More than four years following his death, Michael Jackson’s presence is still felt. Every night on Broadway, the young Michael is conjured onstage in Berry Gordy’s sprawling Motown: The Musical. Cirque du Soleil's new Michael Jackson ONE is ensconced at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay. His brothers, The Jacksons, are continuing their successful Unity Tour this summer. And, alas, hardly a day goes by when news media outlets aren't reporting on Jackson’s family in and out of the courtroom. Yet Michael Jackson’s true and most pure legacy remains in his music. And Legacy Recordings and Epic Records won’t stop ‘til they get enough.
Following last year’s deluxe reissues of Jackson’s seminal 1987 album Bad, Epic and Legacy are going the digital route with the King of Pop’s catalogue for the late artist’s next major initiative. The Indispensable Collection and The Ultimate Fan Extras Collection take an all-inclusive approach to his expansive body of work, compiling recordings originally issued between 1979 (Off the Wall) and 2012 (Live at Wembley – July 16, 1988).
The Indispensable Collection includes “Mastered for iTunes” versions of eight core titles. (A similar, career-encompassing set for The Rolling Stones has recently also been made available in this format. Apple has touted the quality of "Mastered for iTunes" releases, requesting that sources be delivered to them at 24-bit/96 kHz resolution, equivalent to HDTracks and above the standard 16-bit/44.1 kHz compact disc resolution. The source files are not delivered in any true high-resolution format, however, but are mastered to optimize sound in the traditional iTunes .m4a format.)
- Off the Wall (1979)
- Thriller (1982)
- Bad (1987)
- Dangerous (1991)
- HIStory: Past Present and Future – Book I (1995)
- Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix (1997)
- Invincible (2001)
- Live At Wembley – July 16, 1988 (2012)
It’s being released in conjunction with The Ultimate Fan Extras Collection, a 162-track “digital box set” bringing a plethora of Jackson rarities under one digital roof. This set includes:
- Selections from the 2004 box set The Ultimate Collection
- The complete posthumous release Michael (2010)
- The complete 27-track deluxe soundtrack to Cirque du Soleil’s Immortal (2011)
- All unique tracks from the This Is It soundtrack (2010) including two versions of the Michael Jackson/Paul Anka title track and the remastered radio edit of “Smooth Criminal”
- All bonus tracks from the 2001 remastered editions of Jackson’s catalogue plus all bonus tracks from Bad 25 (2012), grouped by album – including, for the first time, the full version of “Carousel” and the demo recording of “Got the Hots.” “Carousel” was presented in an edited version on the 2001 Thriller and only issued in full on an international pressing of the King of Pop compilation. Thriller-era demo “Got the Hots” was previously only included on the Japanese edition of 2008’s Thriller 25. Other selections from Thriller 25 are also included.
- A 60-track volume of Remixes, Rarities and Gems, including the digital release of “Shout” (the rare non-LP B-side to Invincible single “Cry”), selected dance mixes of Jackson’s greatest hits, hard-to-find instrumentals (many of which have not appeared anywhere since their original 45 releases), and two rare mega-mixes – one commissioned for HIStory in 1995 and another for Thriller 25.
Hit the jump for more, including the complete track listing for The Ultimate Fan Extras Collection!
All of these digital programs are available now from Epic Records and Legacy Recordings.
