Sunset Driver

"Sunset Driver"Song by Michael Jackson
General information
Released	November 16, 2004
Recorded	1982
Studio	Hayvenhurst (Encino, California) Yamaha Studios (Glendale, California)
Genre	Funk • disco • pop
Length	4:02
Albums	The Ultimate Collection Thriller 40
Label	Epic Records
Writer(s)	Michael Jackson
Producer(s)	Michael Jackson
Track list
Previous	"She's Out of My Life"
Current	"Sunset Driver"
Next	"Lovely One"
Music video

"Sunset Driver" is a previously unreleased song written and produced by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released as the seventh track from The Ultimate Collection. It was later re-released in 2022 on the Thriller 40 reissue.

Background

According to the liner notes for Thriller 40 and The Ultimate Collection, "Sunset Driver" was recorded at Yamaha Studios in Glendale, California, in 1982 during the Thriller sessions. However, the song was left off the final record.

Lyrics

[Intro]
Hoo!
Hee!

[Verse 1]
All alone, she's in the ego zone
The word is out that you're doin' wrong
On the move, got fire in your shoes
By word of mouth, you are on the loose
You're livin' on sunset time (You're livin' on sunset time)
(Hoo!)
Feelin' bad, you're livin' much too fast
The truth, the truth that you're on the pass
In the raw, they don't know what you saw
From word of mouth, you're breakin' every law

[Chorus]
Sunset driver
Midnight rider
Friday's brighter
Morning rider, you're a Saturday nighter (Ow)

[Verse 2]
On the go, got fever in your soul
You better not shout where you gonna go
Livin' hot, doin' what you should not
The break's on me then what do you get
We're livin' on sunset time (We're livin' on sunset time)
(Want that dime)
Shoot the breeze, you feel that she's the tease
Your night is free, what you want to be?
Who's to trust when livin' dangerous?
Tonight's your night, but this is what you lose

[Chorus]
Sunset driver
Midnight rider
Friday's brighter
Gettin' higher, you're a Saturday nighter (Ow)
(Hoo!)
(Pah-dah-da-da-dah-dah-dah)
(Hee!)

[Bridge]
You are there when the night's in town
Standin' there with the top of the round
They don't care about the things you used to say
You're like the cinema, you think there's nothin' wrong (Hoo!)

[Verse 3]
Goin' town, you do it every time
The word's got out that you're on the line
On the move, got fever in your shoes
The night's on you, what are you gonna do?

[Chorus]
Sunset driver
Midnight rider
Friday's brighter
Got to reach that driver, you're a Saturday nighter (Ow)

[Outro]
(Pah-dah-da-da-dah-dah-dah) (Hee-hee-hee)
(Ah) (Pah-dah-da-da-dah-dah-dah)
(Hoo!)
(Hee!)
(Hoo! Hee!)
(Hoo!)
(Hee!)
(Hoo!)
(Hee!)
(That's it, Janet)
(That's fine, Michael)

Gallery

Info on "Sunset Driver" (The Ultimate Collection booklet)

Trivia

• The fan community believes that, despite what The Ultimate Collection and Thriller 40 booklets state, the released recording of "Sunset Driver" doesn't originate from 1982, but the Off the Wall sessions, due to its sound and vocals matching those of the album. Additionally, on The Ultimate Collection, "Sunset Driver" is placed among the Off the Wall era tracks.
  • Given the song's credits - being recorded at Yamaha Studios by engineer Keith Seppanen - "Sunset Driver" couldn't have been recorded for Off the Wall. Yamaha Studios wasn't founded until 1981, and Seppanen became chief engineer there at the same time.
• Near the end of the track, Michael can be heard saying "That's it Janet", most definitely referring to Janet Jackson, who seems to have been present during the recording sessions.
• A 1:37-minute version of "Blood on the Dance Floor" allegedly exists amongst producer Teddy Riley's CD acetates featuring the opening lyrics from "Sunset Driver".
• In Bill Bottrell's notes, "Sunset Driver" appears with the date May 30-31, 1986.