Michael Jackson's playground trip saved Thriller

27/09/2009

MICHAEL Jackson was ready to SCRAP the tapes for Thriller .. until a visit to a school playground inspired him to finish the biggest-selling record in history.

In lost tapes from an interview dating back to the early 1980s, Michael revealed how he was close to pulling the plug on the album - which had cost $750,000 to produce - because it "sucked".

Michael Jackson admits he thought Thriller was cr*p before schoolyard visit changed his mind

He said: "Thriller sounded so cr*p. The mixes sucked. When we listened to the whole album, there were tears... I just cried like a baby.

"I stormed out of the room and said 'we're not releasing this. Call [record company] CBS and tell them they are NOT getting this album. We are NOT releasing this.'"

Michael revealed how he left the studio - West Lake in Los Angeles - and spent some time alone, watching children in a schoolyard.

He said: "I felt terrible. One of the maintenance crew in the studio had a bicycle and so I took it and rode up to the schoolyard. I just watched the children play.

Jacko and producer Quincy Jones pick up the first of EIGHT Grammys in 1983

"And when I came back I was ready to rule the world. I went into the studio and I turned them songs out."

After remixing a song a week, Thriller was finally released in November 1982 - and went on to sell more than 70 million copies worldwide turning Jacko into a pop phenomenon.

However, Jacko's unusual interest in children eventually lead to a string of sex abuse charges which, although never proved in court, still loom over his reputation and legacy.

Your comments

This article has 28 comments

Michael was taken to court and proved not guilty, so why still tarnish his reputation? See you soon Michael

By Mary .. Posted October 26 2009 at 4:52 PM.

i liked you micheal can you send me your aotograph to 61 llandudno road
rumney cardiff
cf3 3pd

By j parry.. Posted October 13 2009 at 1:34 PM.

miss u micheal get lots of rest xxxxxxxxxxxxx

By sophie crawford .. Posted October 11 2009 at 11:31 AM.

I concur with so many postings here. I love Michael and all of his music. Thriller is his best album and so do the others. He and his music lives on. Michael will not be forgetten. He is the King of Pop. Please don't put dirt on him. He is not Jacko.

By Yoginy.. Posted October 10 2009 at 1:54 PM.

The "Thriller" album is amazing, really it is. Even 25 plus years later I am amazed at the music. After his death I got a new cd cause my turntable had broken years ago and I don't even know where the my Thriller LP is, lol. I listened to the entire CD after not hearing it played on the radio for literally years. It sounds so beautiful. He was a beautiful man, I'll never forget this man.

There are also beautiful new songs on the CD. (not the re-mixes which are okay.) There is "Lady in my Life" and another song he did back then and they are beautiful. I had never heard them before, they don't play them on the radio, like ever. I highly recommend the "Thriller 25" cd.

By sc341.. Posted October 10 2009 at 8:04 AM.

have you been in his shoes? then how do you know how it feels to lose a childhood?have you been beaten?have you been made fun of?hows that feel,not good right?if your child comes home from school and says mom the kids make fun of me,and then you see signs from your own kid that they are rreally hurt from it.trust me i have been there.acene is allfull for a kid,the kids at school are mean.joean is a mean kid,i bet he was like that in school,liked to pick on the under kids.kids like this lie and the mothers know what i am saying.he knew what he was doing.right now he is taking his father to court and sueing him.what does that they about the type of people?if michael did have a problem with drugs then he needed help for the drugs,people that have kids on them today know what the drugs can do to people?right?kids now want to chance there body all the time,parents out there you are lieing if you say you arent having trouble with your kids with drugs,sex,wanting bigger boobs,want to be in gang,Right?dont judge others inless you walk in there shoes/

By maureen.. Posted October 5 2009 at 1:02 PM.

I concur.

By Quincy Jones.. Posted October 3 2009 at 11:05 PM.

All i want to say to you Michael is "MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE"...

By Cyril... Posted October 3 2009 at 1:32 AM.

R.I.P michael jackson his music was his legacy but i dont know how he could think thriller sounded crap it was, is and always will be the best song of all time hope you still poping on up there in heaven jus making music for us for we we arive

By jack bowie.. Posted October 1 2009 at 3:44 PM.

Hiyah micheal, if ur reading this i want you to know that i think no matter what other people say you were and always will be amazing. May you stand behind those pearly gates still singing your heart out :) I still listen to your music because it inspires me that, if i get down in the dumps i should just cheer back up cuz even if u were upset, you'd act happy :) And people called you a perverted sick jerk, and i think you werent. Dont worry, me and millions of other people beleive you were an amazzzzzzing person. And by the way thriller was AWESOME!

