Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection Box Set

The Ultimate Collection Box Set, Japanese pressing of 2004 compilation includes four bonus tracks, ‘Blame It On The Boogie’, ‘Human Nature’, ‘The World’, & ‘One More Chance’. This five disc set is limited to 20,000 pieces & includes a DVD (NTSC/Region 2). CBS. 2004.

Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection Box Set Review

Yes Michael Jackson has had a few too many ‘Greatest Hits’ packages, but this one truly is the Ultimate collection of his musical work. Four CDs jam packed with hits and rarities spanning his entire 34 year recording career (J5, The Jacksons and solo), a DVD of his Dangerous concert that aired on HBO (available here for the first time) and an original 60 page book detailing his entire career. There’s precious little more you could ask for from a box set.

Now Michael has only released 6 full albums of new material in the past 25 years so chances are that most already have the hits in one form or another so why buy this set? Consider the following list of all the rare and previously unreleased songs in this collection.

• Enjoy Yourself – The Jacksons first hit from their first album with Epic
• Ease On Down The Road / You Can’t Win – both from The Wiz Soundtrack
• Shake A Body – previously unreleased demo of what became “Shake Your Body Down To The Ground”
• Sunset Driver – previously unreleased demo
• P.Y.T. – previously unreleased demo
• Someone In The Dark – track from the rarely heard E.T. Storybook
• State Of Shock – duet with Mick Jagger (!) from The Jacksons last album Victory
• Scared of the Moon – previously unreleased demo
• We Are The World – previously unreleased demo
• We Are Here To Change The World – from Captain EO (previously unreleased)
• Cheater – previously unreleased demo
• Dangerous – previously unreleased alternate version
• Monkey Business – previously unreleased
• Who Is It (IHS Mix) – rare remix
• Someone Put Your Hand Out – rare promotional song (first time on CD)
• On The Line – from the “Get On The Bus” soundtrack
• Fall Again – previously unreleased demo
• In The Back – previously unreleased
• Beautiful Girl – previously unreleased demo
• The Way You Love Me – previously unreleased
• We’ve Had Enough – previously unreleased

That’s 14 completely brand new tracks never heard before and 8 that were previously very hard to come by. These 22 tracks alone (a full album of material) make this set worth the purchase for any MJ fan. It’s surprising that these demos and completed songs never saw the light of day until now considering the high caliber of the work. If this is any indication of the songs MJ has in the vault, I’d love to hear more – lots more.

No matter if you only have one or two MJ CDs, are a rabid fan or are just interested in finding out what al the fuss is about, this is the set for you. Sony did an amazing job with this set and Michael (a real perfectionist) should be commended for his bravery in releasing demos. I look forward to hearing many more of these previously unheard recordings. Thanks Mike.

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