Believe it or not, there was a moment in 1982 when the two biggest things on the planet collided in a recording studio. Steven Spielberg had just released E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, a movie that was basically printing money at the box office. Meanwhile, Michael Jackson was in the middle of recording Thriller, an album that would eventually change music history forever. But in the middle of all that chaos, they teamed up for something weird, beautiful, and legally messy: The E.T. Storybook.
It wasn't just a cheap movie tie-in. Michael Jackson actually felt a profound, almost spiritual connection to the little brown alien. He famously said he felt like E.T. because he was "in a strange place and wanted to be accepted." That’s deep. Most people just saw a puppet; Michael saw a mirror.
The Secret History of the Michael Jackson E.T. Box Set
Most fans know about the Thriller era, but the E.T. Storybook is where things get interesting from a business perspective. MCA Records paid a massive amount of money to get Michael to narrate the story and provide a song called "Someone in the Dark." The problem? Michael was signed to Epic (a subsidiary of CBS Records).
Epic gave him permission to do the project under two very strict conditions. First, the record couldn't come out until after the Thriller album was released. Second, "Someone in the Dark" could not be released as a single.
Why things went south with MCA and Epic
Naturally, the industry got greedy. MCA Records saw the hype building and decided to jump the gun. They released the E.T. Storybook box set in November 1982, right around the same time Thriller was hitting shelves. Epic Records lost their minds. They didn't want any competition for Michael's voice, especially not from a children's record.
They sued.
A court actually ordered MCA to withdraw the album. This is why, if you find an original 1982 E.T. Storybook vinyl in a thrift store today, you’re basically holding a legal relic. It’s one of the rarest pieces of MJ memorabilia because so many copies were yanked from stores before they could be sold.
The Emotional Connection: Why Michael Jackson Cried During Recording
Quincy Jones, the legendary producer behind Thriller, handled the production for the E.T. project too. He told stories about how Michael would get so emotional during the narration that he would break down in tears. There’s a specific part where E.T. is dying, and Michael supposedly couldn't get through the lines.
He was hurting.
Honestly, it makes sense when you look at Michael's life at the time. He was twenty-four, the most famous person in the world, and yet he was incredibly isolated. He spent his days in recording studios and his nights hiding from paparazzi. When he read the lines for an alien who just wanted to "go home," it wasn't acting. It was therapy.
"Someone in the Dark" remains one of the most underrated songs in his catalog. It’s a sweeping, cinematic ballad that captures that 80s Amblin magic. If you listen closely to the lyrics, it's all about finding a friend in a lonely world. It’s pure sentimentality, but it works because Michael believed every word he was singing.
The technical side of the 1982 production
The production quality was insane for a "children's record."
- Quincy Jones used a full orchestra.
- They layered Michael's vocals with a clarity that rivaled Thriller.
- The sound effects were pulled directly from the Skywalker Sound archives.
It wasn't just a guy reading a book. It was an immersive audio experience. Even the packaging was high-end, featuring a color booklet and a poster of Michael posing with the E.T. puppet. That photo alone became iconic. Michael looked genuinely happy, which was a rarity in his later years.
How Michael Jackson and E.T. Changed Pop Culture Marketing
Before this, movie soundtracks and "storybooks" were usually low-budget cash grabs. This project changed the game. It proved that a major pop star could cross over into cinema in a way that felt authentic. It paved the way for the massive soundtrack era of the 80s and 90s.
Think about it. Without the success (and the legal drama) of the Michael Jackson and E.T. partnership, would we have had Prince’s Batman or Whitney Houston’s The Bodyguard? Maybe. But Michael showed that the star power of the artist was just as big as the movie itself.
The legacy of "Someone in the Dark"
Despite the legal injunction, the song didn't stay hidden forever. It eventually surfaced on the Thriller 25th Anniversary edition and various box sets. It’s a fan favorite because it bridges the gap between the disco-tinged Michael of the late 70s and the untouchable King of Pop of the mid-80s.
The vocals are peak MJ. No hiccups, no "hee-hees," just pure, crystalline storytelling. It’s a reminder that beneath the spectacle, the man was a world-class vocalist who could sell a story better than almost anyone else in history.
What You Can Learn from the E.T. and Michael Jackson Collaboration
Looking back at this specific moment in 1982 teaches us a lot about the intersection of art and commerce. Even the most "magical" collaborations are subject to the cold, hard reality of record contracts.
If you're a collector or a fan of music history, there are a few things you should know if you're trying to track down this piece of history:
Check the Serial Numbers
Original MCA pressings (especially the ones with the "Someone in the Dark" single promotional sticker) are worth a small fortune. Because of the court order, very few made it to the public. If you find one at a garage sale for five bucks, buy it immediately.
Listen for the Narrative Nuance
Don't just listen to the song. Listen to the way Michael narrates the story. He voices different characters and adjusts his tone to match the tension of the film. It's a masterclass in voice acting that often gets overlooked because of his dancing and singing.
Understand the Context
The project was recorded at Westlake Studios in Los Angeles. This was the same room where "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" were being born. The creative energy in that building in 1982 was arguably the highest it has ever been in the history of pop music.
Practical Steps for Music History Enthusiasts
To truly appreciate this era of Michael Jackson's career, you shouldn't just stick to the hits.
- Find the full audio of the Storybook online. It’s available on various archival sites and YouTube. Listen to it in the dark. It’s designed to be an immersive experience.
- Compare "Someone in the Dark" to "Human Nature." You’ll hear the same vulnerability and the same production techniques used by Quincy Jones and Bruce Swedien.
- Research the MCA vs. CBS lawsuit. It’s a fascinating look at how the music industry protected its assets during the peak of the vinyl era.
- Look at the photography. The shots of Michael and E.T. taken by Dick Zimmerman are legendary. They capture a specific "innocence" that Michael spent the rest of his life trying to reclaim.
The E.T. project was a brief, shining moment where the world’s most famous human and the world’s most famous alien became one and the same. It was a collision of Spielberg’s wonder and Jackson’s sensitivity. Even though lawyers tried to bury it, the art survived. It remains a testament to a time when pop culture wasn't just about "content," but about creating something that made people feel a little less alone in the universe.