The Indispensable Collection (Epic/MJJ/Legacy, 2013)
includes Mastered for iTunes versions of:
- Off the Wall (1979)
- Thriller (1982)
- Bad (1987)
- Dangerous (1991)
- HIStory: Past Present and Future - Book I (1995)
- Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix (1997)
- Invincible (2001)
- Live At Wembley - July 16, 1988 (2012)
The Ultimate Fan Extras Collection (Epic/MJJ/Legacy, 2013)
Off the Wall extras:
- Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (Original Demo from 1978)
- Workin' Day and Night (Original Demo from 1978)
- Rock with You (Single Version)
- Off the Wall (Single Version)
- She's Out of My Life (Single Version)
Thriller extras:
- Billie Jean (Home Demo from 1981)
- Billie Jean (Single Version)
- Billie Jean (Long Version)
- Billie Jean (Underground Mix)
- Beat It (Single Version)
- Beat It 2008 (feat. Fergie)
- P.Y.T. 2008 (feat. will.i.am)
- The Girl is Mine 2008 (feat. will.i.am)
- Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008 (feat. Akon)
- For All Time
- Got the Hots
- Someone in the Dark
- Carousel
- Thriller (Instrumental)
Bad extras:
- Don't Be Messin' 'Round
- I'm So Blue
- Song Groove (a/k/a Abortion Papers)
- Free
- Price of Fame
- Al Capone
- Streetwalker
- Fly Away
- I Just Can't Stop Loving You (LP Version with Spoken Intro)
- Todo Mi Amor Eres Tu
- Je Ne Veux Pas La Fin de Nous
- Bad (Afrojack Remix feat. Pitbull - DJ Buddha Edit)
- Speed Demon (Nero Remix)
- Bad (Afrojack Club Mix)
The Ultimate Collection:
- Ease On Down the Road - Diana Ross & Michael Jackson
- You Can't Win
- Shake a Body (Early Demo) - The Jacksons
- Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) (Single Edit) - The Jacksons
- P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) (Demo)
- Sunset Driver (Demo)
- Scared of the Moon (Demo)
- State of Shock (with Mick Jagger) - The Jacksons
- We Are the World (Demo)
- We Are Here to Change the World
- Cheater (Demo)
- Monkey Business
- Dangerous (Early Version)
- Who is It (IHS Mix)
- Someone Put Your Hand Out
- On the Line
- Fall Again (Demo)
- In the Back
- Beautiful Girl (Demo)
- The Way You Love Me (Demo)
- We've Had Enough
- You Rock My World (with Intro)
- Enjoy Yourself - The Jacksons
- Lovely One - The Jacksons
- This Place Hotel (a/k/a Heartbreak Hotel) - The Jacksons
This is It extras:
- This is It
- This is It (Orchestra Version)
- She's Out of My Life (Demo)
- Beat It (Demo)
- Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Demo)
- Smooth Criminal (Radio Edit)
- Planet Earth (Poem)
Michael:
- Hold My Hand
- Hollywood Tonight
- Keep Your Head Up
- (I Like) The Way You Love Me
- Monster
- Best of Joy
- Breaking News
- (I Can't Make It) Another Day
- Behind the Mask
- Much Too Soon
Immortal:
- Workin' Day and Night (Immortal Version)
- The Immortal Intro (Immortal Version)
- Childhood (Immortal Version)
- Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Immortal Version)
- Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) (Immortal Version)
- Dancing Machine/Blame It on the Boogie (Immortal Version)
- Ben (Immortal Version)
- This Place Hotel (Immortal Version)
- Smooth Criminal (Immortal Version)
- Dangerous (Immortal Version)
- The Mime Segment: (I Like) The Way You Love Me/Speed Demon/Another Part of Me (Immortal Version)
- The Jackson 5 Medley (Immortal Version)
- Speechless/Human Nature (Immortal Version)
- Is It Scary/Threatened (Immortal Version
- Thriller (Immortal Version)
- You Are Not Alone/I Just Can't Stop Loving You (Immortal Version)
- Beat It/State of Shock (Immortal Version)
- Jam (Immortal Version)
- Planet Earth/Earth Song (Immortal Version)
- Scream/Little Susie (Immortal Version)
- Gone Too Soon (Immortal Version)
- They Don't Care About Us (Immortal Version)
- Will You Be There (Immortal Version)
- I'll Be There (Immortal Version)
- Immortal Megamix
- Man in the Mirror (Immortal Version)
- Remember the Time/Bad (Immortal Version)
Remixes, Rarities & Gems:
- Can You Feel It - The Jacksons
- Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (Live) - The Jacksons
- Don't Stop 'Till You Get Enough (Roger's Underground Solution Mix)
- Rock with You (Frankie Knuckles Radio Mix)
- Rock with You (Frankie's Favorite Club Mix)
- Rock with You (Masters at Work Remix)
- Rock with You (Live) - The Jacksons
- Off the Wall (Live) - The Jacksons
- She's Out of My Life (Live) - The Jacksons
- Working Day and Night (Live) - The Jacksons
- Can't Get Outta the Rain
- Say Say Say - Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
- Beat It (Moby's Sub Mix)
- Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Brothers in Rhythm House Mix)
- Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Instrumental)
- Thriller Megamix
- Bad (Dance Extended Mix includes 'False Fade')
- The Way You Make Me Feel (Dance Extended Mix)
- The Way You Make Me Feel (Instrumental)
- Man in the Mirror (Instrumental)
- Dirty Diana (Instrumental)
- Another Part of Me (Extended Dance Mix)
- Another Part of Me (Instrumental)
