148: It’s Been a Minute

In this regular news episode, Q joins host Jamon Bull for a round-up of all the latest news in the world of Michael Jackson. The dynamic duo discuss the Estate’s gradual reveal of bonus tracks on “Thriller 40”, the return of “This Is It” to Netflix, controversial leaked live “HIStory World Tour” vocals, a new podcast series on the Michael Jackson allegations, the new TMZ documentary, “Who Really Killed Michael Jackson”, an MJ connection to the new TV series “The Sandman”, and more. Plus, Friend of the Show Jenny Winings contributes a special report on the MJ birthday events in Las Vegas.

This episode was edited by Charlie Carter.

Discussion Topics
• Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” is returning to Netflix for a limited time during September.
• J. Randy Taraborrelli has revealed that CNN is working on a Victory Tour documentary.
• Vincent Paterson’s books “Icons and Instincts” has been released in English.
• Live “HIStory World Tour” vocals have leaked, and we aren’t sharing them.
• Michael Jackson wanted to star as Morpheus in “The Sandman”.
• Roundup of MJ birthday events in Vegas courtesy of Friend of the Show, Jenny Winings. A partial livestream can be seen here.
• The Estate are slowly revealing Thriller 40 bonus tracks before release. So far, “Behind the Mask (Demo)”, “She’s Trouble” and “The Toy”.
• Michael Jackson fans, mother daughter duo Sheryl and June from Virginia, are about to release the “Michael Jackson: Case for Innocence” podcast series.
•  Fox has released a new documentary called “TMZ Investigates: Who Really Killed Michael Jackson”.

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If you have feedback on this Michael Jackson podcast episode, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at themjcast@icloud.com or find the links to our many social networks on www.themjcast.com. Michael On!

107: Allan ‘Big Al’ Scanlan Special

Q and Jamon celebrate Michael Jackson’s 61st birthday with a very special guest, Allan ‘Big Al’ Scanlan, who worked as Neverland Valley Ranch’s Director of Maintenance from 1990-2005. During that time, Big Al oversaw the grounds and attractions, including the theatre, rides and trains. He also became a close personal friend of Michael’s.

In this in-depth conversation, Big Al shares amazing, heartfelt stories about his life at Neverland, from what it took to keep the Ranch running, to his personal interactions with the King of Pop. He also discusses how the property became a place of refuge, entertainment, and hope for underprivileged children, and how Michael Jackson’s entire staff worked to make that humanitarian dream a reality.

The MJCast can’t imagine a better way to recognize Michael Jackson’s birthday than with this trip down memory lane, to the golden age of Neverland Valley Ranch.

Additional Links
• Big Al on Facebook and Twitter.

Ad & Music Breaks
• Jackson 5 – I’ll Be There (DJ Hasebe Remix)
• Michael Jackson & J-Friends – People Of The World (TheMJQuotes Edit)
• MTN South Africa – We Are The World

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If you have any thoughts, opinions, or feedback on this Michael Jackson podcast episode, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at themjcast@icloud.com or find the links to our many social networks on www.themjcast.comMichael On!

068: Thriller Night Special with Ola Ray

Thirty-five years after Thriller album’s release, Michael Jackson’s titular short film remains a Halloween staple. To mark the anniversary, Q and Jamon are joined on this special episode by none other than Michael’s Thriller co-star, Ola Ray.

In 1983, it seemed like every young woman wanted to be Ola Ray, strutting hand-in-hand with the King of Pop at the zenith of his career. But in this exclusive chat with The MJCast, Ola talks about the dark side of Hollywood. Among her revelations is that she was high the first time she joined Michael on the set of the video.

After discussing her brief friendship with Michael – including the last time she ever saw him – Ola speaks of her annoyance and not being invited to Sony/Estate events organised to mark Thriller’s 35th anniversary, and also gives an insight into her ongoing legal action against the Estate over its alleged failure to pay her the royalties demanded by her contract.

Additionally, Ola gives listeners a preview of her upcoming book, The Thrill Of It All, in which she says she will spill the beans about her time as one of Hugh Hefner’s playmates and – in the wake of the recent litany of allegations against various powerful men in Hollywood – claims she will expose how she was taken advantage of as a young, aspiring actress.

Links
• 
Ola Maria Ray’s Instagram and Facebook pages
• 
The MJCast – Episode 019: Thriller Night Halloween Special with LaVelle Smith Jr.
• The MJCast – Episode 043: Thriller Night Special feat. CJ DeVillar
• The MJCast – Episode 064: Vincent Patterson Special
• Ola Ray’s Playmate of the Day page
• Michael Jackson’s Thriller short film
• The Making of Michael Jackson’s Thriller
• Michael discusses Thriller on MTV’s ‘100 Greatest Videos Ever Made’ TV special
• The MJCast – Episode 066: Long Hair Don’t Care
• MJ’s Halloween Crypt; a terrific MJ/Halloween playlist free on Soundcloud by listener @DoggoneLover88

Ad & Music Breaks
• 
Michael Jackson – PYT (The Reflex Edit)
• Michael Jackson – Thriller (Louis La Roche Remix)
• Michael Jackson – Threatened (Nick* Crook County Remix)
• Taylor Davis – Thriller

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If you have any thoughts, opinions, or feedback on the show, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at themjcast@icloud.com or find the links to our many social networks on www.themjcast.comKeep Michaeling!

