THE SHOWROOM'S 

MOST WANTED ITEMS:

OFF THE WALL "EXTENDED RANGE" USA CASSETTE

EPIC/CBS HET45745

What you see in the pictures, it's a rare U.S. release of "Off the wall" in cassette format; it's the "Extended range" version, a.k.a. the same release intended for the "half speed mastered" lps.

"Extended range" must be a different recording process that provides an higher quality in listening the tape (just like the Chrome tapes). This version is very rare:I only see it once on ebay and it's still missing in the Showroom! But....one day....I'm sure, I'll get it! 

THE MICHAEL JACKSON SHOWROOM WOULD LIKE TO WISH A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL THE FOLLOWERS OF THIS BLOG, AND TO ALL THE MICHAEL JACKSON COLLECTORS AND FANS AROUND THE WORLD!!!!!



CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM LITTLE MICHAEL JACKSON (VIDEO)

Today's WELCOME TO THE SHOWROOM:
KUNSTWERKE VON MICHAEL JACKSON
GERMANY HARDCOVER BOOK ART LIMA


Here it is a nice new item for the Showroom:it's a german book (released in Japan too, but at the moment no other countries - included UK and USA - got a issue) including several - and most previously unreleased - drawings by Michael. It's a 150 pages hardcover book, and what you can see in these pages, it's simply unbelievable:there are sections with Disney drawings (Mickey Mouse was one of MJ favourite characters), as well as a selection of amazing portraits of famous people (including, obviously, the beloved Liz Taylor). You can take a look at the pictures here to have an idea of what's the content of this authentic treasure. This book is still easy to find on Amazon, so be quick if you want it:the price is cheap, and you can have the chance to own something going beyond the musical art, something more personal regarding the art and the essence of Michael Jackson, the man.
I really suggest its purchase to everyone:this is a must-have for all the King of Pop fans.

Today's ON THE AIR:

"BILLIE JEAN"

BILLIE JEAN FRANCE 7'' SINGLE (BLUE LABEL)

EPIC A3084

BILLIE JEAN FRANCE 7'' SINGLE (GREY LABEL)

EPIC A3084

"She was more like a beauty queen

from a movie scene

I said don't mind, but what do you mean

I am the one

Who will dance on the floor in the round

She said I am the one

who will dance on the floor in the round

She told me her name was Billie Jean

as she caused a scene

Then every head turned with eyes that dreamed

of being the one

Who will dance on the floor in the round

People always told me be careful of what you do

And don't go around breaking young girls' hearts

And mother always told me be careful of who you love

And be careful of what you do

'cause the lie becomes the truth..."

BILLIE JEAN (VIDEO) 

Today's WELCOME TO THE SHOWROOM:

THE ORIGINAL SOUL OF

MICHAEL JACKSON

COSTARICA LP

MOTOWN 1015003

A new record enters in the Showroom today:it's a not easy to find "The original soul of Michael Jackson" produced in Costarica! Like almost all poor presses released in South America, this lp comes with a black and white back cover; the labels are similar to the european releases, but if you pay attention to the writings you'll notice the writings in spanish. Also, the major detail about the origins of this vinyls, are typed in the back sleeve, right side:"Producto centroamericano - Hecho en Costarica por Indica S.A." (whereas "S.A." is for South America).

 

 

THE RECORD OF THE WEEK:

MICHAEL JACKSON "BEST 4 YOU"

JAPAN 12 3P.687

The record chosen this week by the Showroom, is the Michael's "Best 4 U" 12'' single released in Japan only.

It contains 4 tracks:

side A

1- Don't stop til you get enough

2- Off the wall

side B

1-Beat it

2-Human nature

This record is a part in a series of releases with the same "best 4 You" brand, marketed by Epic/Sony at the time (1985-86, I guess). A Jacksons "Best 4 you" was released too, and it's even rare than this. The series includes exclusive releases from Toto and Cindy Lauper, as well as other artists (I think - I didn't see others around) from the Epic label.

The exclusive picture sleeve, as well as the wonderful pink obi, make of this an extremely precious record for every Michael Jackson collector.

 

 

THE SHOWROOM'S 
MOST WANTED ITEMS:
HISTORY AUSTRALIA COMMEMORATIVE EDITION
GOLDEN SLIPCASE
EPIC/SONY 474709 2

Well, this cd set surfaced some weeks ago on ebay (if I remeber well...), and by the way, is a never-seen-before australian edition of HIStory past present and future Book I, coming with a special "commemorative" golden slipcase that wraps the fatcase al around. I don't have any additional info, the only detail you can see in the back is that this must be distributed by a "TRIPLE M" company from Sidney.
I hope I'll have the chance to have a copy of this edition in my hands, someday. Until then, if you have any other info regarding this cd, please let me know!

