New Queen Album to Feature Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson Duet

Back in July, it was reported that a previously unreleased duet by Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson would be released on the forthcoming Queen album, Queen Forever. The track, “There Must Be More To Life Than This,” was written during the 1981 sessions for Queen’s Hot Space album, but was never completed. Jackson recorded vocals on the track during a visit from Mercury to Los Angeles at a later date, but the track never made it to the surface; Mercury’s own version appeared on his debut solo album, Mr. Bad Guy, in 1985.

The track, with Jackson, was produced by William Orbit, who has worked with Madonna, Blur, All Saints, and many other high-profile musicians during the course of his own career. Orbit said the following about the track: “When I first played it in my studio I opened a trove of delights provided by the greatest of musicians. Hearing Michael Jackson’s vocals was stirring. So vivid, so cool, and poignant, it was like he was in the studio singing live. With Freddie’s vocal solo on the mixing desk, my appreciation for his gift was taken to an even higher level.”

The new album, Queen Forever, which guitarist Brian May has been working endlessly on, will feature previously unheard tracks “Let Me In Your Heart Again,” which was created durng 1984’s The Works recording session, and “Love Kills,” a Mercury solo ballad, produced by legendary producer Giorgio Moroder.

[via NME]