"A Place with No Name" is a previously unreleased song written and produced by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released as the fourth track from the second and final posthumous album, Xscape. It was released as a single on August 12, 2014, serving as the second and final single from the album. The demo was released on the deluxe edition of Xscape.
Background[]
Jackson with Dr. Freeze (1998)
In 1998, producer Dr. Freeze, known for having co-written hits such as "I Wanna Sex You Up", joined Jackson's personnel, having met him through John McClain. At Record Plant, Freeze began proposing songs to base new material on. One of which came to be "A Horse with No Name", a 1972 hit by the British rock band America. The producer stated he "wanted to refresh it and make a version for the 2000s". Jackson was in good contact with America, which gave the two the approval for sampling the recording.[1]
C.J. DeVillar joined the production as well and recorded the bassline for the song. While "trying to find a vibe", Jackson would join the bass player in the recording booth, having both "rocking out".[1]
"A Place with No Name" started production in August 1998 at Record Plant. While Jackson would move on to other studios to record other songs, the production and mixing for "A Place with No Name" continued to switch between studios, such as Record One and Marvin's Room. In February 1999, Jackson, Brad Buxer, Michael Prince, and Mark Ging made further changes to the song at Record One.[1]
In May, sound engineer Paul J. Falcone worked on another mix of "A Place with No Name" at The Hit Factory in New York. This would be the final time the song was worked on before the release of Jackson's next studio album, as at the time he'd begin work with Rodney Jerkins (known as "Darkchild"), switching studios once again and leaving "A Place with No Name" behind, causing its inclusion for Invincible to be completely scrapped.
Jackson continued to tamper with the track in 2004, in his home studio at Neverland Ranch, although he was joined by Freeze and Prince only. Freeze mentioned that the track "improved gradually".
| “ | It was incremental work. He listened to the different mixes and changed some details around here or there. He was in full creative control. We wanted the song to be perfect… It was a bit like a director looking to improve his film by changing the script or changing players. This is the type of process that was used to create this song, and overall, the album Invincible… All that interested him was to have number one hits. | ” |
–Freeze for Damien Shields, Michael Jackson: Songs & Stories From The Vault[1] | ||
"A Place with No Name" was considered for inclusion on The Ultimate Collection, although it was again shelved.
Jackson worked on "A Place with No Name" for the last time in 2008, at a home studio inside his Las Vegas mansion. Neff-U took over the production, adding some minor edits. The same year, Freeze had also visited Jackson's house, although the two didn't work on anything, but rather, only "brainstormed". This version of "A Place with No Name" would be the final one that Jackson had any involvement in.[1]
| “ | Compared with the 2004 version, you can hear the drums are different in the final version. It has a different kick drum pattern, a little stronger snare, and the ‘na nas’ are copied to repeat through the fade. | ” |
–Prince for Shields, Michael Jackson: Songs & Stories From The Vault[1] | ||
On July 16, 2009, three weeks after Jackson's death, a twenty-four-second snippet of seemingly an older version of the song leaked online by TMZ.com.[2] It was the first "fresh" material from Jackson to have been heard by the public since his passing. The song was covered by articles and news, notably The Today Show.[3] Following the leak, members of America released a statement, claiming the band would want the recording to see an official release.[1]
The following year, the track received additional touch-ups and was considered for inclusion on the posthumous Michael album, although it was scrapped in the end.[4] According to journalist and fan Damien Shields, he was told this version is "true to the last version MJ worked on", making it likely Neff-U was the producer on this mix.
Jackson with Stargate (2007)
On December 3, 2013, a full, over five-minute-long version leaked online.[5] Meanwhile, the track was being officially contemporized by production duo Stargate, whom Jackson met in 2007 for discussions about a possible collaboration. It saw release in May of the following year, as the fourth track on Xscape. Additionally, a demo of "A Place with No Name" was featured on the deluxe edition, which, according to Michael Prince, is the 2008 mix.[1] The original 2013 leak had extra instrumental bars (between c. 2:37 and 2:45 mark) before the third verse, plus a longer fade-out, and all the differences Prince mentioned to Damien Shields.
Music video[]
The video for "A Place with No Name" features Danielle Acoff and Alvester Martin, the latter of whom worked with Jackson for many years. Previously unseen footage from the filming of the music video for "In the Closet" is also included. One more music video was uploaded on August 28, 2014, featuring the dancers from the Michael Jackson ONE show.
