Twelve Unreleased Tracks Resurface from the Late 1980s to Early 1990s

Gregg Musgrove might just be the happiest treasure hunter in the United States right now. The former highway patrol officer recently stumbled upon a collection of tapes and DAT recordings featuring previously unheard Michael Jackson songs in a storage unit in California’s San Fernando Valley.

A Dozen Forgotten Tracks

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Musgrove discovered the audio recordings in a storage facility in Van Nuys, a neighbourhood in the San Fernando Valley. The unit reportedly once belonged to music producer and singer Bryan Loren, best known for the 1990 hit “Do the Bartman” from The Simpsons.

Musgrove’s remarkable find includes twelve largely unknown tracks believed to have been recorded between 1989 and 1991, during the time leading up to Jackson’s acclaimed Dangerous album. “I checked all the fan sites. There are rumours that some of these tracks exist; a few have leaked slightly,” Musgrove shared. He added, “Some of them have never been heard by anyone before.”

“Listening to This Stuff Gives Me Chills”

Musgrove described hearing Jackson and possibly Loren discussing their creative process on the recordings. “Listening to this material gives me chills because no one has ever heard it before,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “Hearing Michael Jackson actually talking and joking around was incredibly cool,” he added.

One of the tracks is reportedly titled “Don’t Believe It,” possibly referencing the abuse allegations Jackson faced in the early 1990s. Another tape features discussions about a song called “Seven Digits,” which allegedly relates to identification numbers used for unidentified bodies in morgues. Perhaps the most intriguing track, “Truth on Youth,” is said to be a duet between Jackson and rapper LL Cool J, with Jackson even rapping—a collaboration previously confirmed by LL Cool J.

Legal Hurdles Temper Enthusiasm

Before Michael Jackson fans get too excited, there’s a catch: according to Musgrove, Jackson’s estate has declined to relinquish its copyright claims on the tapes and recordings for unknown reasons. While Musgrove has been allowed to keep the tapes, he is legally prohibited from releasing them.

The Jackson Estate clarified to The Hollywood Reporter that these recordings are not the master copies. The original masters are reportedly secured in the estate’s vaults, along with the associated ownership and commercial rights. “It should be clear that ownership and exploitation rights remain with MJJP Records, and no commercial or other use can be made of the DAT copies,” a representative stated.