Seven Less Well-Known Michael Jackson Tracks From His Post-Thriller Period

Having explored some of the theological implications in the sermon below, and still sorting out my personal feelings about the guy, it seemed like time for the ongoing Mbird tribute to focus on Michael Jackson's music. His Thriller and pre-Thriller heyday are being very well-covered in the media, so I thought we'd take the strength-in-weakness route and look at seven songs from his underrated post-Thriller period. Here goes:

1. Eaten Alive. As far as I know, the only song Michael ever wrote with the Bee Gees. This one was recorded in 1985 by Diana Ross, with Michael on back-up vocals, as a follow-up to that other infamous MJ/Diana single, “Muscles” (which may well be the worst/most embarrassing song he ever wrote – which is really saying something, if you consider 1984's “Centipede”). But "Eaten Alive" is a great single with great 80s production, full of his signature innocence-tracked-by-evil magic.

2. Streetwalker. An outtake from Bad, why on earth this was left off the final tracklist in favor of “Just Good Friends” or “Speed Demon” is beyond me. The chorus ranks up there with his all-time catchiest.

3. Monkey Business. A leftover from Dangerous, and again, better than at least a third of the stuff that made the final cut (“Keep The Faith”, “Can’t Let Her Get Away”… ugh). Much funkier than most of the New Jack Swing he was recording at the time – think late-period Jackson 5 – it would’ve given the record a much-needed moment of light-heartedness. It’s also a real thrill to hear Michael sing the phrase “lord have mercy” with such panache.

4. Tabloid Junkie. The best of the non-single tracks from HIStory Vol.2, the song not only boasts about fifteen great hooks, it contains that record’s sole trace self-deprecating humor. And it’s hard not to relish the line where he sings, “with your pen you torture men, you crucify the Lord”.

5. Morphine. Sadly prophetic and one of the wildest things Michael ever recorded, verging on heavy metal. The real surprise comes just before the 3-minute mark, when the headbanger stuff gives way to a beautiful baroque bridge with the heart-wrenching lyrics, “Demerol, Demerol, oh God, he’s taking Demerol." Which, of course, is the drug that killed him. In Guns N' Roses parlance, this is Michael’s “Rocket Queen”.

6. Whatever Happens. After “You Rock My World”, this is my favorite off of the otherwise sub-par Invincible. Carlos Santana of all people helps out on this track, turning up the menace factor to 11. Again, no one sings about danger like Mike.

7. We’ve Had Enough. As silly as it may sound, I consider this big-production number from the 2003 Ultimate Collection boxed set to be the best anti-Iraq War song out there. Essentially a re-write of “Earth Song” (not a bad thing in my book), it ends with Michael pleading over an enormous Gospel choir, “Just let God decide!” Priceless.

Stay tuned for a similar list covering the Jackson 5 years. And while you're waiting, check out the unbelievable claymation "Speed Demon" sequence from long lost Moonwalker film: