Damien Shields · @damienshields
7th May 2012 from Twitlonger
EXCLUSIVE: SINGLE & UNRELEASED SONG TO KICK-START THE #BAD25 CAMPAIGN
By Damien Shields | Monday 7 May, 2012
Twenty-five years ago, Michael Jackson released what went on to become one of the most successful albums in music history. Boasting five consecutive #1 singles (the first ever album to achieve this feat) in the U.S and selling in excess of 35 million copies worldwide, BAD shines as brightly today as it did when it was released.
The Michael Jackson Estate recently announced a marketing strategy to place Jackson’s image in the hands of millions of cola consumers around the world, striking a deal with PepsiCo to promote the “Bad 25” campaign on one billion Pepsi cans. Customers will be able to access exclusive remixes of the iconic tunes from the BAD album by scanning a special code embedded on the can with their smartphone.
The latest news is that throughout the month of June, Sony will re-issue Jackson’s 1987 hit single “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” around the world on CD and vinyl, as well as in digital formats for promotional purposes. As I exclusively revealed via Twitter yesterday, the “maxi single” will also include an unreleased track from Jackson’s archives called “Don’t Go Messin’ Round” – a song which has long been know about by Jackson fanatics, but has never been heard.
Bruce Swedien, Jackson’s long time studio engineer whom recorded Jackson’s vocals spoke about the song, which he referred to as a “powerful” and “mesmerizing” ballad in a 2009 interview.
“Michael plays piano on it, and it's just beautiful … Oh my God, there's nothing like it." – Bruce Swedien
The BAD album will also be re-issued to mark its 25th anniversary following the release of the maxi single. The re-issue is set to feature the eleven original tracks, plus never-before heard material that did not make the cut back in 1987.
Jackson is notorious for having over-recorded during album sessions, laying down vocals for more songs than he could fit on an individual album, then selecting the cream of the crop for the eventual release.
“Michael had written 33 songs [for Bad], and [the record label] were saying ‘it’s showdown time, we gotta pick it’ … This was time to take it home and deliver – no more messing around. You can’t put 33 songs on a record. And he’d written some fantastic stuff, ya know, really, really fantastic! I remember [the song] Streetwalker. Michael liked Streetwalker and I wanted to [include the song] Another Part Of Me.” – Quincy Jones
Jackson and Jones invited Jackson’s then manager Frank Dileo to join them in the studio to listen to the two songs objectively to decide which would be included on the album. Dileo sat as he listened to Streetwalker, but got up and started dancing to Another Part Of Me. And with that, the decision was made.
“There are a couple of songs we recorded for the Bad album that we had to cut that are just sensational.” – Frank Dileo
Streetwalker, along with another track that didn’t make the cut, called “Fly Away”, were later included on the BAD Special Edition (2001).
Also in the works right now is the hotly anticipated DVD/Blu-ray release showcasing the second leg of Jackson’s 1988 Bad World Tour, a commemorative documentary about the BAD era produced by Spike Lee, as well as a series of promotional events. The 1988 Bad Tour concert footage specifically is something that fans have long wished would be released, even well before Jackson’s passing.
Additional singles to promote the re-issue of the BAD album are part of the plans, too. The record label is yet to settle on whether they’ll re-release any of the original tracks from the BAD album with their corresponding short films, or go with unreleased tracks as singles instead.
The “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You/Don’t Go Messin’ Round” maxi single is available for pre-order now, online via Amazon.com. The CD version is due out in early June, with the vinyl edition coming at later that month. Release dates may vary depending on which country you are in.
Bad 25 follows a series of outstanding accomplishments for the Michael Jackson Estate including the record-breaking "This Is It" film and soundtrack, "Immortal" album and touring show produced by Cirque Du Soleil and a dramatic recovery of Jackson's financial affairs. Despite these successful posthumous ventures, the December 2010 release of the "Michael" album caused major controversy with Jackson's family and dedicated fan base. Three tracks on the album are widely believed to contain an impersonator's vocals fraudulently attributed to Jackson.
Sources: Sony Music/Sanity: http://www.sanity.com.au/products/2210951