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

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

RECORDING DATE

Written by Michael Jackson, Brad Buxer in 1998-2001.

STUDIO(S)

???

SONGWRITER(S)

Michael Jackson & Brad Buxer

PRODUCER(S)

Michael Jackson & Brad Buxer

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

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

RECORDING DATE

The song was originally recorded between 1998 and 1999 for the Invincible album but failed to make the final cut. Dr. Freeze re-tooled the song without changing the original music to fit night clubs but this version was not featured on the Xscape album. In late 2010, a year after Jackson’s passing, the full version of “Blue Gangsta” was leaked onto the internet. The original version of “Blue Gangsta” included on Xscape is an earlier version: engineer Michael Prince felt the decision to include this version didn’t align with Jackson’s vision for the song.

Opening with a movie score-like wash of strings and the urgent refrain, “What cha gonna do/You ain’t no friend of mine/Look what you put me through/Now that I’m the blue gangsta,” the Timbaland-produced tune features a spare, skittering beat and Jackson singing over the multi-tracked chorus. Brazilian tribute artist and impersonator Rodrigo Teaser revealed in a podcast that LaVelle Smith Jr. (Jackson’s long-time personal friend, choreographer and dancer), who had worked with Teaser, told him that the song would be the last part of a gangster-themed trilogy to be presented in live performances, the two previous parts being Smooth Criminal and Dangerous.

STUDIO(S)

Los Angeles (California)

SONGWRITER(S)

Michael Jackson

Elliot “Dr. Freeze” Straite

PRODUCER(S)

Michael Jackson
Elliot “Dr. Freeze” Straite

RELEASE DATE :

Posthumously on May, 9 2014 (“Xscape” album).

LABEL

MJJ Music
Epic Records
Legacy Recording
Sony

LENGTH

4:24 (original version)

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

1969-1975 : Motown era

RECORDING DATE

Bob Dylan cover recorded with The Jackson 5 in 1969-1974

STUDIO(S)

Motown Recording Studios, Hollywood, California

SONGWRITER(S)

???

PRODUCER(S)

???

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

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

Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix (1996-1997)

RECORDING DATE

March 1991-October 1991 : First mix recorded during the “Dangerous” album sessions

Mid January 1997 : Michael goes to Montreux, Switzerland with Frank Cascio, to complete work on the “Blood On The Dance Floor” compilation. He stays at the Fairmont Montreux Palace and spends two weeks at the Mountain Studios recording the songs Blood On The Dance Floor and Elizabeth I Love You with Matt Forger.

STUDIO(S)

Los Angeles (California)

Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland

SONGWRITER(S)

Michael Jackson & Teddy Riley

PRODUCER(S)

Michael Jackson & Teddy Riley

RELEASE DATE :

March 21, 1997 (single version)

May 20, 1997 (album version “Blood On The Dance Floor : HIStory in the Mix”)

LABEL

Sony Music

LENGTH

4:12

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

Blood On The Dance Floor (1991 mix) : First mix recorded during the “Dangerous” album sessions in March 1991-October 1991. It remains unreleased.

Blood On The Dance Floor (short film mix) : Mix done in February 1997 for the short film. It remains unreleased.

MUSICIANS

Written, composed and produced by Michael Jackson and Teddy Riley
Solo and background vocals, vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson
Teddy Riley and Brad Buxer: Keyboards and synthesizers, drum programming
Guitar by Nile Rodgers
Matt Carpenter: Digital Systems programming
Engineered by Teddy Riley, Dave Way and Mick Guzauski
Mixed by Mick Guzauski

PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :

42

SHORT FILM

Directed by : Vincent Paterson

Date of shooting : February 10-15, 1997

Date of premiere : April 2, 1997

Official release : On DVD in 1997 (History on Film Vol 2) in 2003 (Number Ones) and in 2010 (Vision) and on Michael’ You Tube official page.

LIVE PERFORMANCES ON TV SHOWS

Never performed on TV

LIVE PERFORMANCES IN CONCERTS

History World Your 1997

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

1978 : Destiny era

RECORDING DATE

In January-July 1978 with The Jacksons

STUDIO(S)

Hayvenhurst home Studio in Encino, California

Total EXperience Recording Studios (Hollywood, California)
Record Plant
(Los Angeles, California)
Cherokee Studios
(Hollywood, California)
Dawnbreaker Studios
(San Fernando, California)

SONGWRITER(S)

The Jacksons

PRODUCER(S)

The Jacksons

RELEASE DATE :

December 18, 1978 (Destiny).

