Official 2027 Michael Jackson Wall Calendar Opens for Pre-Order in North America

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By Mockulus Editorial
October 22, 2026

“We Are the World,” the 1985 charity single co-written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, is getting a limited-edition 7-inch vinyl release this month. The “We Are the World (40th Anniversary Edition)” will arrive on Friday, November 27, as part of Record Store Day Black Friday, with USA for Africa listed as the label.

What’s in the Release

According to MJVibe, which cites the Record Store Day listing, the single is pressed on purple vinyl and pairs a newly remastered version with the original recording. It also comes with a collectible poster. The listing describes a limited run of 1,000 copies, and Record Store Day’s own list says it will be released at physical record stores in the United States. Pricing has not been announced in the listings I reviewed.

UpcomingVinyl’s write-up of the listing says proceeds will continue to support USA for Africa’s humanitarian mission, and describes it as the first reissue since the original 1985 release. That second claim is the site’s own commentary rather than a Record Store Day statement, so I couldn’t confirm it independently.

About the Song

“We Are the World” was written by MJ and Richie and recorded in 1985 by USA for Africa, a supergroup of artists assembled to raise money for famine relief in Africa. The group was formed at the urging of singer and activist Harry Belafonte, according to a Japanese retailer’s description of the label. The original single credits the publishing to Mijac Music, MJ’s publishing company, and Brockman Music, Richie’s. Quincy Jones produced the recording.

Why the Run Is Small

Record Store Day releases are made in limited quantities and sold only through independent stores, which is why the format is popular with collectors. The Black Friday lineup, which Variety counts at about 185 exclusive titles, includes releases from Noah Kahan, Katseye, Bruce Springsteen and a “Wicked” box set. The “We Are the World” single sits in the “limited run / regional focus” category.

For context, original pressings of the 1985 single are far from scarce. A Discogs listing for a European 7-inch pressing shows a median recent sale price of about $2.41, so the scarcity here comes from the new edition’s small run rather than the song’s age.

How to Get One

Record Store Day Black Friday takes place the day after Thanksgiving. Stores decide how they distribute titles, and a Japanese retailer participating in the event has said it will not take pre-orders, so fans should expect to go in person or check with their local store. The Record Store Day website lists participating retailers.

Why It Matters

For MJ collectors, it’s one of several vinyl items arriving this fall, alongside reissues of the “Invincible” and “Thriller” titles reported earlier this year. For the song itself, the release marks a belated anniversary tribute to a recording that raised money for hunger relief and remains one of the best-known charity singles. Whether all 1,000 copies sell out on the day is the open question, and given the interest around MJ’s catalog this year, collectors shouldn’t wait.

Source; Record Store Day’s Black Friday 2026 public release list, MJVibe, Variety and Ultimate Classic Rock