A collection of unreleased Michael Jackson songs has been found in a storage unit. The tapes, which include cassettes and DAT tapes from the late 1980s and early 1990s, were discovered by Musgrove, a former California Highway Patrol officer who is now a stay-at-home dad, as reported by RadarOnline.com. Even after his death, Michael Jackson's music continues to live on.
Musgrove was informed about the storage unit in Van Nuys, California, by someone who had bought it. The unit used to belong to Bryan Loren, a music producer and songwriter who worked with Michael Jackson. Loren's current location is unknown,reports The Economic Times.
The collection includes 12 unreleased songs believed to have been created during the lead-up to Jackson’s Dangerous album, between 1989 and 1991. "I’ve scoured fan sites, and some of these tracks are rumored to exist while others have never been heard by anyone," Musgrove explained. “Listening to them gave me goosebumps—it’s incredible to hear Michael Jackson joking and discussing his creative process in the studio.”
The unreleased tracks include a song called Don’t Believe It, which expresses Jackson's known frustrations with the media. Another track, Seven Digits, has Jackson explaining that it refers to morgue identification numbers. There’s also Truth on Youth, which seems to feature a rap duet between Jackson and LL Cool J.
The recordings also include snippets of conversations between Jackson and Loren, offering insight into their collaborative dynamic.
Even though the discovery is significant, the tapes are stored in a secure facility, managed by Musgrove's lawyer. Earlier in 2024, they were offered to the Jackson estate, but the estate decided not to purchase them. A representative from the estate clarified that the tapes found were copies, not the original master recordings, and that the originals are already safely stored in the estate’s vault.
"The ownership and rights of these recordings remain with MJJP Records," the estate’s spokesperson stated. "These DAT copies cannot be commercially exploited or otherwise distributed."
Musgrove, however, believes the collection could fetch a seven-figure sum and is considering taking it to one of the major auction houses.
The discovery comes amidst a difficult time for the Jackson family, who recently mourned the loss of Tito Jackson, Michael’s older brother and a member of the Jackson 5. Tito passed away on September 15, 2024, reportedly due to a heart attack. Michael’s children were among the family members who paid their respects at his funeral.
Michael Jackson passed away on June 25, 2009, due to acute propofol intoxication, but his legacy still fascinates fans around the world. It is unclear whether the newly found tracks will ever be released to the public.
Bd-pratidin English/ Afia
