As a lifelong Michael Jackson fan who grew up idolizing the King of Pop, finding these unreleased tapes was like striking gold in the San Fernando Valley. I never thought my treasure hunting hobby would lead me to such a priceless discovery!
When retired California Highway Patrol officer and now stay-at-home dad, Gregg Musgrove, embarked on his “treasure hunt,” he never dreamt it would lead him to a royal fortune – the King of Pop’s treasure trove, in fact.
A stash of unheard Michael Jackson recordings was discovered in a storage facility situated far within the San Fernando Valley. Musgrove’s quest for these tapes started when a contact informed him about a storage unit he had just purchased in Van Nuys. This unit used to belong to Bryan Loren, a music producer and singer (whose whereabouts are currently unknown as per Musgrove).
The tapes contain 12 previously unheard songs that Michael Jackson had been working on, roughly between 1989 and 1991, prior to the release of his Dangerous album.
According to Musgrove’s interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he has visited various fan sites. Some of the songs are said to be in existence, while others have been partially revealed. Interestingly, a few of them haven’t surfaced at all on the global stage.
The detailed list of items displayed (refer to the image) reveals a collection of previously unreleased tracks by Musgrove. In these recordings, both Jackson and possibly Loren are heard discussing their recording and creative journey. Musgrove expresses his excitement about listening to this unique content, stating, “I would get goosebumps because no one had ever heard this before.” He further adds that it was fascinating to hear Michael Jackson casually converse and exchange humorous remarks, making the experience incredibly captivating.
One of the unreleased tracks is named “Don’t Believe It,” hinting at the gossip surrounding the famous pop star that frequently appeared in the media. The tone and genre of this track align with the type of music Jackson was producing during that period. In another recording, Jackson shares the interpretation of a song titled “Seven Digits,” which alludes to the identification numbers given to bodies in a morgue.
One captivating track among others on these tapes is named “Truth on Youth,” which appears to be a collaborative rap performance between Jackson and LL Cool J, as suggested by previous statements made by the rapper about their joint projects. The song is notable for various reasons, but primarily because it features Jackson rapping.
As a dedicated Jackson fan, I find myself in a rather disheartening situation: it appears that only a select few, including Musgrove, will ever get to listen to these long-anticipated tapes. Earlier this year, Musgrove and the attorney he enlisted approached the Jackson Estate with their discoveries, but for reasons unknown to us, they declined to acquire the tapes. However, they did issue an official letter stating that the estate does not claim ownership over them. Yet, it’s important to note that if anyone were to purchase these tapes in the future, neither they nor I would hold the copyright on the recordings or the compositions – the estate retains this right. In essence, the estate has ensured that these tapes will never see the light of public day.
Although the precise amount of the discovery is yet undefined, Musgrove and his collaborators estimate it’s within the millions. In the upcoming days, he intends to present it to the leading four auction houses. It’s possible that one of the numerous high-profile Jackson memorabilia collectors, such as Lady Gaga who purchased 55 items at auction, might decide to incorporate this into their personal collection.
An earlier form of this tale was published in the December 13th edition of The Hollywood Reporter’s magazine. To receive future issues, click here for a subscription.
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2024-12-13 03:55