Unreleased Michael Jackson songs found in abandoned storage unit
Michael Jackson's "Thriller" makes music history
Forty years ago, it was immediately clear that "Thriller" was an historic album. From the music to the dance moves and the now-iconic mini-movie video, here’s a look back at original 1984 coverage of Michael Jackson’s biggest hit – along with his clouded legacy.
A dozen unreleased Michael Jackson songs were discovered in an abandoned storage unit in the Los Angeles area, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Gregg Musgrove, a former California Highway Patrol officer turned "treasure hunter," told The Hollywood Reporter that he was contacted by an associate about an abandoned storage unit that had recently been purchased in the San Fernando Valley.
At some point, the unit reportedly belonged to Bryan Loren, a music producer, sound engineer and singer perhaps best known for writing and producing The Simpsons’ 1990 hit "Do the Bartman." Jackson was featured in Loren’s 1992 song, "To Satisfy You." Musgrove said Loren’s current whereabouts are unknown.
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Left behind in the storage unit were several tapes that included 12 unreleased songs and conversations between Jackson and Loren about recording and producing the music. The unreleased tracks were written between 1989 and 1991, before the release of Jackson’s "Dangerous" album.
Michael Jackson performs on stage at Wembley Stadium, London on his Dangerous world tour, 20th August 1992. (Photo by Pete Still/Redferns)
One of the unreleased songs, "Don’t Believe It," appears to reference rumors going around about Jackson at the time, according to Musgrove.
"I’m listening to this stuff, and I would get goosebumps because nobody’s ever heard this stuff before," Musgrove told The Hollywood Reporter. "To hear Michael Jackson actually talk and kind of joke back and forth, it was really, really cool.
Will the songs be released?
Musgrove said he and his attorney brought the tapes to the Jackson Estate earlier this year, but they declined to purchase the music. They sent a letter stating that they don’t claim ownership of the tapes, but they do own the copyrights.
That means the tapes can never be released to the public.