By Abbie .. Posted September 28 2009 at 8:31 PM.

stop calling him jacko it's JACKSON

and steve if u don't like michael then be on ur damn way cause there is alot of people who felt he was like family and his passing hurts.

By nicole.. Posted September 28 2009 at 5:28 AM.

Sorry but he was PROVED NOT GUILTY IN COURT AND WAS ACQUITTED OF ALL CHARGES. The truth came out way back then and it was loud and clear, but people still WANT to tarnish his image. Why? Why do people insist on adding salt to the wound? He was a great entertainer, wonderful humanitarian, loving father, amazing human being...and the list of positive things just go on. These are the things that need to be concentrated on please.

By su237.. Posted September 28 2009 at 5:05 AM.

Long live the king of pop!.

No one will ever surpass in terms of impact money and worldwide success.

A true legend.

By david.. Posted September 27 2009 at 6:45 PM.

yawn.......give it a rest now, the man didnt release anything good for years, he couldnt even speng money properly. I wish people would stop bigging him up so much, most of u didnt even know him, yet ur acting like uve lost a member of your family...get real

By Steve.. Posted September 27 2009 at 4:54 PM.

Micheal Was A Chamanistic Healer. He Used Music, Videos And Most Of All . . . Dance. It Is A Shame We Had To Lose Him To Really Hear His Message. Why Does The Message Seem More Obvious Now That We Have Lost Him? X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X .

By Sarah Eastward.. Posted September 27 2009 at 3:38 PM.

michael,you proberbly wont get this letter michael i wrote you hundred times before knowing how i feel ill write hundred more dear michael.

i love you,you
are allways in my heart.
30-08-57
one day and one year between us
your very good fan jackie xxxxxxx
goodnite you are a shining star *

By jackie.. Posted September 27 2009 at 2:47 PM.

he didn't have a weird obsession with children, remember he lost his own childhood. he obviously just wanted to see some children living a normal life.

By kerry.. Posted September 27 2009 at 1:16 PM.

Isn't it amazing the authors of this article still felt the need to tag on something to remind us all about Michael's legal troubles at the end of this article? It is pretty irrelevant to the main content of the article but yet it something you insist should follow Michael forever. I know that this is part of the Michael Jackson story, whether we fans like it or not but it is also something of which he was completely acquitted. Is it always absolutely essential to bring it into every story about him? No wonder he needed an anaesthetic to help him get to sleep at night.

By mrhappyhead.. Posted September 27 2009 at 10:55 AM.

Michael Jackson consistently would draw inspiration from children. For some reason, something in him sparks when it comes to kids and malicious people just insinuated something evil about that and amazing how many sheeps followed that thinking. This really is a cruel world for the pure in spirit.

By jojo.. Posted September 27 2009 at 10:47 AM.

Oh dear, talking of children's playgrounds. What that just the start of his weird obsession with children?

By Net.. Posted September 27 2009 at 10:03 AM.

Every person has their moments of doubt and uncertainty about their work. Thats 'Human Nature'.
Michael, You Rock, and We Rock With You

By raffe.. Posted September 27 2009 at 9:36 AM.

perfectionanists never believe that their work is good enough adn thats what michael was.......god bless you michael <3

By banu.. Posted September 27 2009 at 9:30 AM.

It is one of his best albums but Quincy and himself were under so much pressure that the mixes were not good the first time round. MJ was not happy at all and was going to get the album sounding the way he wanted it to sound.

By Lisa.. Posted September 27 2009 at 8:52 AM.

Awww, Michael, you know that you're good. Thriller is fine. There's nothing wrong with it. But, Im glad you changed your mind though. Cause, i love THRILLER :D

By Aishah Ahadiat.. Posted September 27 2009 at 7:49 AM.

that is a load of rubbish, that was one of his best albums

By rob harrison.. Posted September 27 2009 at 7:35 AM.

God bless his beautiful heart

By jude.. Posted September 27 2009 at 1:55 AM.

Thank god he finished it! One of my favourite albums ever. Can't wait to hear the new song in octover

By jack honham.. Posted September 27 2009 at 1:38 AM.

Glad he got it sorted Thriller will last forever. can't ever see anyone beating it. MJ You were the best, hope ya still rockin. Ian. Oldham

By ian. Oldham.. Posted September 27 2009 at 12:51 AM.

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