Michael Jackson - the 45 versions on CD

It doesn't come out till next Tuesday, Aaron. I've got it on preorder, but if it doesn't come on Monday, I may go down to Virgin Megastore in Hollywood and get it Monday night at midnight.

Brian W. wrote: The article also quotes his longime engineer Bruce Swedien as saying that four tracks recorded for the "Thriller" sessions will be included, one of them called "Don't Be Messin' Around."

Brian W.:

Since you brought up this new re-issue of "Thriller" and its possible bonus tracks, I wish to call upon your MJ expertise, if I may... :-)

I have 2004's "The Ultimate Collection" box set, and I'll assume you do, too. I really like the funk sound of track #17 on disc one, which is a demo version of a previously-unreleased song, titled "Sunset Driver". However, there is conflicting info regarding the song's origin in the 60-page booklet that accompanies the box set...

In Nelson George's liner notes on pg. 23, where he discusses the song, he states, "'Sunset Driver' didn't make 'Off the Wall'". IMO, that clearly implies that it was recorded in late '78/early '79, for that album. The tracks on the box set are also sequenced more or less in chronological order, sandwiching the track in between MJ's hits from 1979's "Off the Wall" and The Jacksons' 1980 album, "Triumph", which would further seem to back George's claim...

However, the detailed credits for the song on pg. 7 of the booklet state for "Sunset Driver", "Recorded 1982". This, of course, would indicate that it was actually one of the "Thriller" rejects. And using my own personal expertise on funk and r&b from that era, when I listen to the song, it DOES sound more like it was recorded in '82, as opposed to '79...

By chance do you have more definitive info??? If not, what's your take when you listen to it??? :-) Was "Sunset Driver" an "Off the Wall" reject, or rather, a "Thriller" reject??? If the latter, I hope it's included as one the four bonus tracks on that upcoming re-issue...

Any info appreciated!

Brian, it was an OTW outtake, but i think Michael might have gone back to it during the Thriller sessions and rejected it again. that book in the box set is littered with many, many mistakes. for instance: Scared Of The Moon from the book Scared Of The Moon???? there was no such book. it's all very wishy washy. probably put together by some Sony person that knows very little about Jackson.

F**K!!! All the ringles have been pushed back two weeks to November 6th! I knew this was going to happen. How much you wanna bet me that, if they miss Halloween, they won't release the Thriller ringle at all?

Well, if they release Billie Jean, and it's got "Can't Get Outta the Rain," then it won't really matter. I knew this was going to happen... it's like the Australian "Thriller Singles" situation all over again.

Brian W. wrote: I knew this was going to happen... it's like the Australian "Thriller Singles" situation all over again.

i agree, i'm not even surprised. Sony are useless, time and time again.