LABEL

Epic CBS Records

LENGTH

4:57

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

No alternate version known to exist

MUSICIANS

Ricky Lawson – drums
Rick Marotta – drums, percussion
Paulinho da Costa – percussion
Laudir de Oliveira – congas
Claudio Slon – congas
Seawind Horns – trumpet, saxophone, flute

Roland Bautista – guitar
Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitar, guitar solo
Michael Sembello – guitar, bass
Michael Boddicker – synthesizers
Greg Phillinganes – keyboards, synthesizers , rhythm arrangements
Gary King – bass
Nathan Watts – bass
Ed Greene – drums

Produced by The Jacksons
Bobby Colomby, Mike Atkinson – executive producers
Don Murray, Peter Granet – engineer
Clare Fischer – string arrangement
Tom Tom 84 – horn arrangements, string arrangements
Jerry Hey – horn arrangements

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 concert

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 1989-1991.

STUDIO(S)

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

SONGWRITER(S)

Michael Jackson & Bill Bottrell

PRODUCER(S)

Michael Jackson & Bill Bottrell

RELEASE DATE :

November 11, 1991 (single)

November 26, 1991 (Dangerous).

LABEL

Sony Music

LENGTH

4:16 (album version)

3:22 (single version)

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

Black Or White (short film version) : Mix done in 1991 for the short film. Remains unreleased.

Black Or White (Pepsi version)  : Recorded in 1991 & used in a Pepsi commercial in 1992. Remains unreleased.

MUSICIANS

???

PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :

1

SHORT FILM

Music video directed by : John Landis

Date of shooting : June 1991

Date of premiere : November 14, 1991

Official release : Released on VHS in 1993 (Dangerous The Short Films,) on DVD in 1995 (History), in 2003 (Number Ones) and in 2010 (Vision) and on Michael’ You Tube official page.

LIVE PERFORMANCES ON TV SHOWS

November 15, 1991 : Michael tapes a performance of “Black Or White” & “Will You Be There” at the Santa Monica Airport in Santa Monica for the MTV’s 10th Anniversary Special to be aired on November 27th.

January 31, 1993 : Michael performs a medley of “Jam”, “Bilie Jean”, “Black Or White” and “Heal The World” at the Superbowl Halftime Show in the Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena (California) before an audience of 100 000 in the stadium and 133 millions on TV.

September 7, 1995 : Michael & Janet attend the MTV Video Music Awards in New York City with Lisa Marie & Rene . MJ opens the ceremony with a 20 minutes long medley (including “Black Or White”, “Dangerous” & “You Are Not Alone”) and accepts an award with Janet for Scream.

LIVE PERFORMANCES IN CONCERTS

Dangerous World Tour 1992-1993

Brunei Royal Concert on July 16, 1996

History World Tour 1996-1997

June 25 + 27, 1999 : Michael performs two charity concerts “Michael Jackson & Friends” in Seoul which airs live on Korean TV and in Munich which airs live on German TV .

Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Special (September 7+ 10, 2001)

April 24, 2002 : Michael performs “Dangerous”, “Black Or White” & “Heal The World” (joined by Diana Ross!) during a fund-raiser for the Democratic National Committee’s Every Vote Counts ‘campaign held at the mythic Apollo Theatre in Harlem. It is Michael’s last live performance in front of an an audience.

This Is It 2009 (the song was rehearsed in June 2009 and is part of the This Is It movie)

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

Song was written and recorded by Michael during his HIStory World Tour in 1997. Song may fit Blood On The Dance Floor album vibes.

Said to be the first song worked for Invincible.

Title mentioned by Michael Prince in the 52nd episode of MJCast.

“Bio” is just a working title.

STUDIO(S)

???

SONGWRITER(S)

Michael Jackson & Brad Buxer

PRODUCER(S)

Michael Jackson & Brad Buxer

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.

RECORDING DATE

April 14 – November 8, 1982.

STUDIO(S)

Westlake (Los Angeles, California)

SONGWRITER(S)

Michael Jackson

PRODUCER(S)

Quincy Jones & Michael Jackson

RELEASE DATE :

November 30, 1982 (Thriller album)

January 2, 1983 (single)

LABEL

Epic CBS Records

LENGTH

4:54 (album/single version)
6:20 (12-inch version)

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

Billie Jean (demo 1) : Recorded in 1981 at the Hayvenhurst home studio & released on October 16, 2001 (Thriller Special Edition).

