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

1981-1983 : Thriller era

RECORDING DATE

April 14 – November 8, 1982.

“Behind the Mask” is a 1979 song by the Japanese synth-pop group Yellow Magic Orchestra. The composer, Ryuichi Sakamoto, wrote the first version for a television commercial. This was expanded with the band and the British lyricist Chris Mosdell for inclusion on the 1979 Yellow Magic Orchestra album Solid State Survivor. In the US and the UK, “Behind the Mask” was released as a single from the album X∞Multiplies in 1980.

In 1982, Michael Jackson recorded a version with extra lyrics and melodies. It was omitted from his 1982 album Thriller as no royalty arrangement could be agreed. Jackson’s demo was released on the album Thriller 40 in 2022.

In the 1980s, artists including Greg Phillinganes, Eric Clapton and the Human League recorded versions based on Jackson’s demo. Clapton’s version, released in 1987, was a top-20 single in some markets. An updated remix of Jackson’s version was released on the 2010 album Michael.

STUDIO(S)

Westlake (Los Angeles, California)

SONGWRITER(S)

Michael Jackson, Ryuichi Sakamoto & Chris Mosdell

PRODUCER(S)

Quincy Jones & Michael Jackson

RELEASE DATE :

A remixed version was released posthumously on December 10, 2010 (Michael).

Original demo was released posthumously on November 18, 2022 (Thriller 40).

LABEL

Sony

LENGTH

5:01

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

1983-1984 : Victory era

RECORDING DATE

Written in 1979 as “Always, Be Not Always”. Recorded from November 1983 to May 1984.

STUDIO(S)

Los Angeles (California)

SONGWRITER(S)

Michael Jackson & Marlon Jackson

PRODUCER(S)

Michael Jackson

RELEASE DATE :

July 2, 1984 (Victory)

LABEL

CBS Epic Records

LENGTH

5:36

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

Ben (1972)

RECORDING DATE

November 1971

“Ben” is a song written by Don Black and Walter Scharf for the 1972 film of the same name (a spin-off to the 1971 killer rat film Willard). It was performed by Lee Montgomery in the film and by Michael Jackson over the closing credits.

STUDIO(S)

Motown’s California Studios

SONGWRITER(S)

Don Black & Walter Scharf

PRODUCER(S)

The Corporation

RELEASE DATE :

July 12, 1972 (Ben single)

August 4, 1972 (Ben album).

LABEL

Motown

LENGTH

2:44

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

In the closing credits of the “Ben” movie.

MUSICIANS

PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :

1

SHORT FILM

No short film

LIVE PERFORMANCES ON TV SHOWS

July 1, 1972 : Michael makes a solo appearance in a special American Bandstand show devoted to him. He performs Rockin Robin, Ben, I Wanna Be Where You Are and at the end he’s joined by the Jackson 5 to perform Lookin’ Through The Windows.

September 15, 1972 : The Jackson 5 perform Lookin’ Through The Windows and Michael performs Ben at the Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.

November 4, 1972 : In the US, Soul Train Show airs a Jackson Five special where they perform I Want You Back, Lookin’ Through The Windows & Corner Of The Sky. Jermaine performs That’s How Love Goes & Daddy’s Home.    Michael performs Ben

March 27, 1973 : Michael performs Ben at the Academy Awards (the song is nominated as best song for a film)

June 23, 1976 : CBS airs the 2nd episode of The Jacksons Variety Show.  Special guest star -: Mackenzie Phillips. Songs performed : “(You Were Made) Especially For Me”,
“Do The Fonz”, “A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock and Roll”/”Deep Purple”Convoy”, “Junkfood Junkie”, “Ben”, “Goin’ Back to Indiana”.

LIVE PERFORMANCES ON CONCERTS

The Jackson 5 US Tour (December 27, 1971 – October 5, 1972)
The Jackson 5 European Tour (November 2–12, 1972)
The Jackson 5 World Tour (March 2, 1973 – Late December 1975

The Jackson 5 Final Tour (February 2–14, 1976)
The Jacksons Tour (May 19 – 24, 1977)
Goin’ Places Tour (January 22 – May 13, 1978)
Destiny World Tour (January 22, 1979 – January 13, 1980)
Triumph Tour (July 8 – September 26, 1981)

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

Recorded with The Jackson 5 in 1972

STUDIO(S)

Motown Studios in California

SONGWRITER(S)

???

PRODUCER(S)

???

RELEASE DATE :

Unreleased.

LABEL

Motown

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 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.

ERA

1985-1989 : Bad era

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

RECORDING DATE

Song was firstly recorded for Bad album in 1987 and then reworked in 2000 for Invincible album. It was then reworked again in 2004.

Song is known to be vocally completed and ready for future release.

Registered with ASCAP in 2021, although disappeared sometime after.[1]

Lyrics: “So you wanna see in my life/ So watch but be careful”,”I don’t give no doubts/ But that it’s painful”,”Be me 4 a day/So you can understand my pain”,”What’s it all about/ And i’m not proud”

STUDIO(S)

???

SONGWRITER(S)

Michael Jackson

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 :

Never 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

Sources : My personal research, Wikipedia, Janet Jackson, For The Record by Chris Cadman & Craig Halstead.

ERA

« Unbreakable » era : 2012-2016

RECORDING DATE

In August 2012 to August 2015.

STUDIO(S)

Flyte Tyme Studios (Agoura Hills)
The Cadillac Castle (Century City)
MusicTone LLC (Hollywood)
TBhits (Grand Hills, Los Angeles)
MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach

SONGWRITER(S)

Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis

PRODUCER(S)

Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis

RELEASE DATE :

October 02, 2015 (Unbreakable).

LABEL

Rhythm Nation/BMG

LENGTH

4:48

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

No alternative version.

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

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

RECORDING DATE

Written in 1999 by MJ and Teddy Riley. However, it’s said to be fake. Unknown if recorded. Mentioned in Michael Jackson: For The Record.

STUDIO(S)

???

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 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

1977-1978 : The Wiz era

RECORDING DATE

Recorded with Diana Ross, Nipsey Russell, Quincy Jones and Ted Ross from November 1977 to January 1978.

Like many musicals of the period, the performances in the soundtrack album are not those used directly in the film, but pre/re-recorded by the same artists at an earlier and/or later date.

STUDIO(S)

A & R Recording (New York City)

SONGWRITER(S)

Charlie Smalls

PRODUCER(S)

Quincy Jones

RELEASE DATE :

September 18, 1978 (The Wiz soundtrack).

LABEL

Unreleased

LENGTH

MCA

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)

MUSICIANS

???

PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :

Not released as a single

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

Sources : My personal research, Wikipedia, Janet Jackson, For The Record by Chris Cadman & Craig Halstead.

ERA

« The Velvet Rope » era : 1997-1999

RECORDING DATE

In January-July 1997

STUDIO(S)

Flyte Tyme (Edina, Minnesota)
The Hit Factory (New York City)
Record Plant (Los Angeles)

SONGWRITER(S)

Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis

PRODUCER(S)

Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis

RELEASE DATE :

November 3, 1998 (B side of “Every Time” single)

October 7, 2022 (The Velvet Rope: Deluxe Edition)

LABEL

Virgin Records

LENGTH

4:07

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

No alternative version.

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

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

RECORDING DATE

First mix recorded in 1998. New mix recorded in 2003-2004. 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)

Los Angeles (California)

SONGWRITER(S)

Michael Jackson

PRODUCER(S)

Michael Jackson

RELEASE DATE :

November 16, 2004 (The Ultimate Collection Box Set).

LABEL

Sony Music

LENGTH

4:03

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