"Chicago 1945" (reworked as "Chicago Night") is a unreleased song by Michael Jackson scrapped from his albums Bad and Invincible.
The story of the track seems to change. Most recent one given by Steve Porcaro is that it was recorded a week after Thriller released (December 1982). However, he said the exact same about Dream Away, and previously stated Chicago 1945 is from 1984, sometime before the Victory tour. To recap, the actual creation date is currently unknown.
Steve Porcaro on Toto's site years ago: "Years ago, Michael and I wrote a song called Chicago 1945 – I did the music and Michael the lyrics, he recorded the song twice, but never put it on an album… the instruments were played in a constant rhythm in the 16th note, which was called ‘yada’. When I explained this to Michael, he liked it so much he gave me that nickname!".Porcaro was approached by the estate about using it on Xscape, but didn't give them the permission, as he thought the song didn't need "contemporizing", and that he disapproves of the estate's "straight to remix" approach to Michael's unreleased material.
5 days before Thriller 40 was released, a low quality recording of the 1982 version from Steve Pocaro's seminars was leaked online. A few months later, on January 27, 2023, the same version was leaked in HQ after Brad Sundberg's laptop was stolen. The leaked song is vocally complete.
Chicago! Chicago! Chicago! Chicago!
It was Chicago 1945, Cubs lost that year
But Al Capone was found alive
They searched for days, and the suburbs of the night
But they found him, alive, alive
Young Joe DiMaggio hit his first home run
People gather 'round, basking in the sun
Three girls disappeared on a cold windy night
Never to be found again, never to be found again, so!
Who solved that mystery late Chicago night?
You can't hide the truth, so won't you turn on the light?
Who solved that mystery late Chicago night?
Never to be found again, never to be found again
Found again, never to be found again
Found again (found again)
It was so windy, joy had to be in the air
People gather 'round to see the world's fair
It was so happy, but sad in the truth
So much is goin' on
They didn't know the girls were missing, missing
You can't do what they say, nobody can (hee hee)
Because on the cover of the Chicago tribune
Feature the world's fair, they didn't bother
You know it is the truth
Never to be found again, never to be found again, so!
Who solved that mystery late Chicago night?
You can't hide the truth, so won't you turn on the light?
Who solved that mystery late Chicago night?
Never to be found again, never to be found again
Found again, never to be found again
Found again (found again, hoo hoo!)
(Found again) never to be found again
(Found again) you can't find anything
(Hee hee, found again) Chicago, we love you!
(Hee hee, found again) you can't find anything
(Found again) Chicago, ooh-ooh
(Found again) Chicago! Chicago! Chicago! Chicago!
It was Chicago 1945, Cubs lost that year
But Al Capone was found alive
Searched for the days, and the suburbs of the night
So much is goin' on
They didn't know the girls were missing, missing
Can't do what they say, nobody can
Cause on the cover of the Chicago tribune
Feature the world's fair (hoo hoo)
They didn't bother, though it is to see
Never to be found again (hoo hoo), never to be found again (hee hee), so!
(Tell me) who solved that mystery late Chicago night?
(Tell me) you can't hide the truth, so won't you turn on the light?
Who solved that mystery late Chicago night?
(Tell me) you can't hide the truth
Oh no! (turn on the light)
(Tell me) Who solved that mystery late Chicago night?
You can't hide the truth, but won't you turn on the light?
Who solved that mystery late Chicago night?
You can't hide the truth, we'll make you turn on the light
(Tell me) Who solved that mystery late Chicago night? (ooh ooh)
(Hoo hoo, hee hee) turn on the light
Who solved that mystery late Chicago night?
(Chicago, you didn't find anything) turn on the light
Who solved that mystery late Chicago night?
You can't hide the truth, we'll make you turn on the light
Who solved that mystery late Chicago night?
(You didn't find anything) turn on the light
(Didn't find anything) who solved that mystery late Chicago night?
You can't hide the truth, we'll make you turn on the light
Who solved the mystery late Chicago night?