Michael Jackson Xscape -deluxe Edition- 2014 Jun 2026
Look at the of the singles worldwide
represents a landmark, yet heavily debated, moment in Michael Jackson's posthumous discography. Released in May 2014, this album, executive produced by Epic Records CEO L.A. Reid, aimed to bridge the gap between Jackson’s timeless vocal recordings and contemporary music production. The Deluxe Edition, specifically, is a treasure trove for fans, pairing the reworked "contemporized" tracks with the original, raw demos, offering a fascinating look at the creative process behind the King of Pop’s final unreleased work. The Vision: "Contemporizing" the King of Pop
Recorded in 1998, this track is a reimagining of the folk-rock band America’s 1972 classic hit "A Horse with No Name."
Additionally, the Deluxe Edition featured a feature-length documentary. The film detailed the making of the album, featuring interviews with L.A. Reid, Timbaland, and the other producers discussing the immense pressure and responsibility of working on Jackson's music posthumously. Reception and Cultural Impact
The album was officially released on by Epic Records, MJJ Music, and Sony Music Entertainment. It is the tenth release by Sony and/or Motown since Jackson's death in 2009. The album is named after the title track "Xscape," following Jackson's tradition of naming his albums after a single word from a song on the record. Michael Jackson Xscape -Deluxe Edition- 2014
The single "Love Never Felt So Good" (both the solo and Timberlake duet) won a Grammy Award for Best Music Video (the duet version) and was nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance.
: The raw, unedited demos exactly as Michael left them, allowing listeners to hear his pure, initial ideas.
: A "straightforward love song" initially recorded during the Bad era in the mid-1980s.
The deluxe edition of "Xscape" received generally positive reviews from music critics. The album holds a Metacritic score of 64 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Critics praised the additional tracks on the deluxe edition, which offered a deeper look into Michael Jackson's creative process. Look at the of the singles worldwide represents
| # | | Original Recording Era | Notable Production Info | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1 | Love Never Felt So Good | 1983 | Features a duet version with Justin Timberlake | | 2 | Chicago | Unknown | Produced by Timbaland and J-Roc | | 3 | Loving You | 1987 (Bad era) | A heartfelt ballad from the Bad sessions | | 4 | A Place with No Name | 1998 ( Invincible ) | Re-imagined by Stargate; Jackson's take on "A Horse with No Name" | | 5 | Slave to the Rhythm | 1991 (Dangerous era) | Featured the famed 2014 Billboard Music Awards hologram | | 6 | Do You Know Where Your Children Are | 1990s | An Invincible -era outtake with dark themes | | 7 | Blue Gangsta | 1998 | Another cut from the Invincible sessions | | 8 | Xscape | 1999 | Title track; reworked by its original producer Rodney Jerkins | | 9 | Love Never Felt So Good (Original Version) | 1983 | The raw, piano-and-vocal demo | | 10 | Chicago (Original Version) | Unknown | Unadorned archival recording | | 11 | Loving You (Original Version) | 1987 | The original Bad era demo | | 12 | A Place with No Name (Original Version) | 1998 | Raw vocals over Dr. Freeze's original production | | 13 | Slave to the Rhythm (Original Version) | 1991 | The original Dangerous era demo | | 14 | Do You Know Where Your Children Are (Original Version) | 1990s | Unpolished version of the album track | | 15 | Blue Gangsta (Original Version) | 1998 | The raw version from Dr. Freeze | | 16 | Xscape (Original Version) | 1999 | Rodney Jerkins' original 1999 production | | 17 | Love Never Felt So Good (Duet with Justin Timberlake) | 1983/2014 | The chart-topping duet single |
Producers & Contributors
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A decade after its release, the holds a unique place in music history. It set a new standard for how estates should handle unreleased material. Instead of guessing what Jackson would have wanted, the producers offered a transparent "then and now" dialogue. The Deluxe Edition, specifically, is a treasure trove
Xscape (Deluxe Edition) is a house divided. The main disc is a high-gloss tribute that often confuses "modern" with "loud and clean." It succeeds as a pop artifact—it sold well, produced a hit ("Love Never Felt So Good" with Justin Timberlake)—but fails as an authentic MJ experience.
The album also made history at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards, where a cutting-edge, illusion-based pepper's ghost performance (often referred to as a hologram) of Michael Jackson "performed" "Slave to the Rhythm" live on stage, leaving audiences stunned and cementing the album's place in pop culture history. The Verdict: A Masterclass in Posthumous Curation
Looking back a decade later, Xscape stands as the gold standard for posthumous artist releases. It succeeded where others failed for three reasons: