I have lived in the UK for many years and never seen or heard this original version, weird! Thanks for sharing this quirky music story. Seems pretty shady of the music publisher, I do feel for the original songwriter but he must have sold his songwriting rights to not get anything from it? I do like the Mick Jackson version too, it has the og 70s funk sound, the Jackson's is way more polished and sophisticated and like you say there are hints of Michael's solo style there.