Michael Jackson & Freddie Mercury Duet Trio Set For Release

A trio of previously unheard and unreleased tracks featuring two of modern music's most influential, important and innovative artists - Michael Jackson and Freddie Mercury - have at long last been announced as near completion and set for release before the end of the year according to founding Queen member Brian May.

Apparently, May has been refining the three tracks since he acquired them - along with permission to release them - back in 2011. In addition to added guitars and employment of more Queen-esque backing vocals, famed producer William Orbit has had a hand in bringing the long-awaited duets to sonic perfection in the studio along with May, as well.

May recently took to his blog and discussed the upcoming release, writing, "As for unreleased material with Freddie singing ... strangely enough I was working on some tapes this evening - with William Orbit. There are a few items in progress. We will have something for folks to hear in a couple of months' time, hopefully."

Later on, May posted an update: "Great evening with William Orbit working with some Queen/Freddie/Michael Jackson tapes. Exciting, challenging, emotionally taxing. But cool."

For more, visit Brian May's blog, BRIAN'S SOAPBOX, here.

Of note, among the three tracks being released later this year is reportedly the first version of what would later become Jackson's famous duet with Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, "State Of Shock".

Besides "State Of Shock", the other two duet tracks recorded by Jackson and Mercury in 1983 and set to be released soon are "There Must Be More To Life Than This" and "Victory", the latter which Jackson later sang solo on an album of the same name in 1984.

Given that both Jackson and Mercury are deceased, the prospect of hearing new music from two of the recording industry's biggest names - three duets, no less - is major music news so unbelievably good as to force one to ask - quoting from Mercury - "Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?"

Check out the original article on the matter here.

So, what are your thoughts on these long-lost Jackson/Mercury collaborations finally coming out after thirty years in the vault?

Photo Credit: CORBIS

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