The girl is mine - Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney

Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney collaborated on 'Say say say' in 1981, a track that appeared in 1983 on McCartney's fifth solo album 'Pipes of peace'. The favour was returned with this song, 'The girl is mine'. The song has been the subject of two plagiarism lawsuits. Both instances required Jackson to testify in court, and each lawsuit found in the favour of the singer and his record label.

Producer Quincy Jones had initially told Jackson to write a song about two men fighting over a girl. Inspired, Jackson awoke during the night and sang the song into a tape recorder. The song was then recorded by Jackson and McCartney at Westlake Studios, Los Angeles, from April 14 to 16, 1982. Released as the first single from Jackson's bestselling album 'Thriller', it reached number 8 in the UK and number 12 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 842
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, May 27, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'The girl is mine' / 'Can't get outta the rain'

She's out of my life - Michael Jackson

It's hard to believe now, but 20 years ago, when you wanted to hear a song and not be dependent of radio stations, you actually had to buy records. You could also opt for cd's, but since my money resources were limited, I usually bought singles. And this is how I ended up with this single from the 'Hall of fame' series by Epic Records.

'She's out of my life' was an old song from 1980, which I did not have. I really wanted to have it, and while I am usually searching for picture sleeves, in this instance I made do with this release. Even if it didn't look that attractive, and even if the B-side was already part of my collection. These days, most people just download tracks somewhere. Life has become so much easier.

My collection: 7" single no. 1079
Found: HMV, London, October 19, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'She's out of my life' (Michael Jackson) / 'Lovely one' (Jacksons)

Man in the mirror - Michael Jackson

After Michael Jackson's death last week, a tremendous amount of his songs reappeared on the UK singles chart. This is because of the fact that the chart is compiled partly with (legal) downloads of music. Along with several other tracks, the highest charting song on the June 28 edition of the UK singles chart was 'Man in the mirror', entering at number 11.

When the single was originally released in 1988, its highest chart placing in the UK was number 21. In America, the single topped the chart, whereas in the Netherlands, it reached number 16. Michael dedicated 'Man in the mirror' to Yoshiaki Hagiwara, a five year old boy who was kidnapped and murdered while Michael was touring Japan. He made a donation of 20,000 dollars to the grieving family. Although the song comes across as a rather sappy ballad, you have to listen to the instrumental version of this track to really appreciate what is going on here musically.

My collection: 7" single no. 727
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, January 28, 1989
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Man in the mirror' / 'Man in the mirror (instrumental)'

Farewell my summer love - Michael Jackson

Motown gave a good example in 1984 of what will probably happen in the next few months and years to come. Spurred on by the success of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller', they excavated their archives and came up with a whole album of previously unreleased material entitled 'Farewell my summer love', recorded between 1973 and 1975. To make the album sound contemporary, the songs were remixed.

The title track was released as a single and reached number 38 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 7 in the UK singles chart. The untimely death of Michael Jackson will be a sign for record companies to start digging. Who knows what they will come up with...

My collection: 7" single no. 3807
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 28, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Farewell my summer love' / 'Call on me'

Give in to me - Michael Jackson

'Give in to me' was released as the sixth single from Michael Jackson's album 'Dangerous'. It featured a guitar solo by Guns 'n Roses guitarist Slash. It was not the first time that Jackson used a famous guitarist: for 'Dirty Diana' (1988) he hired Steve Stevens and on 'Beat it' (1983) you can hear Eddie Van Halen.

'Give in to me' reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 3 in the Netherlands. It may seem like I am desperately buying Michael Jackson in the wake of his death, but in fact I started completing my collection already a couple of months ago. I am happy to find these singles at relatively low prices right now because they will start to rocket in the near future, I'm afraid.

My collection: 7" single no. 3804
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 28, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Give in to me' / 'Dirty Diana'

Ben - Michael Jackson

'Ben' was written by Don Black and Walter Scharf. The song was originally written for Donny Osmond, but he was on tour and unavailable when it was time to record the single, so the song was offered to Michael Jackson. He recorded it, while he was just 14 years old, for the Motown label in 1972.

The song, the theme song of a 1972 film of the same name, reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and Australia. It peaked at number 2 in the Netherlands and number 7 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3805
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 28, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Ben' (Michael Jackson) / 'Lookin' through the windows', 'Little bitty pretty one'

Thriller - Michael Jackson

Somehow I couldn't imagine Michael Jackson playing 50 dates in London this year, but the way it doesn't come to pass is even more bizarre than I could ever have imagined. 'Where were you when you heard Michael Jackson died?'. Well, I saw the first reports coming in late last night and as the first rumour of his death appeared on the internet I went to sleep. The next morning I got up in the knowledge that he was probably dead. And the news only confirmed my expectation. It's a sad day.