Audio[]
- Demo (Leaked Version) - (
listen)
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
As I drove across on the highway, my Jeep began to rock
I didn't know what to do, so I stopped
Then got out and looked down, I noticed I've got a flat
So I walked out, parked the car, like sideways
So I can find what I can fix
I looked around, there were no cars on the highway
I felt a strange feeling, like a mist
So I walked down towards the end of the road
And in the fog, a woman appeared
She said, "Don't you worry, my friend, I'll take care
Take my hand, I'll take you there"
[Chorus]
Oh, take me to a place without no name
Take me to a place without no name (Yeah, oh)
Take me to a place without no name
Take me to (Oh) a place without (Yeah) no name
[Verse 2]
As she took me right through the fog
I seen a beautiful city appear
At where kids are playin'
And people are laughin' and smilin' and nothin' to fear
She said, "This is the place where no people have pain
With love and happiness"
She turned around, looked down in my eyes
And started cryin'
Grab my hand, you've got a friend, oh
[Chorus]
Take me to a place without no name (No name)
Take me to (See) a place without no name
A place without no name
Take me to (Can't believe) a place without (I can't believe) no name
Take me to a place without no name
[Post-Chorus]
Whoa, yeah
Don't go, oh
[Bridge]
She started liking me, kissing me, and hugging me
She didn't really, really want me to leave
She showed me places I've never seen
And things I've never done, this really looks like a lot of fun
I've seen the grass and the skies and the birds
And the flowers surrounded by the trees
This place is filled with love and happiness
How in the world could I wanna leave?
So then I went in my pocket, took my wallet all out
With my pictures of my family and girl
This is the place that you choose to be with me
When you thought you could be in another world, oh
[Chorus]
Take me to (Don't go) a place
Without (I can't believe) no name (No name)
Take me to (See) a place without no name
Take me to (I can't believe) a place without (Don't go) no name
A place without no name
Take me to (See) a place without no name
[Outro]
No, no, no
La, la, la, la, la (La, la)
La, la, la, la
A place without no name
La, la, la, la, la (La, la, la)
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la (La, la, la)
La, la, la, la
A place without no name
La, la, la, la, la (See, a place without)
La, la, la, la
A place without no name
La, la, la, la, la (I can't believe, I can't believe)
La, la, la, la (I can't believe it)
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
A place without no name
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
A place without no name
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
[Verse 1]
As I drove across on the highway
My jeep began to rock
I didn't know what to do
So I stopped and got out
And looked down, I noticed I'd got a flat
So I walked out, parked the car like sideways
So I can find, what I can fix
I looked around there were no cars on the highway
I felt a strange, feeling like a mist
I walked down toward the end of a road
And in the fog, a woman appeared
She said, "Don't you worry my friend
I'll take care, take my hand
I'll take you there"
[Chorus]
Ooh-oh-oh
Take me to a place without no name
Take me to a place without no name
[Verse 2]
As she took me right through the fog
I seen a beautiful city appear
A'Where kids are playin' and people are laughin' and a'smilin' an' Nothin' to fear
She said, "This is the place where no people have pain
With love and happiness"
She turned around, looked down
In my eyes and started cryin'
And grabbed my hand
You've got a friend
Ohh-oh-oh-oh-oh
[Chorus]
Take me to a place without no name
(No name)
Take me to a place without no name
(A place without no name)
Take me to a place (Take me) without no name
(Take me, take me, a place without no name)
Take me to a place without no name
Woh-oh-oh
Yeah, doggone, oh-oh
[Verse 3]
She started likin' me
Kissin' me, and huggin' me
She didn't really really want me to leave
She showed me places I've never seen
And things I've never done
This really looks like a lot of fun
I've seen the grass and the skies and the birds
And the flowers surrounded by the trees
This place is filled with love and happiness
How in the world, could I wanna leave
[Pre-Chorus]
So then I went in my pocket
Took my wallet on out
With my pictures of my family and girl
This is the place that you choose to be with me
When you thought
You could be in another world
[Chorus]
Oh oh-oh
Take me to a place without no name
(Doggone, take me, no name)
(Take me to a place without no name)
Nah nah nah-nah-nah-nah
Nah-nah-nah nah nah
(A place without no name)
(Take me, doggone, a place without no name)
Take me to a place without no name
No no no!
[Outro]
Nah nah nah-nah-nah-nah
Nah-nah-nah nah nah
(A place without no name)
Nah nah nah-nah-nah-nah
Nah-nah-nah nah nah
(A place without no name)
Nah nah nah-nah-nah-nah
Nah-nah-nah nah nah
(A place without no name)
Nah nah nah-nah-nah-nah
(A place without)
Nah-nah-nah nah nah
Nah nah nah-nah-nah-nah
Take me, take me, take me
Nah-nah-nah nah nah
(A place without no name)
Nah nah nah-nah-nah-nah
Nah-nah-nah nah nah
(A place without no name)
Nah nah nah-nah-nah-nah
Nah-nah-nah nah nah
(A place without no name)
Gallery[]
Physical copies[]
![CD back cover[6]](/wiki/File:Apwnncdback.jpg "Apwnncdback.jpg (92 KB)")
![CD[6]](/wiki/File:Apwnncd.jpg "Apwnncd.jpg (102 KB)")
Videos[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Michael Jackson Meets America in Invincible Album Outtake ‘A Place With No Name’ – DamienShields.com
- ↑ Michael Jackson's Unreleased Song
- ↑ "A Place By No Name" by Michael Jackson leaked - YouTube
- ↑ @DamienShields - X, June 25, 2023
- ↑ A place with no name has just been leaked in full! | MJJCommunity | Michael Jackson Community
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Michael Jackson – A Place With No Name | Releases | Discogs