A new album by Michael Jackson is to be released next month, including never-before-heard songs by the self-styled King of Pop before his death last year, his record company said Friday.
"Michael" has been produced by the late star’s estate in collaboration with Epic Records, which will put a teaser clip on his website this weekend, followed by one of the singles, "Breaking News," from Monday.
The cover artwork for the record, to be released Dec. 14, shows images of the eccentric singer at various stages of his career, dominated by one of him being crowned by cherubs with a biblical-looking star in the background.
"The creative process never stopped for the King of Pop who was always planning for his next album," Epic said in a statement on the Jackson website.
"Unbeknownst to many fans around the world, (he) was writing and recording songs continuously everywhere from a friend’s home in New Jersey to studios in Las Vegas and Los Angeles with a small group of handpicked collaborators."
And it said: "Now, through the unique stories that will be told about the songs that comprise ‘Michael,’ fans will get mind-blowing insight into how this artist worked."
The record will also give his fans "a chance to hear the songs he most recently created along with tracks that Michael had a desire to bring to fruition," it added.
The record company gave no further details about the songs on the album. A film, "This is It," was released last year with footage of rehearsals by Jackson for a series of London concerts he was preparing for before he died in June at age 50.
The new album’s cover artwork was created by painter Kadir Nelson in 2009, it noted.
"In the oil painting, Kadir — who is known for story telling through his art — takes us on a journey through some key moments and important people in Michael Jackson’s life," it said.