Michael Jackson leaves behind an unequalled musical legacy. By themselves the songs aren't that extraordinary, but the whole catalogue of his hits is quite amazing. 'Thriller' is probably the song that confirmed his status as a superstar in 1984. With the guest voice of Vincent Price and the amazing music video, this is the one single that I chose to represent Jackson's amazing career.

My collection: 7" single no. 3758

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, May 27, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro

Tracks: 'Thriller (special edit)' / 'Things I do for you (live)' (The Jacksons)

Remember the time - Michael Jackson

Once I set out to do something, I usually succeed. Not so long ago I decided that I wanted to have all of Michael Jackson's hit singles. It's ambitious, but right now, I don't need to fill in that many blanks anymore. This was one of them.

'Remember the time' was released as the second single from Jackson's 1991 album 'Dangerous'. It was accompanied by a groundbreaking music video, clocking it at nine minutes. Featuring Eddie Murphy, Iman and Magic Johnson and set in ancient Egypt, the video was almost more memorable than the song. The single was a number 1 hit in New Zealand and made the top 10 almost everywhere else.

My collection: 7" single no. 3755
Found: Empire Records, May 27, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Remember the time' / 'Come together'

Somebody's watching me - Rockwell

Rockwell is the son of Motown CEO Berry Gordy, Jr., Kennedy Gordy. He had himself signed to Motown without his father's knowledge. Dad did not find out until 'Somebody's watching me' and the accompanying debut album were released on his own Motown label.

Backing vocals on 'Somebody's watching me' were provided by Michael Jackson, who was not credited on the single for this. It may have contributed to the big success of the single, which peaked at number 6 in the UK and number 2 in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 2428

Found: August 19, 1995

Cost: 1 guilder

Tracks: 'Somebody's watching me' / 'Somebody's watching me (instrumental)'

Another part of me - Michael Jackson

'Another part of me' was the sixth single taken from Michael Jackson's 1987 album 'Bad'. The track originally featured in Jackson's 1986 3-D movie 'Captain Eo' and was written, arranged and composed by Michael Jackson himself.

Released in the summer of 1988, 'Another part of me' peaked at number 10 in Germany and the Netherlands, and number 18 in the UK.

My collection: 7" single no. 3636

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Another part of me' / 'Another part of me (instrumental)'

The way you make me feel - Michael Jackson

With all the controversy always surrounding Michael Jackson, you'd almost forget the man is responsible for many catchy tunes throughout the years. And this is one of them. 'The way you make me feel' was the third single release from his 1987 album 'Bad'. It reached number 1 in the USA and Canada, number 3 in the UK and number 6 in the Netherlands.

Jackson has released so many singles that I missed out on buying some of them. Lately I'm trying to fill the holes in my collection, and I'm hopeful I will have all of his singles from 'Off the wall' onwards soon.

My collection: 7" single no. 3651
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The way you make me feel' / 'The way you make me feel (instrumental)'

We are the world - USA for Africa

After Band Aid had sold millions of copies worldwide with 'Do they know it's Christmas?', it was almost inevitable that American popstars would rise to the challenge and come up with their own charity single. 'We are the world' was the result: a single of an epic 6'22 minutes length which is fine for the first three minutes but then turns into a long, protracted death rattle of a song, with far too many artists claiming a few lines of their own to sing.

The lyric 'There's a choice we're making / we're saving our own lives' was originally written as 'There's a chance we're taking / we're taking our own lives'. It was rewritten when it was feared the original phrasing's first part might look like the artists are patting themselves on the back while the last part might suggest collective suicide.

The single became a worldwide number 1 hit, raising more money for emergency needs in Africa, where several countries were suffering from an unprecedented famine. Not much has changed in over thirty years though: Africa is still in need.

My collection: 7" single no. 3541
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, January 9, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'We are the world' (USA for Africa) / 'Grace' (Quincy Jones)

You rock my world - Michael jackson

Now that Michael Jackson has announced his final concerts in London for July this year, I thought it would be appropriate to look back on the most recent single I have from him. It's a vinyl single of 'You rock my world', the first single from his last studio album 'Invincible'. And if that album proved anything, it's that the man wasn't invincible at all. The album sold worse than all the previous ones, and the record company only released two singles from the album. While the next one, 'Cry', didn't perform too well in the charts, this one made the top 10 in almost every country imaginable.

Michael Jackson and Rodney Jerkins played all the instruments in the song, which was recorded at Record One studios in Los Angeles. Recorded between July and September 2000, the track sounds a bit like a less exciting reprise of Jackson's previous hits 'The way you make me feel' and 'Remember the time'. This vinyl single features the same track on both sides, and is made in the USA.