"La magia se vuelve espectaculo"

Today's WELCOME TO THE SHOWROOM:

MOONWALKER

SPAIN VHS

LAUREN VIDEO HOGAR

Here it is a nice new item to add to the Showroom today! It's the spanish version of "Moonwalker", released in 1989 by the Barcelona "Lauren Video Hogar" productions. It comes with a big red vhs case, and a spanish description on the back insert.

I'm so glad it increases the Moonwalker vhs colony here but...I know:there are some other releases I still miss, around there.

Somewhere.

Can you feel it?

The moon will keep on walking.... :-)

 

 

THE RECORD OF THE WEEK:

THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL

UK LIMITED EDITION 12'' 

"DOUBLE GROOVE"

EPIC 651275 3

This is the strangest experiment I've ever seen for a vinyl production. The limited edition of "The way you make me feel" released in 1988 in UK, it's a double groove vinyl. If you read the description on the left side of the sleeve, it says:

"GET INTO THE GROOVE:PUT EITHER SIDE ON YOUR TURNTABLE, LOWER THE ARM AND SEE WHICH MIX YOUR NEEDLE PIX".

So:let's see the contents of side A:"7'' remix" and "A cappella"; If you let your turntable play it, you won't know which one of the 2 will you listen before. It's possible the record starts with the "A cappella" version, 1 or 2 or 3 times, but the fourth try could start with the "7'' remix". Or maybe you can be so lucky (or unlucky) to play the correct tracklist...it all depends on which groove your needle pix! This is an amazing example of originality...but if you are a dj, you'll go crazy with this record!

And by the way :this is the only record I have with this double grrove section...I've never seen something similar done for other artists! That's why it's truly an unique gem every Michael Jackson collector should have.

 

P.S. Beware:the tracklist is different from the classic UK release, which contains only 3 tracks, and the full "Dance extended mix".

 

 

Today's ON THE AIR :

"ANOTHER PART OF ME"

ANOTHER PART OF ME

JAPAN 3'' SINGLE EPIC 10-8P-3036

JAPAN 3'' MAXI SINGLE EPIC 12-8P-8009

"...Out from a nation

I feel the truth

The final message we'll bring to you

There is no danger to feel the truth

So come again

We need you

We're sendin' out a major love

And this is our message to you (message to you)

The planets are linin' up

We're bringin' brighter days

They're all in line waitin' for you

So know the truth

You're just another part of me…"

 

ANOTHER PART OF ME (VIDEO) 

 

 

 

PLAYING MICHAEL 

ON THE ITALIAN JUKE-BOX

THRILLER 

EPIC JC15115

DIRTY DIANA 

EPIC JC15222

BLACK OR WHITE 

EPIC JC15305

IN THE CLOSET 

EPIC/SONY JC15311

YOU ARE NOT ALONE 

EPIC/SONY JC15481-7

BLOOD ON THE DANCEFLOOR 

EPIC/SONY JC15516-7

You know, every vountry used to produce special editions in 7'' format, to promote the singles from an album and let it playing on the juke-boxes. Some countries like France and USA released sometimes these editions with a picture sleeve too; in Italy there was a chance to get the record with a sleeve not matching the artists' record, and with a big hole in the middle.

These releases, most of the items, came with plain white sleeves; if you want to get a special juke-box copy, I suggest you to be patient and look for a copy complete with the matching juke-box strip - that means you will have a COMPLETE record.

Sometimes, label A and label B didn't contain the same artists'songs. Most of the times both artists on the record came from the same label, but I even saw some splitted records with 2 artist from different production labels.

By the way, here we have some examples of italian juke-box releases:

THRILLER backed with

Paul Young's "Come back and stay"

DIRTY DIANA backed with

Sade's "Love is stronger than pride"

BLACK OR WHITE backed with

Claudio Baglioni's "Acqua dalla luna"

IN THE CLOSET (6:32" version!) backed with

The pasadenas' "I'm doing fine now"

YOU ARE NOT ALONE backed with

Toto's "I will remember"

BLOOD ON THE DANCEFLOOR backed with

Skank's "Garota nacional"

Important note:"In the closet" italian juke-box edition, is the only 7'' fromat to contain the long 6'32" album version, that's why this release is truly an unique treasure.