First Listen to Michael Jackson’s New Xscape Album + Tracklist

Matt Blanks, a member of the MJWN website—one of the largest online communities of Michael Jackson fans—was given the opportunity on Thursday to listen to the new Michael Jackson album before its release.

Blanks, along with ten other members from fan clubs around the world, had been invited to Los Angeles by the Michael Jackson Foundation and Epic Records. Read on for his account of the event.

They weren’t told what was in store for them, but everyone could guess that the new album from the King of Pop would be involved. The meeting took place in the Jim Henson recording studio. Previously, the studio was known as E&M—where Michael, years ago, had completed the beautiful song We Are The World and recorded it alongside many other artists. John Branca, the head of the Michael Jackson Foundation, joined them in the studio and explained why they were there. Then it was time for L.A. Reid, the executive producer of the Xscape album, to personally play for them the eight songs included on the album. L.A. Reid said that, based on his working method, these eight tracks were the best he had been able to choose from the Michael Jackson archive. He had ignored songs whose vocals were unfinished, because, as he put it, if Michael liked a song, he recorded all of it.

John Branca explained that the song Wanna Be Startin' Somethin was originally intended for the Off The Wall album, but three years later it was used on the Thriller album. Earth Song and They Don't Care About Us were also recorded for the Dangerous album, but were ultimately released on History. Branca concluded that if Michael had left songs behind, it didn’t necessarily mean he had thrown them away; perhaps he planned to return to them later in his career and complete them.

In the midst of everyone’s astonishment, L.A. Reid told them that at first he didn’t know that six of the eight songs from this album had leaked online years ago—and only after the album tracklist was finalized was he informed that these songs had been released illegally.

Before the songs were played, L.A. shared memories from the past—his first meeting with Michael and the time he witnessed Michael’s behavior with his children—with the website managers. Those memories went back a full decade. During that time, Michael and L.A. gradually grew closer, and the enthusiasm for a collaboration between them increased. Although L.A.’s love, respect, and admiration for Michael are clear, unfortunately this collaboration never took place during the lifetime of the King of Pop.

Blanks writes that he was sitting in the hall with pen in hand, waiting to jot down the description and features of each track as soon as he heard them, but the music had gotten so deep into him and the others that it left no room for writing—because the others had him dancing. L.A., Branca, and the other foundation team members were all part of the celebration. Blanks says that when you listen to the album, you’ll be affected by the music too.

Blanks provided the tracklist as follows:

Love Never Felt So Good
Chicago
Lovin' You
A Place With No Name
Slave To The Rhythm
Do You Know Where Your Children Are
Blue Gangsta
Xscape

Blanks wrote that the songs are very danceable and have a strong rhythm. The first track put a smile on his face and made the hair on his body stand up. Michael’s voice is powerful, and his love, emotion, and anger are heard clearly.

The album was played twice back-to-back for them. Blanks wrote that it was an exciting experience. While the album was being played, Branca spoke with different people in the room and told Blanks that this album fills dance halls around the world with people.

At the end, Blanks adds:

"Next month is full of excitement and surprises for Michael’s fans and for everyone else. I won’t reveal them to you now, but let me say this: when I was leaving the studio, I found myself thinking that Michael’s legacy is in the hands of great people. He worked harder than any other artist, and he wanted his legacy to continue. Producing Cirque du Soleil shows, making films, video games, along with the Bad 25 anniversary album and DVD, are only part of the foundation’s efforts to preserve Michael’s legacy. They brought together producers who knew Michael or had worked with him, so they could release his unreleased songs. This album gives you the feeling of a modern project, and hearing Michael’s voice again is exciting. You think you’ve heard these songs (the ones that leaked), but in reality you haven’t. That’s not how you’ve heard them.

This is a sensitive situation, but with honor the foundation has protected Michael’s legacy and introduced millions of new fans to Michael’s special and unique genius.

Source: eMJey.com / MJWN