2004 Michael Jackson – The Ultimate Collection
The Ultimate Collection is a box set by Michael Jackson, released on November 16, 2004 by Epic Records. This project spans his entire career, from his early days with the Jackson 5 in the late 1960s to his 2001 album Invincible.
The original physical box set consists of several major elements:
- 4 Audio CDs: A total of 57 tracks gathering his biggest global hits.
- 14 Unreleased Tracks: Includes rare demos highly prized by fans, such as We Are the World (solo demo), Cheater, Monkey Business, and an early version of P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing).
- 1 DVD: The full concert Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour, recorded in 1992.60-page
- Booklet: Features rare photos and a chronological essay by music critic Nelson George.
Note: Only the new tracks are discussed here
Tracks
Disc 1
1-1 The Jackson 5 – I Want You Back (The Corporation) 02:59
1-2 The Jackson 5 – ABC (The Corporation) 02:57
1-3 The Jackson 5 – I’ll Be There (Berry Gordy; Hal Davis; Bob West; Willie Hutch) 03:57
1-4 Got To Be There (Elliot Willensky) 03:22
1-5 Michael Jackson – I Wanna Be Where You Are (Arthur Ross; Leon Ware) 02:57
1-6 Michael Jackson – Ben (Walter Scharf; Don Black) 02:44
1-7 The Jackson 5 – Dancing Machine (Single Version) (Hal Davis; Don Fletcher; Dean Parks) 02:42
1-8 The Jacksons – Enjoy Yourself (Kenneth Gamble; Leon Huff) 03:40 *
1-9 Diana Ross & Michael Jackson – Ease On Down The Road (Charlie Smalls) 03:19
1-10 Michael Jackson – You Can’t Win (From “The Wiz”) (Charlie Smalls) 07:17
1-11 The Jacksons – Shake A Body (Early Demo) (Michael Jackson; Randall Jackson) 02:08 *
1-12 The Jacksons – Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground) (Michael Jackson; Randall Jackson) 03:45
1-13 Michael Jackson – Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough (Michael Jackson) 06:04
1-14 Michael Jackson – Rock With You (Rod Temperton) 03:40
1-15 Michael Jackson – Off The Wall (Rod Temperton) 04:05
1-16 Michael Jackson – She’s Out Of My Life (Tom Bahler) 03:37
1-17 Michael Jackson – Sunset Driver (Demo) (Michael Jackson) 04:03 *
1-18 The Jacksons – Lovely One (Michael Jackson; Randall Jackson) 04:50
1-19 The Jacksons – This Place Hotel (Michael Jackson) 05:44
Disc 2
2-1 Michael Jackson -Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ (Michael Jackson) 06:03
2-2 Michael Jackson – The Girl Is Mine (Michael Jackson) 03:42
2-3 Michael Jackson – Thriller (Rod Temperton) 05:58
2-4 Michael Jackson – Beat It (Michael Jackson) 04:18
2-5 Michael Jackson – Billie Jean (Michael Jackson) 04:53
2-6 Michael Jackson – P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) (Demo) (Michael Jackson; Greg Phillinganes) 03:46 *
2-7 Michael Jackson – Someone In The Dark (Alan Bergman; Marilyn Bergman; Rod Temperton) 04:54
2-8 The Jacksons – State Of Shock (Michael Jackson; Randy Hansen) 04:30
2-9 Michael Jackson – Scared Of The Moon (Demo) (Michael Jackson; Buz Kohan) 04:41
2-10 Michael Jackson – We Are The World (Demo) (Michael Jackson; Lionel Richie) 05:20 *
2-11 Michael Jackson – We Are Here To Change The World (From “Captain Eo”) (Michael Jackson; John Barnes) 02:53 *
Disc 3
