Michael Jackson single "This is It" co-written by Paul Anka - LISTEN HERE

October 13, 12:46 AMMusic ExaminerPaul Gargano

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Michael Jackson's new single "This is It" was co-written by '60s teen idol and songwriting legend Paul Anka, according to a report issued today by CNN.

The single is the title track to the Michael Jackson's This is It soundtrack, which will be released in America October 27 by Sony Music Entertainment. The Michael Jackson's This is It movie also debuts on October 27, with widespread worldwide release October 28.

"This is It" was originally written and recorded in 1983 by Jackson and Anka, but wasn't completed in time to be included on Anka's album Walk a Fine Line.

Neither the Jackson estate or Sony Music realized that the song was co-written by Anka until the single was released and Anka notified both parties of the song's history. Jackson apparently tabled his work on the song as Thriller became a worldwide phenomenon.

Two versions of "This is It" will appear on the two-CD soundtrack. The set's first disc will include original masters of Jackson songs as they appear in the movie, and the second disc will feature previously unreleased versions of other Jackson hits, as well as the previously-unreleased spoken word "Planet Earth."

Paul Anka is best known as the late-50s and '60s teen hearthrob responsible for the songs "Lonely Boy," "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" and "Diana" (no relation to Jackson's "Dirty Diana"). He also wrote Tom Jones' hit "She's a Lady," as well as the lyrics to Frank Sinatra's "My Way."

Michael Jackson died of cardiac arrent on June 25, at the age of 50. His death was ruled a homicide by the Los Angeles Country coroners office after autopsy results found several prescription narcotics in his system, triggering a new wave of Jackson hysteria around the world.

Listen to "This is It" here.