Jackson and Andre Harris
Lead vocal by Michael Jackson
Background vocals by Michael Jackson and Marsha Ambrosius
All musical instruments performed by Andre Harris
Horns by Norman Jeff Bradshaw and Matt Cappy
Recorded by Andre Harris and Bruce Swedien
Assistant engineering by Vidal Davis
Mixed by Bruce Swedien

PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :

14

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

1969-1975 : Motown era

RECORDING DATE

Song written by Stevie Wonder in 1974 for The Jackson 5. The demo was recorded in 1974 during the “Dancing Machine” album sessions but remained unreleased until 2009.

STUDIO(S)

Motown Studios in California

SONGWRITER(S)

Stevie Wonder

PRODUCER(S)

Stevie Wonder

RELEASE DATE :

Posthumously on November 10, 2009 (I Want You Back! Unreleased Masters)

I Want You Back! Unreleased Masters is a Jackson 5 compilation released to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band’s debut on Motown Records; their debut single “I Want You Back” was issued October 7, 1969. The compilation, specifically designed to fit like a regular 1970s-era album, contains previously unreleased songs and alternate versions of some of the group’s hits.

LABEL

Motown

LENGTH

3:54

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 ON CONCERTS

Never performed on 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.

RECORDING DATE

From December 1978 to June 1979.

STUDIO(S)

Allen Zentz (Los Angeles, California)

Westlake (Los Angeles, CA)

Cherokee (Los Angeles, CA)

SONGWRITER(S)

Rod Temperton

PRODUCER(S)

Quincy Jones

RELEASE DATE :

August 10, 1979 (Off The Wall).

LABEL

CBS Epic Records

LENGTH

3:42

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

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

1989-1993 : Dangerous era

RECORDING DATE

Bumper Snippet is a very mysterious track, as no info is available about it and it is unknown what was the recording’s purpose. It’s said to be a skit or that it was supposed to evolve into a song, but this is unconfirmed.

In early 2000s, another version of the track was leaked, this time being titled “Bumper Snippet (Kid Part)”. It included an instrumental done by a kid beatboxing. It’s again unknown if it was going to evolve into another song. It was planned to be featured as the 1st track on Dangerous: Special Edition (Bonus Cuts) in 2001 until the project was cancelled.

The original recording leaked sometime in 2000s if not earlier, it was planned to be featured as the 12th track on Bad: Special Edition (Bonus Cuts) in 2001 until the project was cancelled. The “Kid Part” version leaked online along with 21 other Jackson demos on July 7, 2002.

STUDIO(S)

???

SONGWRITER(S)

Michael Jackson

PRODUCER(S)

Unknown

RELEASE DATE :

Unreleased

LABEL

Unreleased

LENGTH

???

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

???

MUSICIANS

???

PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :

Remains unreleased

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

1983-1984 : Victory era

RECORDING DATE

Recorded in 1983 as first studio collaboration with John Barnes. Inspired by poker player Wild Bill Hickok or bison hunter William Cody. According to Bruce Swedien, it had “a big symphonic opening and a charming melody.”.

MJ spoke about it in the “Hayvenhurst” home video in 1983 : “It’s about Will Cody (the cowboy) and how he died. I’m really excited about it because- I really hate to say it, but I know it’s going to be a hit. I really feel strong about it.”

John Barnes spoke about the song during an interview for the MJ Cast in 2018 (Episode 089) : “We went to a studio called SoundCastle, that’s the first time I saw him in person and we started that day doing the song “Buffalo Bill”. I did a classical introduction to the piece quickly and then we did the track. We got major of it done by the first session, maybe five or six hours. We were able to be complementary. To me, it was Michael’s ‘explorative period, the track was a dance song. It wasn’t quite as fast as some of his other songs but it was definately in the R&B/dance speed, Michael Jackson music!”

Bill Bottrell on X (December 6, 2024) : “I did work with MJ on Buffalo Bill I think it was during Victory sessions, at a place called Can-Am. It was a strange, silly song, we did vocals. One session. “Who shot Buffalo Bill. They said he shot a lot. Did he ever get killed?” I went home and said to my fam: WTF? I understand the MJ community wanting to hear EVERYTHING. but seriously people, let MJ have some experimental time once in a while.”

STUDIO(S)

Los Angeles (California)

SONGWRITER(S)

Michael Jackson

PRODUCER(S)

Michael Jackson & John Barnes

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 (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

Third Album (1970)

RECORDING DATE

“Bridge over Troubled Water” is a song by the American folk duo Simon & Garfunkel, released in January 1970 as the second single from their fifth studio album, Bridge over Troubled Water (1970). It was composed by Paul Simon and produced by Simon & Garfunkel and Roy Halee.

Cover recorded in April–July 1970 with The Jackson 5 (lead vocals by Jermaine Jackson)

STUDIO(S)

Motown Recording Studios, Hollywood, California

SONGWRITER(S)

Paul Simon

PRODUCER(S)

The Corporation & Hal Davis

RELEASE DATE :

September 8, 1970 (Third Album).

LABEL

Motown Records

LENGTH

5:52

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

Moving Violation (1975)

RECORDING DATE

Recorded with The Jackson 5 in February 1975.

STUDIO(S)

Motown Recording Studios, Hollywood, California

SONGWRITER(S)

Jerry Marcellino & Mel Larson

PRODUCER(S)*

Jerry Marcellino & Mel Larson

RELEASE DATE :

May 15, 1975 (album version on “Moving Violation”).

LABEL

Motown Records

LENGTH

3:38

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

No other version known to exist

MUSICIANS

Troop (John Harreld, Allen McNeil, Reggie Warren, Rodney Benford, Steve Russell): vocals
Derek Organ: drums (overdubs)
Chuckii Booker: all other instruments

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