3-1 Michael Jackson – Bad (Michael Jackson) 04:07
3-2 Michael Jackson – The Way You Make Me Feel (Michael Jackson) 04:58
3-3 Michael Jackson – Man In The Mirror (Siedah Garrett; Glen Ballard) 05:19
3-4 Michael Jackson – I Just Can’t Stop Loving You (Michael Jackson) 04:13
3-5 Michael Jackson – Dirty Diana (Michael Jackson) 04:41
3-6 Michael Jackson – Smooth Criminal (Michael Jackson) 04:17
3-7 Michael Jackson – Cheater (Demo) (Michael Jackson; Greg Phillinganes) 05:09 *
3-8 Michael Jackson – Dangerous (Early Version) (Michael Jackson; Bill Bottrell; Teddy Riley) 06:40 *
3-9 Michael Jackson – Monkey Business (Michael Jackson; Bill Bottrell) 05:45 *
3-10 Michael Jackson – Jam (Michael Jackson; Rene Moore; Bruce Swedien; Teddy Riley) 05:39
3-11 Michael Jackson – Remember The Time (Michael Jackson; Teddy Riley; Bernard Belle) 04:00
3-12 Michael Jackson – Black Or White (Michael Jackson; Bill Bottrell) 04:16
3-13 Michael Jackson – Who Is It (Ihs Mix) (Michael Jackson) 07:57
3-14 Michael Jackson – Someone Put Your Hand Out (Michael Jackson; Teddy Riley) 05:26
Disc 4
4-1 Michael Jackson – You Are Not Alone (R Kelly) 06:01
4-2 Michael Jackson – Stranger In Moscow (Michael Jackson) 05:45
4-3 Michael Jackson – Childhood (Theme From “Free Willy 2”) (Michael Jackson) 04:28
4-4 Michael Jackson – On The Line (Michael Jackson; Babyface) 04:53
4-5 Michael Jackson – Blood On The Dance Floor (Michael Jackson; Teddy Riley) 04:12
4-6 Michael Jackson – Fall Again (Demo) (Michael Jackson; Walter Afanasieff; Robin Thicke) 04:22 *
4-7 Michael Jackson – In The Back (Michael Jackson; Glen Ballard) 04:31 *
4-8 Michael Jackson – Unbreakable (Michael Jackson; Rodney Jerkins; Fred Jerkins III; Lashawn Daniels; Nora Payne; Robert Smith) 06:26
4-9 Michael Jackson – You Rock My World (Michael Jackson; Rodney Jerkins; Fred Jerkins III; Lashawn Daniels; Nora Payne) 05:08
4-10 Michael Jackson – Butterflies (Andre Harris; Marsha Ambrosius) 04:39
4-11 Michael Jackson – Beautiful Girl (Demo) (Michael Jackson) 04:03 *
4-12 Michael Jackson – The Way You Love Me (Michael Jackson) 04:30 *
4-13 Michael Jackson – We’ve Had Enough (Michael Jackson; Rodney Jerkins; Lashawn Daniels; Carole Bayer Sager) 05:45 *
* previously unissued
Biography
Musicians
2-11 We Are Here To Change The World (From “Captain EO”)
| Drums (programming) | John Barnes |
| Keyboards | John Barnes |
| Programming | John Barnes |
| Vocals | Michael Jackson |
3-7 Cheater (Demo)
| Guitar | David Williams |
| Piano | Greg Phillinganes |
| Synthesizer | Greg Phillinganes |
| Vocals | Michael Jackson |
3-9 Monkey Business
| Bass | Bill Bottrell |
| Drums | Bill Bottrell |
| Loop (Drum) | Jim Keltner |
| Loop (Drum) | Lenny Castro |
| Guitar | Bill Bottrell |
| Wurlitzer | Greg Phillinganes |
| Sax | Jim Horn |
| Vocals | Michael Jackson |
3-14 Someone Put Your Hand Out
| Guitar | Oscar Castro-Neves |
| Keyboards | Michael Jackson |
| Keyboards | Brad Buxer |
| Synthesizer | Jonathan Moxy |
| Strings | Michael Jackson |
| Strings | Brad Buxer |
| Vocals | Michael Jackson |
4-6 Fall Again (Demo)
| Keyboards | Walter Afanasieff |
| Programming | Walter Afanasieff |
| Background Vocals | Robin Thicke |
| Vocals | Michael Jackson |
4-7 In The Back