Billie Jean (demo 2) : Recorded in 1982 & leaked online. Remains unreleased.

Billie Jean (demo 3) : Recorded in 1982 and used in the “This Is It’ movie in 2009. The full demo leaked in 2018 but remains unreleased.

Billie Jean (Pepsi version) : In november 1983, Michael records a new version of “Billie Jean” for the upcoming Pepsi commercials at the Soundcastle studio with Bill Bottrell and John Barnes. Released in a special limited 7″promo Pepsi Pepsi titled “The Choice Of A New Generation”. Never released on CD.

Billie Jean (Spanish version) : Bill Bottrell on X (December 6, 2024) :” I did record the Spanish vocals for Pepsi on Billie Jean though”. Remains unreleased.

Billie Jean 2008 : Michael Jackson’s original version of “Billie Jean” was remixed by Kanye West for Thriller 25, a 25th anniversary reissue of Jackson’s Thriller. Released on February 8, 2008 (Thriller 25).

MUSICIANS

Michael Jackson – lead and backing vocals; Yamaha CS-80 synthesizer; songwriting; vocal, rhythm, synthesizer and string arrangements
Michael Boddicker – E-mu Emulator
Leon “Ndugu” Chancler – drums
Louis Johnson – bass guitar
Greg Phillinganes – Rhodes piano, synthesizer
Tom Scott – lyricon
Greg Smith – synthesizer
David Williams – guitar
Bill Wolfer – synthesizer, synthesizer programming
Jerry Hey – string arrangement
Jeremy Lubbock – string conducting
Bruce Swedien – mixing, engineer

PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :

1

SHORT FILM (filmed by MJ during his lifetime)

Music video directed by Steve Barron

Date of shooting : January 31,1983

Date of premiere : March 10, 1983

Official release : Released on DVD in 1995 (History), in 2003 (Number Ones) and in 2010 (Vision) and on Michael’ You Tube official page.

LIVE PERFORMANCES ON TV SHOWS

March 25, 1983 : Michael & The Jacksons tape a performance at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium for “Motown 25th: Yesterday, Today & Forever” TV special. For the first time since 1975, all the Jackson brothers including Jermaine & Randy are reunited on stage for a medley of the Jackson 5 hits followed by a solo performance of “Billie Jean” during which Michael showcases his first ever public performance of the Moonwalk. At the end of the show, Michael joins Diana Ross and all the Motown stars on stage to pay tribute to Berry Gordy. NBC broadcasts the two hour special “Motown 25th: Yesterday, Today & Forever” TV special on May 16, 1983. The show is watched by 47 millions Americans and Michaels dancing talents are finally recognised when legends such as Fred Astaire & Gene Kelly call him and congratulate his performance.

January 31, 1993 : Michael performs a medley of “Jam”, “Bilie Jean”, “Black Or White” and “Heal The World” at the Superbowl Halftime Show in the Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena (California) before an audience of 100 000 in the stadium and 133 millions on TV.

September 7, 1995 : Michael & Janet attend the MTV Video Music Awards in New York City with Lisa Marie & Rene . MJ opens the ceremony with a 20 minutes long medley (including “Billie Jean”, “Dangerous” & “You Are Not Alone”) and accepts an award with Janet for Scream.

November 13, 2001 : CBS broadcasts an edited version of Michael’s concerts at the Madison Square Garden and gets great ratings. Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Special (September 7+ 10, 2001)

LIVE PERFORMANCES IN CONCERTS

Victory Tour 1984

Bad World Tour 1987-1989

Dangerous World Tour 1992-1993

Brunei Royal Concert on July 16, 1996

History World Tour 1996-1997

June 25 + 27, 1999 : Michael performs two charity concerts “Michael Jackson & Friends” in Seoul which airs live on Korean TV and in Munich which airs live on German TV .

Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Special (September 7+ 10, 2001)

This Is It 2009 (the song was rehearsed in June 2009 and is part of the This Is It movie)

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

1967-1968 : Steeltown era

RECORDING DATE

I’m A Big Boy Now : On July 13, 1967 : The Jackson 5 made their first professionnal recording at the George & Ernie Leaner Studio for One-derful Records in Chicago. They recorded the song “I’m A Big Boy Now” but they did not sign any record deal. In August 2009, the Leaners’ children of former Chicago One-derful! Records owners George and Ernie Leaner, discovered for the first time, a master recording in the One-derful! archives of The Jackson Five recording “I’m A Big Boy Now” (“Big Boy”) dated July 13, 1967. This recording predates Keith’s Steeltown 1967 recording of “Big Boy” (in 1967, the Leaner brothers had told Keith, that they did not have any Jackson Five recordings). This first version of “Big Boy” was released posthumously in 2014.

Big Boy : In late November/December 1967, the J5 recorded a new version of “Big Boy” at the Sunny Sawyer Studio in Chicago. The song was released as their first ever single on January 31, 1968.

Big Boy” was released by Steeltown Records, a record company in Gary, Indiana, in January 1968. After it was released, the song played on radio stations in the Chicago-Gary area and was a local hit. Beginning in March 1968, Steeltown Records sold thousands of copies of “Big Boy” nationally through a distribution deal with Atlantic Records, but it was neither a critical nor commercial success. The Jackson family were delighted with the outcome nonetheless.

In 1994, the master tapes to “Big Boy” were thought to be lost (Keith kept his 1967 Jackson Five master tapes of “Big Boy” in a bank vault). Jackson family friend Ben Brown (and former Steeltown co-owner) claimed he found the tapes in his parents’ “kitchen pantry”. In 1995, Brown reissued the record on the Inverted Records label— a week before Michael Jackson’s HIStory album was issued. He also remastered the song, selling it by mail order, along with an instrumental version, in a limited edition package consisting of a compact disc and cassette tape — the package could be purchased at a cost of approximately $30. The reissue of “Big Boy” was promoted with a music video.

In May 2009, Gordon Keith put items from steeltown era up for auction, including “a sizable number of mint-condition copies of ‘Big Boy'” (#681) in 45 rpm format and 100 copies of “We Don’t Have To Be Over 21 (to Fall in Love)”. Keith stated, “I could use the money… I got these guys off the ground… I didn’t truly get real money for it”.

STUDIO(S)

The George & Ernie Leaner Studio in Chicago

Sunny Sawyer Studio in Chicago

SONGWRITER(S)

Ed Silver

PRODUCER(S)

Gordon Keith

RELEASE DATE :

January 31, 1968.

LABEL

Steeltown Records

LENGTH

3:00 (original record)

3:36 (CD release)

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

The Jackson 5 performed the song live several times in 1968-1969, although no footage of those performance exist.

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

RECORDING DATE

The Toy (1981 demo) : Written by Michael Jackson and recorded in 1981 for a Richard Pryor movie. The song evolved into Best Of Joy. Quincy Jones came up with the idea for Michael writing a song for the soundtrack to Richard Pryor’s movie of the same name. When asked about it on a deposition in 1984, Michael himself confirmed the whole idea was scrapped so the two could focus on Thriller and that he felt the song was just as strong if not stronger than tracks on the album

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”.

Best Of Joy (2008 demo) : 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. The instrumental was produced by Brad Buxer, although stayed basically the same as featured in The Toy.

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.

Best Of Joy (2010 remix) : After Michael’s passing in 2009, the song was completely reworked by Neff-U for the Michael album. It featured a new instrumental but kept the 2008 vocals. For unknown reasons, the third verse was cut out, it was likely left in an unfinished state. One of the songs listed by MJ on a handwritten note of songs he wanted to finish in June 2009. 

STUDIO(S)

Westlake (Los Angeles, California)

Bel-Air Hotel in LA,

SONGWRITER(S)

Michael Jackson,

PRODUCER(S)

Michael Jackson

RELEASE DATE :

Best Of Joy’ demos from 1991 and 2008 remain unreleased.

A mix of the 2008 demo titled “Lead Vocal A Cappella Mix — 2008 — Credits: Michael Jackson & Brad Buxer (producer) leaked on January 07, 2026. Source: circulating in full, captured from a Korgnex livestream.

Best Of Joy” (2010 remix) was released posthumously on December 10, 2010 (Michael).

Original demo of “The Toy” from 1981 released posthumously on November 18, 2022 (Thriller 40).

LABEL

Sony

LENGTH

3:04 (The Toy)

3:02 (Best Of Joy’s 2010 remix)

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

No alternate versions 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