My collection: 7" single no. 3350
Found: HMV, London, 2001
Cost: 4 pounds
Tracks: 'You rock my world' / 'You rock my world'

Dirty Diana - Michael Jackson

'Dirty Diana' was the fifth single taken from Michael Jackson's 1987 album 'Bad'. Like the four previous singles, it reached number 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, whereas it reached number 4 in the UK and number 2 in the Netherlands.

Jackson hired Billy Idol's former guitarist Steve Stevens to back him on the track. There were rumours that the lyric (and title) of the song referred to Diana, Princess of Wales or Diana Ross, but in a recent interview with Quincy Jones, he revealed that the song was actually about groupies. When Jackson performed live in London at Wembley Stadium in the presence of Lady Diana, he cut the song from the set. Ironically, she then confessed that it was one of her personal favourites.

My collection: 7" single no. 3504

Found: Record mania, Amsterdam, December 27, 2008

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'Dirty Diana' / 'Dirty Diana (instrumental)'

Download: here

Say say say - Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson

A year after the release of 'The girl is mine', Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson were at it again, this time with a track for Paul McCartney's album 'Pipes of peace'. Composed and performed by the two, it would be their last collaboration before Michael Jackson acquired ATV music, which owned the publishing rights to the Beatles catalogue.

In 1983, 'Say say say' was one of the most played songs on the radio and after a while it became very boring. It's only now, 25 years later, that I can listen to this track again.

My collection: 7" single no. 3564

Found: La La Land, Den Haag, January 31, 2009

Cost: 1,5 euro

Tracks: 'Say say say' (Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson) / 'Ode to a koala bear' (Paul McCartney)

Download: 'Say say say' / 'Ode to a koala bear'

P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) - Michael Jackson

'P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)' was the sixth single to be taken from Michael Jackson's legendary album 'Thriller'. The song was originally written by Jackson and Greg Phillinganes and was a mid-tempo soul jam. Quincy Jones wanted the song to be more upbeat, so he re-wrote it. This version ultimately appeared on the album.

When Michael Jackson was accused of child molestation in the Nineties, I always wondered about this particular track. Why, exactly, did he sing about a Pretty Young Thing? All the accusations were wrong, I think, but this track is a bit suspicious nonetheless....

My collection: 7" single no. 3533

Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, January 9, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)' / 'Working day and night'

Download: here

Thriller - Michael Jackson

The title track from the album 'Thriller' was released as the fifth single. 'Thriller' is one of Jackson's signature songs, in no small part because of its music video, a 14 minute epic which features extra parts of acting and lots of impressive crowd dance scenes.

This single was pressed on red vinyl and is part nine of a limited edition nine disc set released in 1983. The singles 'P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)' and 'Human nature' were not included in this package.

My collection: 7" single no. 3530

Found: eBay, January 6, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Thriller' / 'Things I do for you (live)' (The Jacksons)

Download: here

Wanna be startin' somethin' - Michael Jackson

'Wanna be startin' somethin'' was the fourth single taken from the album 'Thriller'. It was originally intended for the album 'Off the wall' but was not recorded until the sessions for 'Thriller' in 1982. The song was written by Michael Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones. The song ends with a chorus repeatedly singing 'Ma ma-se, ma ma-sa, ma ma-coo-sa', which is an African chant. This chant was later re-used in Rihanna's 2007 single 'Don't stop the music'.

This single was pressed on red vinyl and is part eight of a limited edition nine disc set released in 1983.

My collection: 7" single no. 3529

Found: eBay, January 6, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Wanna be startin' somethin'' / 'Rock with you (live)' (The Jacksons)

Download: here

Beat it - Michael Jackson

The third single from 'Thriller', 'Beat it', won two Grammy Awards for 'Record of the year' and 'Best male rock vocal performance'. Eddie Van Halen guested for the guitar solo on this track, which was again produced by Quincy Jones. The lyrics are an immediate, frightful warning to avoid fighting and violence at all costs, especially when honor seems to be at stake.

This single was pressed on red vinyl and is part seven of a limited edition nine disc set released in 1983.

My collection: 7" single no. 3528

Found: eBay, January 6, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Beat it' / 'Burn this disco out'

Download: here

Billie Jean - Michael Jackson

Released as the second single from his album 'Thriller', Michael Jackson met international acclaim with 'Billie Jean'. The groundbreaking video and the exciting music caused critics to be overwhelmingly positive. Jackson started writing the first demo of the song in his home in 1981. When he presented the song to his co-producer Quincy Jones, Jones had problems with the title and wanted to call the song 'Not My Lover'. He thought when audiences heard it they would assume Jackson was referring to tennis superstar Billie Jean King.

This single was pressed on red vinyl and is part six of a limited edition nine disc set released in 1983.

My collection: 7" single no. 3527

Found: eBay, January 6, 2009

Cost: 2 euro

Tracks: 'Billie Jean' / 'It's the falling in love'

Download: here