| Bass | Neil Jason |
| Bass | Sekou Bunch |
| Bass | Bill Bottrell |
| Drums | Bill Bottrell |
| Drums | Rayford Griffin |
| Drums (programming) | Brad Buxer |
| Drums (programming) | Charlie Bryant |
| Drums (programming) | Michael Jackson |
| Guitar | Bill Bottrell |
| Guitar | Tomi Lunsford |
| Keyboards | Brad Buxer |
| Keyboards | Michael Boddicker |
| Keyboards | Michael Jackson |
| Organ | Billy Preston |
| Synthesizer | Brad Buxer |
| Synthesizer | Michael Boddicker |
| Synthesizer | Michael Jackson |
| Programming | Matt Carpenter |
| Harp | Gayle Levant |
| Congas | Lenny Castro |
| Percussion | Bill Bottrell |
| Percussion | Eric Anest |
| Percussion | Paulinho Da Costa |
| Vocals | Linda Harmon |
| Vocals | Michael Jackson |
4-11 Beautiful Girl (Demo)
| Drums (programming) | Brad Buxer |
| Guitar | Steve Lukather |
| Keyboards | Brad Buxer |
| Keyboards | Steve Porcaro |
| Synthesizer | Brad Buxer |
| Programming | Brad Buxer |
| Percussion | Eric Anest |
| Vocals | Michael Jackson |
4-12 The Way You Love Me
| Drums (programming) | Brad Buxer |
| Keyboards | Brad Buxer |
| Synthesizer | Brad Buxer |
| Programming | Brad Buxer |
| Percussion | Eric Anest |
| Percussion | Paulinho Da Costa |
| Vocals | Michael Jackson |
4-13 We’ve Had Enough
| Drums | Gerald Hayword |
| Vocals | Michael Jackson |
Other Musicians
Strings – Endre Granat, Eve Sprecher, Joel Derouin, Karie Prescott, Kenneth Yerke, Matt Funes, Michele Richards, Mona Newman, Ralph Morrison, Suzie Katayama (Track 4-7)
Liner Notes
Producer – Michael Jackson (Tracks 2-11, 3-7, 3-9, 3-14, 4-7, 4-11, 4-12)
Producer – Bill Bottrell (Track 3-9)
Producer – Teddy Riley (Track 3-14)
Producer – Walter Afanasieff, Robin Thicke (Track 4-6)
Co-producer – Buz Kohan (Track 2-9)
Co-Producer – Michael Jackson (Track 4-6)
Arranged By – Walter Afanasieff (Track 4-6)
Arranged By (Choir) – Betty Wright (Trac 4-13)
Arranged By (Strings) – George Del Barrio (Track 3-9)
Arranged By (Strings) – Jeremy Lubbock (Track 4-13)
Engineer (Assistant) – Bruce Wildstein, Ric Butz (Track 2-9)
Engineer (Second) – Bruce Wildstein, Ric Butz, Rail Rogut, Bart Stevens, Brad Sunberg, Julie Last, John Chamberlin, Tim Roberts, Thom Russo, Chris Ribando, Nick Thomas, Tom Sweeney, Jeff Burns, Dave Ashton, Craig Durrance
Recorded By – Matt Forger, Bill Bottrell, Kevin Gilbert, Bruce Swedien, George Mayers, David Gleeson, Robin Thicke, Pro-Jay, Paul J Falcone, Michael Prince, Brad Buxer, Jean Marie Horvat, Brad Gilderman, Harvey Mason Jr, Dexter Simmons, Stuart Brawley
Mixed By – Bill Bottrell, Seban
Orchestrated By – Marty Paich (Track 2-9)
Art Direction, Design – David Coleman, Nancy Donald
Mastered At Bernie Grundman Mastering
Recorded At Westlake Studios, LA, CA
Recorded At Hayvenhurst, Encino, CA
Recorded At Record One, LA, CA
Recorded At Larrabee North, LA, CA
Recorded At Wallyworld Studios, San Rafael, CA
Recorded At Blue Jay Studios, San Rafael, CA
Recorded At The Hit Factory, NY
Recorded At Sony Studios, NY
Recorded At Dark Child Studios
Copyright MJJ Productions Inc
MJ_Fan1987
August 1, 2026 @ 10:58
That’s a fantastic overview, it’s amazing how much material they packed into that collection considering his output over the years.