MICHAEL JACKSON RARE WE ARE THE WORLD DEMO CASSETTE 1985 Unreleased Tape MJ

	€		1,600
	$		1,860

USA for Africa – "We Are The World" Demo Tape (1985) with Original Provenance Documentation | John Guess Collection An exceptional historical audio and documentary set related to the creation of We Are The World (1985), one of the most iconic and influential recordings in modern popular music history. This lot originates from the personal collection of John Guess, a music industry professional based in Los Angeles connected to the USA for Africa project. This is a rare opportunity to acquire original materials directly linked to the development and production of a landmark recording that brought together some of the greatest musical artists of the 20th century. The lot includes everything shown in the photographs: 1. Original "We Are The World" demo cassette The recording has been tested and verified. The cassette is fully functional. Playback reflects the natural limitations of an analog cassette over 40 years old. Sound quality is lower than modern digital standards, although vocals and performance remain clearly audible, accompanied by the characteristic background noise typical of the original tape medium. Side A – Extremely rare working vocal recording Side A contains an extraordinary and highly significant working recording featuring one of the rarest known versions of We Are The World. This is a stripped-down interpretation performed exclusively by Michael Jackson on lead vocals and backing vocals, accompanied only by Lionel Richie on piano. This version provides a unique early insight into the creative development of the song, prior to the final ensemble recording released by USA for Africa. It represents a valuable studio document capturing the structure and emotional core of the composition in its earliest developmental stage. This type of recording is extremely uncommon within known We Are The World archival material, particularly in this isolated Michael Jackson vocal format, making it highly significant for collectors and researchers of modern music history. Side B – Alternative piano version Side B contains an alternative version of the song performed by Lionel Richie on piano. This recording differs from the final released version and provides valuable insight into the arrangement and compositional development of the piece. Together, both sides offer a rare and unique perspective into the creative evolution of We Are The World, showcasing different stages of its development before becoming the final historic recording. 2. Certificate of Authenticity & Provenance – John Guess Signed document detailing the origin of the material and its direct connection to the USA for Africa project. 3. Original Laminated Artist Pass Original access pass used during the We Are The World project sessions. Overall good condition, showing light aging and natural yellowing consistent with over four decades of preservation. 4. Original letter by Quincy Jones Two-page original typed letter signed by Quincy Jones, legendary producer of We Are The World and one of the most influential figures in modern music history. 5. Original sheet music of "We Are The World" Pages 2/3 and 3/3 are present. Page 1/3 is missing. This type of working studio material often exists in partial form due to its use during production sessions. 6. Original USA for Africa project sheet Original document listing all participants involved in the historic recording session. 7. Original studio layout map Studio seating/positioning map used during the recording sessions to organize the placement of participating artists. The story of "We Are The World" Released in 1985 under the USA for Africa (United Support of Artists for Africa) initiative, We Are The World was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones. The song was created in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by famine in Africa. The project brought together more than forty of the biggest names in American music, including Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, Diana Ross, Billy Joel, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, Cyndi Lauper, and many other legendary artists. The single became a global cultural phenomenon, selling millions of copies and raising tens of millions of dollars for humanitarian aid. It redefined the concept of charity recordings and became a milestone in music industry history. A historically significant and extremely rare archive The combination of working recordings, production documentation, original credentials, Quincy Jones correspondence, and studio materials makes this set a highly important historical archive. Of particular significance is the presence of a working recording centered on Michael Jackson, considered exceptionally rare within known We Are The World development material. This is a collection intended for serious collectors of Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones, USA for Africa, and historically significant music memorabilia. Securely packaged, fully insured worldwide shipping with tracking included. Express shipping worldwide – loss & damage insurance included – delivery in only 3–5 business days.
Feel free to ask any questions, I always respond quickly. SEO Keywords We Are The World demo tape, Michael Jackson rare recording, Lionel Richie piano demo, Quincy Jones autograph letter, USA for Africa memorabilia, 1985 original cassette tape, unreleased Michael Jackson vocals, vintage studio recording cassette, music industry archive collectible, pop music history artifact, charity single USA for Africa, 1980s music memorabilia, original studio session tape, rare Michael Jackson cassette, We Are The World original recording, celebrity music collectibles, historical music documents, vintage analog cassette tape, music production studio archive, signed Quincy Jones letter, pop culture memorabilia collectible