I wasn't really planning on spending a lot of money on a single called 'Do the Bartman', despite the fact that I have an impressive amount of Michael Jackson singles in my collection. It is an amusing little song but songs by cartoon characters don't do very much for me. I finally found the single last month at a price that can't be beat.
There has been a lot of confusion about Michael Jackson's involvement in this song, mainly because he was under contract with Epic Records at the time of this single's release. However, the song's writer Bryan Loren has conceded that Jackson's contributions included back up vocals, providing the title "Do
the Bartman" and that Jackson insisted his own name to be mentioned in
the lyrics (read the story here).
My collection: 7" single no. 5852
Found: Kringloop, Leiden, May 14, 2016
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Do the Bartman (7" House mix/edit)' / 'Do the Bartman (LP edit)'
Listen to the song
Showing posts with label Michael Jackson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael Jackson. Show all posts
Friday, 24 June 2016
Tuesday, 17 May 2016
Gone too soon - Michael Jackson
If you look at the list of singles by Michael Jackson on this blog, it's hard to believe that I haven't got them all already. But somehow I managed to miss this one. I only discovered it recently and fortunately I was able to get a copy of this single while I was buying a few others online.
As you can hear, the vinyl isn't exactly clean but as with most Michael Jackson tracks, I've already got it on CD anyway. Which probably makes you wonder why I need to have this on vinyl anyway. Well, you either have a collection or you don't. That's a logic in itself, I guess.
My collection: 7" single no. 5850
Found: Discogs.com, received May 10, 2016
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Gone too soon' / 'Gone too soon (instrumental)'
Listen to the song
As you can hear, the vinyl isn't exactly clean but as with most Michael Jackson tracks, I've already got it on CD anyway. Which probably makes you wonder why I need to have this on vinyl anyway. Well, you either have a collection or you don't. That's a logic in itself, I guess.
My collection: 7" single no. 5850
Found: Discogs.com, received May 10, 2016
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Gone too soon' / 'Gone too soon (instrumental)'
Listen to the song
Tuesday, 5 January 2016
Say say say - Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
Why not start the new year with two music legends? I received this 12" single just before the turn of the year, after a month of waiting. Released for Black Friday (November 27), this disc was pressed on clear vinyl and originally only slated for release in the United States. Fortunately, Europe followed suit and eventually I was able to order this via Amazon.
I would actually have preferred a CD release, because 12" singles are rather big and take up a lot of space, but it has to be said that this is a beautiful record. The 2015 remix of 'Say Say Say' adds some nice touches, such as reversed vocals on the verses and some added instrumentation throughout - without destroying the feel of the original track.
My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Amazon France, received December 29, 2015
Cost: 8 euro
Tracks: 'Say say say (2015 remix)' / 'Say say say (Jellybean Instrumental remix)'
Listen to the 2015 remix & listen to the instrumental remix
I would actually have preferred a CD release, because 12" singles are rather big and take up a lot of space, but it has to be said that this is a beautiful record. The 2015 remix of 'Say Say Say' adds some nice touches, such as reversed vocals on the verses and some added instrumentation throughout - without destroying the feel of the original track.
My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Amazon France, received December 29, 2015
Cost: 8 euro
Tracks: 'Say say say (2015 remix)' / 'Say say say (Jellybean Instrumental remix)'
Listen to the 2015 remix & listen to the instrumental remix
Friday, 14 November 2014
Happy - Michael Jackson
No, this is not the big - and sometimes very irritating - hit single by Pharrell Williams, but a song recorded in 1973 by Michael Jackson for the movie 'Lady sings the blues' (although it doesn't actually appear in that movie). According to Smokey Robinson, who wrote 'Happy', the song was inspired
by the film's melody, which was originally composed by Michel Legrand.
He explained, "I was looking at the movie one day, and I was listening
to that melody, and I thought it was just such a beautiful melody, until
I wanted to write some words for that melody, which I did, and I went
and I sang them for Berry Gordy, and he was really upset because I
didn't write them before he finished the movie so they could've been in
the movie." Jackson continued to perform the track in concert as late as 1977, citing it as one of his favorite songs.
