Kanye, Akon Help Jackson Revisit 'Thriller'
November 30, 2007, 10:45 AM ET
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
As expected, Michael Jackson will celebrate the 25th anniversary of his iconic "Thriller" album with a new edition of the set, due Feb. 12 via Epic/Legacy Recordings. It will include remixes by Kanye West, Akon and will.i.am, plus rare and unreleased material from the time period.
West remixes "Billie Jean," while will.i.am has revamped "The Girl Is Mine" and "P.Y.T." The album also features a new version of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" with both Akon and will.i.am.
Among the unreleased tracks is "For All Time," which was recording during "Thriller" but left on the cutting room floor. Jackson has personally mixed and mastered the song. Also featured is Jackson's original "Billie Jean" demo and the rarities "Someone in the Dark" and "Carousel."
"Thriller" will include a bonus DVD with the "Thriller," "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" videos, plus Jackson's performance of the latter cut during the 1983 NBC special "Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever."
Jackson has been working on and off on his first studio album since 2001, but the status of the project is unknown. There have also been whispers of a tour with his brothers in 2008.
Here is the track list for "Thriller -- 25th Anniversary Edition":
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"
"Baby Be Mine"
"The Girl Is Mine"
"Thriller"
"Beat It"
"Billie Jean"
"Human Nature"
"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
"The Lady in My Life"
"Carousel"
"Someone in the Dark"
"Billie Jean" (demo)
"The Girl Is Mine 2008" with will.i.am
"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) 2008" with Michael Jackson and will.i.am
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" with Michael Jackson, Akon and will.i.am
"Billie Jean 2008" with Kanye West
"For All Time"
Kanye, Akon Help Jackson Revisit 'Thriller'
Daily Hip-Hop News: SOHH Soulful: Kanye West & Will.i.am Remix Michael Jackson's "Thriller"
Friday - November 30, 2007
by Janeé Bolden
After a long hiatus from the spotlight, Michael Jackson is back and in good company, dropping a new edition of his Thriller album that will feature remixes with Kanye West, Akon and will.i.am.
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of MJ's record-breaking release, Epic/Legacy Recordings will drop Michael Jackson 25th Anniversary of Thriller on Feb. 12. In addition to remixes by Kanye, Akon and will.i.am the set will also include rare and unreleased material from the time period.
For the new edition, Jackson personally mixed and mastered "For All Time," a previously unreleased song recorded during the making of Thriller which was left off the original set. Jackson's original "Billie Jean" demo is also included, along with rare cuts "Carousel" and "Someone in the Dark."
Among the remixes is a new version of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" featuring Akon and will.i.am, the Kanye West remix of "Billie Jean" and will.i.am's remixes of "The Girl Is Mine" and "P.Y.T."
Jackson's alliance with the Black Eyed Peas frontman comes as no surprise, MJ previously told reporters he was enlisting will.i.am to work on his still-untitled comeback project.
Thriller's 25th Anniversary Edition also includes a bonus DVD with the videos for "Beat It," "Billie Jean," and "Thriller" as well as performance footage of Jackson singing "Billie Jean" for NBC's 1983 special "Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever."
News of a new edition follows on the heels of a rash of new activity within the Jackson camp. As SOHH previously reported, Thriller's 25th anniversary also inspired Ebony Magazine to put Jackson on this month's cover. Jermaine Jackson also recently told BBC News reporters that the Jackson 5, including Michael, are planning to launch a reunion tour in 2008.
Press Release: