'Sunset Driver' | 80s Thriller Era Remix

Michael Jackson's "Sunset Driver" (Released on Thriller 40) Thriller era 80s rework to make it sound more fitting with the Thriller album atmosphere.

I had a lot of difficulty figuring out where to take this track, as the entire song is built on disco foundations - so I had to practically rebuild the entire production to an original Thriller era mix, as the harmonics in the original Demo simply wouldn't transfer well into a Thriller atmosphere.

I hope my work is sufficient enough for you!

Instruments used:

Rhodes | Keyscape Rhodes LA Chorus
Minimoog | Arturia MiniV
Jupiter 8 | Arturia JupV
LinnDrum | VProm LM1 Eprom
Prophet | Arturia ProphetV
Orchestra | SRX Orchestra
CS-80 | Arturia CS-80 V
Other drum elements - MT Powerdrums

Tags: michael jackson sunset driver thriller 40 mj song remix 80s demo full version

[Znop]

I had a lot of difficulty figuring out where to take this track as the entire song is built on disco foundations (Why it was on Thriller 40 in the first place baffles me) - so I had to practically rebuild the entire production to an original Thriller era mix, as the harmonics in the original Demo simply wouldn't transfer well into a Thriller atmosphere (Really, I tried like 3 times lol). So the result is, unfortunately, a song that doesn't sound much like the original demo musically - and I'm sorry if that disappoints you. I know this was a relatively anticipated mix, so I hope it's sufficient enough for you to enjoy!

(Will be taking a _short_ break as to not burn myself out, but make sure to subscribe so you get any Community Messages regarding updates, polls etc. !)

[ethanlovesthe]

I still find it weird this song was on thriller 40 given it was an off the wall outtake, but other than that i'm glad i can finally listen to the song on streaming services

[ProEvoKing]

You should have more subs, you are thr best Jackson mixer/producer. Sony should hire you for future albums.

[oct]

I would have rather heard this version on thriller 40 than the disco version from 79. Smh. Great job on the remix!

[MelodicBox]

Simply amazing! That bassline synth is everything. It'd be cool if you uploaded the instrumental version :)

[Jordansparte]

Wow! Respect for making this totally different! The original is nuts and you did it Justice!

[SirZaydenOfNapier]

Even though I wasn't expecting this, I do enjoy it more than I thought I would. Really.

At first I thought "Strange chord progression (that I still can't really get with, but I can groove to enough), no cool beat skips, what am I listening to?", then I got to the vocals, & it worked so well, then I heard this piece from the original, the chorus groove, & the string licks, & that piece from the original, & the brass, & that damn bridge with that bass!!! Absolutely amazing, blew my mind.

Another one of the few "reworkings" I actually enjoy, & that's a short list.

However, I'd like to hear one of your original reworkings, just to hear "what could've been", really. I know that even though most of the original version is from '79 or so (lead vocals, slap bass, guitar, rhoades, strings, brass, most of it, really), some parts of the original version had to be reworked in the '80's.

Synth drums (maybe the whole beat, maybe doubling a real kit turned down low in the mix, but definitely there, & definitely obvious), a synth bass in the chorus I never noticed until they announced it on Thriller 40 & I relistened to it (but that one could be a '70's synth), & multiple polysynths in that sort of a stack & layered so hard, from 1979?

In the words of Kevin McCalister, "I don't think so", & I've always believed that with the right instruments & orchestration, any chord progression, melody, or even a rhythm, can be made timeless, or at least timeless enough, so that must work in reverse, for dating a song, too. Just have a look-see, maybe even call it "Sunset Driver - Thriller '80's Era (Demo)" or something.

Either way, like I said, this is awesome, & going in my "Xscape-Style Remix, But If It Was Good" playlist (which as I said earlier, is a small list).

Keep up the great work (at your own pace, of course), loving this stuff.

[melvinstevens]

Amazing I'm hoping to hear Chicago 1945 in your style definitely amazing 🤩

[ОльгаПахомова-ык]

Музыка классная песня супер Майкл лучший молодец всегда здорово!!! На виде Майкл красавец обоятелен галантен шикарно великолепно настоящий

[brianlawrence]

It was supposed to be on off the wall..

[StelBoy]

Good remix, but just to clear it up, Sunset Driver actually already is Thriller era. Michael did first record it in 1979 for Off The Wall, but he re-worked it in 1982 for Thriller, and the version we have on The Ultimate Collection and Thriller 40 is the 1982 demo. Still a good remix though!

[SupremeNerd]

This does sound 80s but its much more nu wave like some Duran Duran Depeche Mode type stuff. I'll take the one from off the wall anyday. I don't understand why this was on Thriller 40 when it was already on the special edition of Off The Wall

[pxlcito]

What software did you use to make this mix? Sounds great btw!

[jonathangiang]

The Google drive file link is down unfortunately. Is there any chance you'll ever re-upload/reestablish the Google drive/do a mega upload for all of your Thriller era stuff? Otherwise, thanks for the great remix!

[janetluisaaguirresuarez]

Amor mio mi honeybee, mi esposo de mi alma. Te amo amor te extraño mucho, me haces falta, te hecho de menos. No se de ti, ya van 5 meses y medio que no te comunicas conmigo. Que pasa?, que ocurre?, estas bien amor?, estas enfermo?, estas bien amor?. Yo pase a Nani por Telegram clave y correo del user nuevo de fb y tambien un correo nuevo con su clave para que D te lo pase por Telegram al numero con el cual tu te comunicas con tu hijo. No se de ti y eso me preocupa y me asusta a la vez, si yo te pierdo me muero. Quiero estar ya contigo, ven por mi amor. Yo no necesito ni dinero, ni casa, ni lujos, ni joyas, solo necesito a ti. Podemos vivir con el señor JS, solo necesitamos una habitacion para los dos podemos estar con el señor JS. anda amor ven por mi en cuanto puedas ojala sea pronto. Te ama tu Jan. Te espero fiel y leal el tiempo que sea asi llegue a anciana yo te esperare a que vengas por mi. Te ama Jan