Record companies are always eager to cash in on success, and so Motown re-released this track in 1983 when Jackson hit it big with the many hit singles from his album 'Thriller'. 'Happy' appeared as a regular single, a limited edition in a poster sleeve and this, a picture disc.
My collection: 7" single no. 5645
Found: Alan's Records, London, September 9, 2014
Cost: 3,5 pounds
Tracks: 'Happy' / 'We're almost there'
Record companies are always eager to cash in on success, and so Motown re-released this track in 1983 when Jackson hit it big with the many hit singles from his album 'Thriller'. 'Happy' appeared as a regular single, a limited edition in a poster sleeve and this, a picture disc.
My collection: 7" single no. 5645
Found: Alan's Records, London, September 9, 2014
Cost: 3,5 pounds
Tracks: 'Happy' / 'We're almost there'
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
I want you back '88 remix - Michael Jackson with the Jackson 5
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623144103im_/http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NJe62jvH72o/Tx8E1uPyIII/AAAAAAAAL7o/R6TzCX-R7C8/s200/jacksons8.jpg)
Take this one for example: an '88 remix of the old Jacksons hit 'I want you back' with a young Michael Jackson. In 1988 the name Michael Jackson meant a lot to a lot of people. Popular remixers Phil Harding and Ian Curnow were recruited for a remix. They added a drumbeat, and there you had it: a new single. A poor effort, however. But even this reached number 8 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 5269
Found: Discogs.com, received January 24, 2012
Cost: 1,5 pounds
Tracks: 'I want you back '88 remix' / 'Never can say goodbye'
Labels:
Eighties,
Jacksons (the),
Michael Jackson,
Remixes
Saturday, 26 November 2011
Eaten alive - Diana Ross
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623144103im_/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NPpEk7aGX48/TtFRydyCUII/AAAAAAAALwQ/pAVY3G7ptRI/s200/dianaross18.jpg)
On this 12" single you can hear three versions of the track. In the instrumental version in particular you can hear the vocals by Jackson and the Gibb brothers very well.
My collection: 12" single no. 608
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'Eaten alive (extended remix)' / 'Eaten alive (edited remix)', 'Eaten alive (instrumental)'
Labels:
Bee Gees,
Diana Ross,
Eighties,
Michael Jackson,
Remixes
Friday, 11 November 2011
Human nature - Michael Jackson
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623144103im_/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WQdYaurPtXA/Tr2RjGq7EyI/AAAAAAAALjg/G75E1XXdYbQ/s200/mjackson13.jpg)
'Human nature' is a good example of what this man could do with his voice and a beautiful melody. It was released in July 1983 as the fifth single from his bestselling album 'Thriller'. It reached number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 35 in the UK singles chart and number 14 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 3532
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, January 9, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Human nature' / 'Baby be mine'
Monday, 13 June 2011
9 fragmenten uit de nieuwe elpee Bad - Michael Jackson
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623144103im_/http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HPKY-SUgCZY/TfZfvdLwUPI/AAAAAAAAK88/nlNZvD3tjqQ/s200/mjackson53.jpg)
This promotional single was released in Belgium, featuring nine snippets from the album. Why the track 'Just good friends', featuring Stevie Wonder, was not included on this preview I do not know, but I'm sure that 'Leave me alone' was omitted because, well, it was a bonus track on the cd only at the time. In the Netherlands, this single was released as a flexi disc as a freebie with the magazine Top 10. This Belgian single was sponsored by the newspaper Het Nieuwsblad and the bank Spaarkrediet. The title? '9 fragments from the new LP 'Bad''.
My collection: 7" single no. 5154
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: Medley of 'Bad', 'The way you make me feel', 'I just can't stop loving you', 'Liberian girl', 'Dirty Diana', 'Another part of me', 'Speed demon', 'Smooth criminal' and 'Bad' (Plays the same both sides)
Sunday, 11 April 2010
Centipede - Rebbie Jackson
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623144103im_/http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/S8IbFIR1vuI/AAAAAAAAJq8/C_7DEIMbzy0/s200/rebbiejackson2.jpg)
And yesterday, my fortunes took an amazing turn when I found this copy of the 7" single. Granted, the sleeve has been written on, but what to expect for a disc that only cost me 50 cents. I'm satisfied: it only took me a quarter of a century, and I saved some money in the process...
