~was i invited to youre masquerade~

[tgies]

OK I found a neat version of "Behind the Mask" bear with me here

1979: Japanese electropop group Yellow Magic Orchestra release their sophomore album Solid State Survivor. "Behind the Mask", composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto and with lyrics by British poet and lyricist Chris Mosdell. (This is the first version I was aware of.)

1981: Quincy Jones hears Solid State Survivor. At the time, he is producing Michael Jackson's Thriller. Jones suggests that Jackson record a version of "Behind the Mask" for inclusion on the album. As the song is rather sparse, Jackson writes additional lyrics, developing a narrative for the song. One verse of Mosdell's original lyrics becomes part of the chorus. For reasons which are not clear, the song is left off of Thriller and never officially released. (This story appears to have gotten out through Mosdell, and Jackson's recording engineer Bruce Swedien corroborates it. I believe the Jackson version has actually been leaked at some point, as well — there is a slim chance that I have it in here somewhere.)

1984: Jackson allows his keyboardist Greg Phillinganes to rerecord the song with his lyrics and arrangement. It appears on Phillinganes' album Pulse. Jackson gets credited for co-production, lyrics, and backup vocals (I think he might be the vocoder? maybe?).
Video (p sure this is the 7" mix)
Long version (MP3) (sorry this is a bad needledrop and the mp3 is corrupt and will drop frames in two or three places but it's the best I have until I get my hands on this and needledrop it myself)

1986: While working with Eric Clapton, Phillinganes introduces him to "Behind the Mask". Clapton subsequently records the terrible version I imagine most people are familiar with.

And that is how Clapton came to record "Behind the Mask" and the completely fantastic version which is the missing link between the original and Clapton's version passed into obscurity and the end. Moral: Michael Jackson is somehow involved in everything.

Seriously though the Phillinganes recording is awesome

it is behind the mask but with some kind of serious-time disco/soul vocals over it.

and that is my favorite funk guitar phrase ever right there