Michael Jackson Michael Jackson/Bad Sessions Vol.1

After “Thriller,” Michael also worked on his own project while working on the Jacksons’ “Victory.” First, “Someone In The Dark,” which was included in the above title. It was made in the summer of 1982 during the “Thriller” sessions (composed by Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, and Rod Temperton). There are two versions of this song: the opening version (the single version and album version are the same version, just with different names) and the closing version, which were from the promo for the audio book of ET. However, this time, the first track is an extended version that combines these two versions. An instrumental version is also included. “Someone In The Dark” was credited on the best album “Decade,” which was scheduled to be released but was shelved, but it seems that it was the opening version. And then there’s Jermaine Jackson’s “Tell Me I’m Not Dreamin’ (Too Good To Be True).” It was the third track on the self-titled album (also called “Dynamite” in the Japanese version, etc.) in 1984. Michael Jackson is on lead vocals with Jermaine. Due to legal issues, it could not be officially released as a single, but was released as the B-side of “Do What You Do” and the instrumental as the B-side of “Dynamite”. This time, it includes both the song and the instrumental. It was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1985 for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group. Written by Bruce Sudano, Jay Gruska, and Michael Omartian. “Buffalo Bill” was Michael’s first collaboration with John Barnes. It was recorded at Sound Castle Studios in 1983 for Victory but was not selected, and was reconsidered for Bad, but did not make the final cut. Bill Bottrell said that he worked on the basic track by engineer Matt Forger when he arrived to work on Bad. John Barnes referred to it as a mid-tempo dance track, and Bruce Swedien said it had a “grand symphonic opening and an appealing melody.” In a private interview in ’83, Michael was excited about the track and claimed it would be a hit. “It’s a song about Will Cody (the cowboy) and his death. It’s so exciting. I hate to say it, but it’s a hit. I really feel that way.” “Buffalo Bill is great, but it’s not fully finished yet. I love the song and would love to help finish it. It’s one of the first full songs I wrote for Michael and with him.” John Barnes, ’16: “Buffalo Bill is not on Dangerous. It was worked on very early on in the Hayvenhurst sessions. Maybe even earlier. Maybe on Victory. I remember working on “Buffalo Bill” early on in Hayvenhurst. It was Matt Forger’s basic track. The estate only gets information from old track sheets and tape boxes, never consulting the people who were actually there. “Buffalo Bill” contains the following lyrics: Who shot Buffalo Bill? They said he shot a lot Did he ever get killed? Bill Bottrell, 24 The “Buffalo Bill” recorded here was created by AI based on this information. However, it is so complete that it makes you think that the real recording may have been leaked. “All Right Now” is a song included on the self-titled album released in 1990 by Ralph Tresvant, a member of New Edition. Michael wrote this song with John Barnes. According to Barnes, Michael recorded his own version in 1983 during the early “Victory” sessions. It was not included on the album and was later given to Ralph. Michael’s version is said to be almost identical to Ralph’s version. And Barnes also mentioned in 2016 that it was made before “Make Or Break” (also by Michael and Barnes). Here we have two versions, Ralph’s version and a vocal version of Michael Jackson created by AI based on this information. And then there’s “Dream Away,” written by Steve Porcaro and recorded in November 1983 for Victory. We’ve included three versions: a remaster of a recording secretly played at his seminar, a demo with a different “Human Nature”-style keyboard, and a reborn mix that is supposed to be based on the demo. “Chicago 1945,” recorded one week after the release of the single “Thriller” in 1983, was also for Victory, but Steve Porcaro used a vocal take recorded by Michael and completed the track himself (he added live drums in 1986 and horns in 2014). This time, we’ve included the completed original recording, a Funk Mix with a different bass line to make the separation of the individual instruments more prominent, and an 80’s Mix with a Linn drum-like rhythm. “Scared Of The Moon,” written by Michael and Buz Kohan, was first written and recorded for the Jacksons’ album Victory in 1984, but was not used. The song was re-recorded in the fall of 1985 for “Bad,” but was again scrapped. Michael planned to continue working on the song, and it was considered for his unfinished 11th studio album, despite its inclusion on “The Ultimate Collection.” “We Are the World” was co-written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian. It was recorded at A&M Studios in LA from January 21 to 28, 1985. Inspired by the British Band Aid song “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, American entertainer and activist Harry Belafonte contacted entertainment manager and fundraiser Ken Cragen, who first recruited his clients Lionel Richie and Kenny Rogers, then Stevie Wonder, who was working on the film “The Color Purple,” and brought in Quincy Jones as co-producer. Quincy called Michael, who had just finished touring with the Jacksons, and Michael told Richie that he wanted to help him write the song. The songwriting team initially included Stevie, but due to time constraints for the film The Woman in Red, it didn’t happen. Michael and Richie wrote “We Are the World” at the Jacksons’ Hayvenhurst home in Encino, California. They were trying to write a song that was singable, memorable, and anthemic. For a week, they worked on the lyrics and melody every night in Michael’s bedroom. La Toya Jackson recalled the process: “I walked into the room while they were writing the song and it was so quiet. I thought it was strange because Michael was usually so cheerful when he was working. It was so moving.” She later said that Michael wrote most of the lyrics. Richie recorded two melodies for “We Are the World” and Michael wrote the lyrics for it on the same day. Michael said, “I like to work quickly. I didn’t tell Lionel. I couldn’t wait. By that night, I had the drums, piano, strings, and chorus lyrics done.” Michael showed Richie and Quincy a demo, and they were both surprised that Michael could complete the song structure so quickly. Subsequent meetings were unproductive, no additional vocals were produced, and the work didn’t progress, but on the night of January 21, 1985, Richie and Michael finally completed the song. The recording recorded here is likely the demo that was played for the two, as it is Michael’s only vocal. 1.Someone In The Dark (Extended Version) 7:40 2.Someone In The Dark (Instrumental) 4:54 3.Tell Me I’m Not Dreaming (Too Good To Be True) 4:27 4.Tell Me I’m Not Dreaming (Too Good To Be True) (Instrumental) 4:11 5.Buffalo Bill (AI Version) 4:54 6.Alright Now (Ralph Tresvant Version) 4:19 7.Alright Now (Michael Jackson AI Version) 4:18 8.Dream Away (Remaster) 4:51 9.Dream Away (Demo) 4:37 10.Dream Away (Reborn Mix) 4:33 11.Chicago 1945 (Original Version) 5:08 12.Chicago 1945 (Funk Mix) 5:11 13.Chicago 1945 (80’s Mix) 4:43 14.Scared Of The Moon 4:41 15.We Are The World (Original Solo Demo) 5:23