My collection: 7" single no. 4775
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Centipede' / 'Centipede (instrumental)'
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Centipede - Rebbie Jackson
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623144103im_/http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/S4pqLmH7XJI/AAAAAAAAI74/4PxrWf4Pe7U/s200/rebbiejackson.jpg)
The title track was written and produced by Michael Jackson and featured backing vocals by Michael and LaToya Jackson. This 12" single features an extended mix of the track, which is not found on any other release. In 1997, it was included on the cd-single for a later Rebbie Jackson single, 'Yours faithfully'.
My collection: 12" single no. 534
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, February 26, 2010
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'Centipede (extended)' / 'Centipede (instrumental)'
Labels:
Eighties,
Michael Jackson,
Rebbie Jackson,
Remixes
Friday, 12 February 2010
State of independence - Donna Summer
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623144103im_/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/S3W63i2hRUI/AAAAAAAAIk8/i8xEC7pofYI/s200/donnasummer21.jpg)
Donna Summer recorded her version a year later on her 1982 self-titled album, with Quincy Jones producing. Her version of the song features an all-star choir including among others Michael Jackson, Brenda Russell, James Ingram, Dionne Warwick, Kenny Loggins, Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder. Upon its original release, it became a number 1 hit in the Dutch Top 40, peaking at number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 41 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Remixes were released in 1990 and 1996.
My collection: 7" single no. 293
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'State of independence' / 'Love is just a breath away'
Friday, 15 January 2010
Do what you do - Jermaine Jackson
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623144103im_/http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/S1DSKYqEFLI/AAAAAAAAH8E/oV8efWFlxxc/s200/jjackson1.jpg)
The main revelation for me was the music video at the time. I was already familiar with the fact that belly buttons can be 'innies' or 'outies', but I'd never seen a spine so deeply hidden in someone's back (scroll to 3'21 to see this anatomical phenomenon). Meanwhile, 'Do what you do' reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 257
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 5,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Do what you do' / 'Tell me I'm not dreamin' (Too good to be true)' (duet with Michael Jackson)
Monday, 23 November 2009
Ease on down the road - The Wiz Stars
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623144103im_/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/Swr5mEq2oSI/AAAAAAAAG-w/w9OMlfOP4pk/s200/wizstars2.jpg)
Released as a single, it reached number 41 in the Billboard Hot 100, while peaking at number 45 in the UK singles chart. It was a number 1 hit in Turkey, though.
My collection: 7" single no. 4221
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Ease on down the road' (Diana Ross & Michael Jackson) / 'Poppy girls' (Quincy Jones)
Monday, 9 November 2009
A brand new day - The Wiz Stars
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623144103im_/http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/SvhvutSfkDI/AAAAAAAAGqE/BZIIW5zhZlI/s200/wizstars.jpg)
This quartet also starred on the first single taken from the soundtrack, 'A brand new day', which was released as a single in the summer of 1979. It reached number 1 in the Dutch Top 40. The soundtrack marks Jones' first collaboration with Michael Jackson; he would go on to produce Jackson's hit solo albums 'Off the wall', 'Thriller' and 'Bad'.
My collection: 7" single no. 4155
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, November 7, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'A brand new day' / 'Liberation ballet: a brand new day'
Labels:
Diana Ross,
Michael Jackson,
Seventies,
Wiz Stars
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Wanna be startin' somethin' - Michael Jackson
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623144103im_/http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/Sq9f8Hcah2I/AAAAAAAAFgA/wq9XzCr5etQ/s200/mjackson51.jpg)
The song was released as the fourth single from 'Thriller', and another smash hit. The song includes references to the sometimes unhealthy nature of fandom: 'Still they hate you, you're a vegetable / They eat off of you, you're a vegetable'. The song ends with a chorus repeatedly singing 'Mama-se, mama-sa, ma-ma-coo-sa'. The chant is a riff on one first used by Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango, who broke into the American market in 1973 with his classic 'Soul Makossa'. That track was a big hit in Africa, Europe and America. Dibango named his song after the makossa, a Cameroonian dance, but he stretched the word out and played with it: 'Ma-mako, ma-ma-ssa, mako-makossa'.
