Behind The Mask - Music

Frogtoon Music - Song Info: Behind the Mask

Eric-Clapton - August

"Behind The Mask" Is A Pop Song That Has Been Recorded By Artists Including Yellow Magic Orchestra Michael Jackson And Eric Clapton. It Began As An Instrumental Written By Ryuichi Sakamoto For A 1978 Seiko Commercial It Was Rerecorded By Sakamoto's Band Yellow Magic Orchestra And Released On Their Album Solid State Survivor 1979 With Lyrics By Chris Mosdell. In The Early 1980s Producer Quincy Jones Brought The Song To The Attention Of Jackson Who Contributed More Lyrics And Added An Accompanying Melody. The Jackson Version Was Planned For Inclusion On His 1982 Album Thriller But Was Dropped Following Legal Disputes. Since Then Artists Including Greg Phillinganes Clapton And Sakamoto As A Solo Artist Have Recorded Versions Based On Jackson's Updated Version. Clapton's Single Was A Top 20 Hit In Some Markets In 1987 And A Remixed Version Of Jackson's Recording Was Released On His 2010 Posthumous Album Michael. English Musician Eric Clapton Recorded "Behind The Mask" For His 1986 Album August And His Version Was Released As A Single In 1987. Greg Phillinganes Who Had Previously Covered "Behind The Mask" Himself Brought The Composition To Clapton's Attention. Phillinganes Played Keyboards And Performed Background Vocals On Clapton's Recording. This Version Failed To Credit Michael Jackson As One Of The Song's Co-Writers But Chris Mosdell Has Confirmed That Jackson's Estate Does In Fact Take 50% Of The Songwriting Royalties From The Recording. Clapton's Version Of "Behind The Mask" Was Released As A Single In January 1987. It Peaked At Number 15 On The UK Singles Chart On 21 February 1987.