Michael Jackson Xscape -deluxe Edition- 2014 Work Jun 2026

Typically includes a fold-out poster and a booklet with lyrics and liner notes by Joe Vogel. Track-by-Track Production Guide Track Name Original Year Contemporized By Original Production Love Never Felt So Good John McClain, Giorgio Tuinfort Michael Jackson, Paul Anka Timbaland, J-Roc Michael Jackson, Cory Rooney Loving You Timbaland, J-Roc Michael Jackson A Place with No Name Michael Jackson, Dr. Freeze Slave to the Rhythm Timbaland, J-Roc L.A. Reid, Babyface Do You Know Where Your Children Are 1986–1990 Timbaland, J-Roc Michael Jackson Blue Gangsta 1998–1999 Timbaland, J-Roc Michael Jackson, Dr. Freeze Rodney Jerkins Michael Jackson, Rodney Jerkins technical details on specific tracks, or would you like to know where to a copy of this edition?

Commercially, Xscape was a success. It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 (behind the Frozen soundtrack), selling 157,000 copies in its first week. It went on to become the best-selling posthumous album by a solo artist since Jackson’s This Is It in 2009. Worldwide, it sold over 1.5 million copies.

Jerkins returned to update his own work, keeping the original's frantic energy but sharpening the horns, drums, and bass to give it a futuristic 21st-century gloss. Why the Deluxe Edition is Vital

The contemporized tracks on Xscape showcase the distinct flavors of its all-star production team. Michael Jackson Xscape -Deluxe Edition- 2014

, as executive producer alongside L.A. Reid, was the creative anchor for the project. He not only oversaw the album's sound but also personally handled several tracks, including the title track "Xscape" and "Blue Gangsta". Initially, Timbaland was apprehensive about working on a project without the artist present, but was drawn in to complete his own musical legacy. He was so moved by the raw Jackson recordings that he would often find himself tearing up in the studio. The centerpiece "Love Never Felt So Good" is a lush disco number originally co-written with Paul Anka in 1980.

The guiding philosophy behind Xscape was unique. L.A. Reid assembled an all-star team of producers—Timbaland (who served as the album’s executive producer), Rodney Jerkins, Stargate, John McClain, and Jackson’s longtime collaborator, Michael Durham Prince. Their mission was not to complete unfinished songs but to take what Jackson had left behind and "contemporize" it.

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. Typically includes a fold-out poster and a booklet

Despite the ethical debates, Xscape was a resounding commercial success. It debuted at chart in the United States and at number one on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Globally, the album was an even bigger phenomenon, debuting at number one in over 50 countries .

The responsibility of mining Jackson’s legendary vault fell upon L.A. Reid, the Chairman and CEO of Epic Records. Reid was granted unprecedented access to four decades of vocal tracks. Rather than merely cleaning up old tracks, Reid sought to "contemporize" the music—a process he defined as updating the production to sound like cutting-edge, modern radio hits while retaining Jackson's core essence.

Developed during the Dangerous sessions in 1991 with L.A. Reid and Babyface. Reid, Babyface Do You Know Where Your Children

The "Xscape" album was curated by Michael Jackson's brothers, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Randy Jackson, along with producer Timbaland and others. The album's title, "Xscape", refers to the idea of escaping into a world of music. After Michael's passing in 2009, his team worked on completing the unreleased tracks to create a cohesive album.

The driving force behind Xscape was L.A. Reid, then-chairman of Epic Records, who secured access to the Jackson vaults. Reid enlisted legendary producer Timbaland as the executive producer, alongside hitmakers like Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, StarGate, and John McClain.