Episode 038 – Michael It’s Your Birthday, Happy Birthday Michael

Episode 038 - Michael It's Your Birthday, Happy Birthday Michael Show Art

Happy Birthday, Michael Jackson! On this special birthday episode of The MJCast, we are joined by dear friend James Alay. Aside from also being a Michael Jackson megafan, James has worked with us over the past couple of years in making The MJCast a reality by contributing his technical expertise. Thank-you, James! In Episode 038 we kick things off by discussing Quincy Jones recently being honoured by the BBC during Proms, Spike Lee’s 6th annual Brooklyn Loves Michael Jackson event, a never-before-heard MJ song called Family Thing and Taryll Jackson’s new website, music and upcoming podcast. We then discuss the new 2017 official Michael Jackson calendar, 3T’s first Power of Love radio show, Paris Jackson’s thoughts on Kanye West breaking one of Michael’s records and Rihanna receiving the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award recipient at this year’s MTV awards. Our main discussion topic this week is all around James’ fan story and his favourite MJ products. We hope you enjoy this episode of the internet’s premiere podcast on all things Michael Jackson and the Jackson family.

News

  • Quincy Jones has been honoured in England this year by BBC’s Proms.
  • Spike Lee honours Michael Jackson with the 6th annual Michael Jackson block party Brooklyn Loves Michael Jackson.
  • Brad Sundberg releases a promo video for In the Studio With MJ feature the never-before-heard song Family Thing as background audio.
  • Taryll Jackson launches his new website, debut’s new music and has a podcast on the way.
  • Michael Jackson’s official 2017 calendar gets Dangerous!
  • Taj, Taryll and TJ Jackson of 3T host their first Power of Love radio show on LA Talk Radio, sponsored by their Dee Dee Jackson Foundation.
  • Paris Jackson responds to an MJ fan on social media around Kanye west beating one of her father’s records.
  • Rihanna is set to receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards.

Main Discussion Topic 

Finds of the Week

Additional Links

Music Breaks & Ads

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If you have any thoughts, opinions, or feedback on the show, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at themjcast@icloud.com or find the links to our many social networks on www.themjcast.comKeep Michaeling!

Episode 015 – Brad Sundberg Special

Episode 015 - Brad Sundberg Special YouTube ArtOn this special episode of The MJCast, Michael’s trusted Technical Director and studio engineer of eighteen years, Brad Sundberg joins Q and Dan Villalobos (a studio engineer himself) to discuss all things Michael, in honour of his birthday. Topics include Brad’s history in the recording industry, his work with Michael as Technical Director and studio engineer and of course his involvement with sound and lighting installations throughout Michael’s Neverland Valley Ranch. We then delve into a fascinating discussion around Brad’s views on how Michael’s art has been handled posthumously and finally the latest chapter in his incredible career, the critically acclaimed In the Studio With MJ seminars.

As mentioned on his official website, “Brad Sundberg joined Michael’s Jackson team during the production of Captain EO in 1985, and remained with Michael as one of his engineers and Technical Director for nearly 18 years.  Brad was actively involved in the studio production of four of Michael’s studio albums: BADDangerousHIStory, and Blood On The Dance Floor. He also worked on remixes and edits for countless singles, short films, and tour preparations associated with these projects.

Beyond the studio, as Michael’s incredible Neverland Valley Ranch grew from dream to reality, he brought Brad in to design and install music and video systems in virtually every corner of the property. In addition to Michael’s personal listening and dance studio systems, Brad created incredible outdoor sound effect systems throughout the grounds with the exact same attention to detail. Michael chose the music, but he trusted Brad’s technical expertise to make it sound great.

Now Brad is sharing these unique experiences with the public through his In The Studio with MJ seminars. The idea was born from the intense desire that people have to know more about how these incredible projects came to life.”

Author Damien Shields discusses one of Brad’s seminars on his website. “The atmosphere in the studio was great. All in attendance had an amazing seat and view of the projector screen, which was quite large; probably six by six feet. You could pay more for a VIP pass, which allowed you priority entry and a seat in the first rows. VIP attendees also had the privilege of spending an additional hour or so with Brad where you could get more information, ask questions and even share Michael’s favourite meal. Fans, of which there were approximately forty in total, were eager, hanging on Brad’s every word. He brought along a fourteen-layer digital multitrack of Bad and spent fifteen minutes playing with it, showcasing Michael singing leads and backgrounds separately. He isolated, the horns and even David Williams on guitar. ‘He created the most amazing remix right in front of your eyes. It was thrilling,’ said one of the attendees.” Whether you’re speaking with Huffington Post journalist Charles Thomson, studio engineer Dan Villalobos or anyone else who has attended Brad’s seminars, their remarks are always the same…In the Studio With MJ is unmissable.

Stay tuned at the end of this show to hear about Brad’s upcoming seminars through the end of 2015 (Chicago – August 30th, Orlando – September 5th and Las Vegas – October 10th) and click here to purchase tickets. Happy Birthday, Michael! We hope listeners of The MJCast enjoy this podcast as much as we did conceiving and recording it.

Links
Brad Sundberg’s website and his Facebook and Twitter pages
Dan Villalobos’ website and his FacebookTwitter, Soundcloud and Instagram pages
Xscape Origins author Damien Shields article on the In the Studio With MJ seminars

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If you have any thoughts, opinions, or feedback on the show, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at themjcast@icloud.com or find the links to our many social networks on www.themjcast.comMichael it’s your Birthday. Happy Birthday, Michael!