- Smooth Criminal (Dance Radio Edit)
- Smooth Criminal (Extended Dance Mix)
- Smooth Criminal (Instrumental)
- Liberian Girl (U.K. Edit)
- Black or White (The Clivillés & Cole Radio Mix)
- Black or White (The Clivillés & Cole House/Club Mix)
- Black or White (House With Guitar Radio Mix)
- Black or White (The Underground Club Mix)
- Black or White (Instrumental)
- Remember the Time (New Jack Radio Mix)
- Remember the Time (Silky Soul 7”)
- Remember the Time (12" Main Mix)
- Remember the Time (Maurice's Underground)
- Remember the Time (E-Smoove's Late Nite Mix)
- In the Closet (Radio Edit)
- In the Closet (The Underground Mix)
- Jam (Silky 12" Mix)
- Dangerous (Roger's Dangerous Edit)
- Who is It (Brothers in Rhythm House Mix)
- Will You Be There (Instrumental)
- Gone Too Soon (Instrumental)
- Scream Louder (Flyte Tyme Remix)
- Scream (Classic Club Mix)
- Earth Song (Radio Edit)
- Earth Song (Hani's Extended Radio Experience)
- They Don't Care About Us (Love to Infinity's Walk in the Park Mix)
- Stranger in Moscow (Tee's Radio Mix)
- Smile (Short Version)
- Is It Scary (Radio Edit)
- Is It Scary (Deep Dish Dark and Scary Radio Edit)
- Shout
- One More Chance
- One More Chance (Metro Remix)
- One More Chance (Paul Oakenfold Mix)
- One More Chance (Paul Oakenfold Urban Mix)
- One More Chance (Ron G Club Remix)
- Michael Jackson DMC Megamix
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All I can say is, WOW! That is an incredibly comprehensive set. Including all the bonus tracks from previous releases was a good idea. It's just very unfortunate that it's download only and (at least so far) not available on CD.
I find it odd that they included the live Wembley concert in The Indispensable Collection but not the Michael album. A more logical configuration (in my opinion) would have been to have The Indispensible Collection consist of the just six studio albums: Off The Wall, Thriller, Bad, Dangerous, HIStory (disc 2), Invincible and Michael.
Live at Wembley and Blood on the Dance Floor should have been part of The Extras Collection instead. While there are several studio tracks on Blood (mostly outtakes from HIStory), I've never considered it a proper studio album.
But in the end, since we're talking downloads and not actual CDs, the configuration is ultimately irrelevant. People can mix and match them however they choose. Although I am not a big fan of downloads, I can see it's advantages with situations like this and making huge amounts of rare material available. I would love to see this type of thing for other artists too.
Apple could kill off the CD once and for all, if only they offered 16/44.1 lossless at a minimum, with 24/96 lossless as a premium option.
Lol. Never. I do NOT collect downloads. I buy anything with Michael Jackson's name on it. Not this. Not unless it is in physical form of either compact disc or vinyl. Period. The end.
Also any hint as to when this is being released?
These digital programs are available now on iTunes.
Oh! The key word being "now"! Sorry! I misunderstood what was said I suppose! Lol. I think I did not understand that they were already available...as in "now" (lol)...in this configuration. I thought it was meant in their individual forms in what was said but now it is clear! Right on!
Oh my god! The more I think about this the more excited I get!!! This is brilliant after all! Next year would be the perfect time to release this in a physical form since it will have been FIVE YEARS since his passing...chilling.
The way to view what "The Indispensable Collection" is a compilation of the complete original six solo studio l.p.s as an adult solo recording artist. The other two discs are a remix disc and a live disc. Almost if they were bonus discs. That's all in terms of the issue that the first poster mentioned in that Scott would have done some things differently. It is actually more appropriately done this way now that I think about it more!
"The Ultimate Fan Extras Collection" is REALLY exciting as well! It is a brilliant way to have these bonus features from re-releases and compilations in one place! THIS is what would hopefully stay in print in the years and decades to come! Whereas the Special Editions and other compilations (not including "HIStory: Past, Present, And Future - BOOK I" could hopefully be put out of print in ten years or so. (As well as "Blood On The Dance Floor - HIStory In The Mix" of which the remixes on it are HORRIBLE! Though the five "new" tracks on it were very good. Especially "Is It Scary" which is one of his best songs and recordings.
The only thing I hope and pray is that these two compilations are released in MASSIVE box sets the same size as the Freddie Mercury "Solo Collection" from the year 2000. I just hope that they would be even thicker with artwork, photos, liner-notes, interviews, and all around information!!! FINALLY the world's greatest recording artist is having his catalog done and released in a way that rivals any and everyone else!!! This is REALLY exciting!!!!