NYT: “New” Michael Jackson song originally recorded in Carmel

The New York Times reported in today's Arts Beat section that Michael Jackson's posthumous single, “This Is It,” was originally recorded with Paul Anka right here in Monterey County.

According to the story written by Ben Sisario, Anka sought proper credit after the song's initial release failed to recognize him as the co-author. The story says:

For Mr. Anka, the song has a long and painful history. He said that he and Jackson wrote and recorded it in 1983 in Mr. Anka’s studio in Carmel, Calif., and that it had been intended as a duet for Mr. Anka’s album “Walk a Fine Line.”

But shortly after it was recorded Jackson took the tapes, Mr. Anka said. He threatened to sue to get them back, he said, and now has the original multitrack tapes in his possession, along with documentation that the copyright for the song was held by both men. “It’s exactly the same song,” Mr. Anka said. “They just changed the title.”

You can view the full story here.