It's one of my favorite Michael Jackson stories: not long after Thriller, Jackson and Randy Hansen collaborate on a few songs together, one of which ends up on The Jacksons' mostly-forgettable Victory in 1984. That song, "State of Shock," is recorded as a duet with Mick Jagger and becomes the biggest hit off the album.

The thing is, though, that Jagger wasn't meant to sing the song. Hansen was. And Hansen isn't even a real person. It's the pseudonym of one Freddie Mercury, the Queen frontman extraordinaire. Jackson and Mercury demoed several songs together, including "State of Shock" and "There Must Be More to Life Than This," the latter of which appeared on Mercury's solo album Mr. Bad Guy sans Jackson's vocals. (Rumors persist of a title track to Victory featuring The Jacksons alongside all of Queen, a face-meltingly awesome proposition if ever there was one.)

Now, rumors are coming through the pipeline from 411 Mania that these songs may soon see release. Though this writer would treat it as a rumor, the report has Queen drummer Roger Taylor saying, "We are now working on some never-before-released songs that Freddy made with Michael in the early 80′s. I'm not allowed to say too much about it but they sound incredible!" Whether it's true or not, let's hope it happens someday soon - and keep it here for info if it actually does!