Often it’s hard to believe it’s been thirteen years since GOD called the King of Pop home. Since his passing, fans have enjoyed some of his unreleased music. A few weeks before the official anniversary, the MJ estate blessed fans with Thriller 40.
This edition of the album is the third reissue of the original record, and Mike Jack’s is the first posthumous album in five years since the release of 2017’s Scream. For this week’s edition of Slow Jam Saturday, the popular choice would’ve been to celebrate the closing song on Thriller, “The Lady In My Life,” but I decided to highlight one of the unreleased bops, “Who Do You Know.”
The “Thriller 40” campaign was already in full swing on November 10 when news broke that the previously unreleased and unheard demo was a track on Disc 2. Jackson wrote and produced the ballad sometime between 1980 and February 1982. When the song didn’t make the final track list for Thriller, initially, it was reworked and considered for the Jacksons’ 1984 reunion album Victory. However, Jackson decided to contribute three other songs (“Be Not Always,” “State Of Shock,” and “The Hurt”) instead. Outside of some grainy video footage from a 1993 deposition, I had never heard Jackson refer to “Who Do You Know.”
That said, the first song I went to when Thriller 40 was digitally released was “Who Do You Know.” The song opens with a simple arrangement, and Jackson comes crooning with an undeniable yearning.
“I’ve lost my baby
Two years ago
Have you seen her?
She seems to be on a mission
Long ago when I smiled, did you notice her? Oh lord…
She was only playin’
Waiting for love, gonna get you this, oh lord…
Well, she seems to have left me
What in all of love
Can you tell me which way did she go? (Alright)”
“Tell me, who do you know?”
“Who Do You Know” is only a demo, but Michael sounds better than half of the artists who have emerged in the last decade after his passing and who currently have streaming on lock. While it’s unclear whom Jackson is singing about in the song, he croons the lyrics so passionately that it doesn’t matter.
Final Grade: A
“Who Do You Know” from Thriller 40 is available on all streaming platforms
For the first Second Listen Sunday of 2025, I wanted to return to 2005 and highlight “Gemini,” the eighth album from iconic singer & balladeer Brian McKnight. The album hit stores on February 8th, 2005, and would serve as the singer’s last release on the legendary Motown label. The album’s title pays homage to the singer’s astrological sign.
When discussing families in R&B music, three names are usually at the top: Jackson, Debarge, and Isley. For the first Slow Jam Saturday of 2025, I wanted to show love to Isley Jasper Isley and their hit “Insatiable Woman” from their 1985 album “Caravan of Love.”
For their second single, the group presented a ballad entitled “Feels Like The First Time.” Once again, Greene handles the lyrics, while Neville Hodge is responsible for production duties. Greene begins the song with robust energy, proclaiming his love for the lady. Greene’s group members provide stellar work on the background vocals, and the songs eschew nineties R&B without going into crass vulgarity.