My collection: 7" single no. 4014
Found: Vinylfabriek, Haaksbergen, September 14, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Wanna be startin' somethin'' / 'Rock with you (live)'
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
Stranger in Moscow - Michael Jackson
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623144103im_/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/SoHBtpYtdfI/AAAAAAAAEvk/iI8xts1lj3A/s200/mjackson50.jpg)
Although before this year I assumed there were no 7" singles released after 'Scream' and 'You are not alone', now I find myself owning 'They don't care about us' and 'Stranger in Moscow'. So now, obviously, I'm after 'Earth song'. Where can I find that one?
My collection: 7" single no. 3992
Found: eBay.com, received August 6, 2009
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Stranger in Moscow (radio edit)' / 'Stranger in Moscow (Tee's radio mix)'
Saturday, 25 July 2009
Girl you're so together - Michael Jackson
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623144103im_/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/SmsRrQLIfII/AAAAAAAAEVU/A4kfw4zQ1ZA/s200/mjackson49.jpg)
I'm still curious what Motown will come up with, now that Michael Jackson is no longer with us. There still must be a lot of material in those vaults...
My collection: 7" single no. 3850
Found: eBay.co.uk, received July 15, 2009
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'Girl you're so together' / 'Touch the one you love'
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
Blood on the dancefloor - Michael Jackson
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623144103im_/http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/Smdrq-YcGCI/AAAAAAAAESU/a3rX-coqDrY/s200/mjackson48.jpg)
The remix of 'Dangerous' by Roger on the B-side also appeared on the cd-single for 'Blood on the dancefloor', and so it isn't that rare. But circa 1997 all 7" singles were becoming rarities, and so it is still a worthwhile addition to my collection.
My collection: 7" single no. 3898
Found: eBay.com, received July 22, 2009
Cost: 10 dollars
Tracks: 'Blood on the dancefloor' / 'Dangerous (Roger's Dangerous Edit)'
Friday, 17 July 2009
Who is it - Michael Jackson
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623144103im_/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/SmD3NWZ_u3I/AAAAAAAAELs/1t3PKqubjy0/s200/mjackson47.jpg)
Vinyl pressings exist from various countries, but this limited edition from the UK is by far the most interesting. It contains a free-standing cutout portrait of Michael, like it says on the sleeve. In the days after Michael's death, the price of this item shot up to 20 pounds, so I was very relieved to find a more reasonably priced copy in an online shop.
My collection: 7" single no. 3852
Found: Disc Covery records, received July 15, 2009
Cost: 4 pounds
Tracks: 'Who is it' / 'Rock with you (Masters at Work remix)'
Thursday, 16 July 2009
They don't care about us - Michael Jackson
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623144103im_/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/Sl7-BqeI4VI/AAAAAAAAEJU/-8JuzHJ5sms/s200/mjackson46.jpg)
In the end, the song was censored. In this single version, the words 'Jew me sue me' are replaced with 'Sue me sue me' and the words 'Kick me, kike me' are replaced with 'Kick me, kick me'. There's also a different censored version in which the offensive words are replaced by loud sounds.
This vinyl single was an utter surprise to me. As far as I knew, 'You are not alone' was the last Jackson single from 'History' released on vinyl. This copy has no picture sleeve, but it does have a 'normal' label (something which is omitted from later 'jukebox' releases). The single, meanwhile, reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and the Dutch Top 40, and number 30 in the US Billboard Hot 100.
My collection: 7" single no. 3851
Found: eBay.co.uk, received July 15, 2009
Cost: 3 pounds
Tracks: 'They don't care about us (LP edit)' / 'They don'tcare about us (Love to Infinity's Walk in the Park radio mix)'
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