Usher may have introduced it to the world earlier this month at the iHeart Music Awards in Los Angeles, but Michael Jackson’s posthumous new hit single, “Love Never Felt So Good” actually debuted back in 1983 — in Paul Anka’s home studio.
Anka, the legendary singer/writer/producer, and Jackson, were ensconced in the former’s Carmel, Calif., home studio working on a duet for Anka’s then-upcoming album, when the song was born. The sessions were also the genesis for another Jackson/Anka hit.
Paul Anka | AP PHOTO
“I was working on a duets album at the time,” Anka said,” and I’d known Michael and his family for years. Through a mutual publicist, Michael had expressed interest to be on the album. So he came to Carmel to see me and we started writing and we came up with all these songs. The tracks were produced and ready to go to the next level, which meant going to L.A. to put in violins and all that stuff.
“… Years later, I got a call from Harvey Levin at TMZ and the New York Times about this song that was supposed to be new, but turns out it was the song he and I recorded all those years ago. THAT song, renamed by then, turned out to be “This Is It,” but it was originally called “I Never Heard” when he and I recorded it. [Some legal battle ensued over the ownership of the song; Anka was eventually awarded 50 percent share in the song and its revenue]. … So I told them there were other songs we had recorded together in 1983 and they went back [through Jackson’s estate] and found the tapes for “Love Never Felt So Good.”
“While I’m not sure what the new album [“XSCAPE”] features because I’ve not heard it, I do know my song with him happened to be the only complete, professionally cut vocals he did because they came out of the studio in my home. I’m really excited to hear what the rest of the album holds.”
“Love Never Felt So Good,” is featured on “Xscape,” a new 8-song album of previously unreleased Jackson tracks, produced by L.A. Reid and Timbaland. The deluxe version of the album features Justin Timberlake in duet with Jackson on the song. It’s also featured as the music for a new Jeep commercial.
“I’m so happy for L.A. Reid,” Anka said. I’m a huge fan of him and he’s been a standup guy for putting me on this album, and very supportive of me. There’s a third song that Michael and I did that will surface soon, perhaps down the road on another release.”
Talking about working with Jackson all those years ago, Anka had nothing but high praises for the King of Pop.
“[Michael] was an emotional singer, he had such feeling in his voice. Just pure emotion. Listening him sing into that microphone was something very special. It wasn’t just his voice, you know? He had all those ooohs and yelps and harmonies. … He had that uniqueness about him.”
Asked to describe Jackson in one sentence, Anka replied without hesitation: “One of the greatest, unique and talented performers this country has ever given birth to.”
NOTE: Longtime Michael Jackson collaborator and award-winning choreographer Kenny Ortega serves as the guest judge tonight on “Dancing with the Stars,” (7 p.m. on ABC), and Anka said “expect a spectacular [dance sequence featuring] ‘Love Never Felt So Good’ as part of the show.”
SOURCE: VOICES
