Michael Jackson - Thriller

Released in 1982

Although Michael Jackson's reputation and career have forever been stained by the multiple child molestation charges levied against him, there's no denying that he is a very talented musician that produced some classic pop tunes, many of which are included on 1982's blockbuster album, Thriller.

So just how successful was the album? Unbelievably so; Thriller sold more copies than any other album in history, and seven of the nine tracks on the original album became top ten hits over the two years since it's release. It was a pop masterpiece that Jackson (and arguably anyone) was unable to equal or surpass.

Beyond Jackson's flashy dance skills and distinctive voice was a sense of creativity and experimentation that rewrote the "laws" of what pop music could be. His funk-pop background incorporated elements such as Van Halen's guitar work (Beat It), a duet with Paul McCartney (The Girl Is Mine) and even Vincent Price's one-of-a-kind narration (Thriller). These calculated risks lent a richness and new dimension to the songs, making them truly memorable.

Some of the album's highlights are:

• Beat It – Loved by 80's fans and parodied by Weird Al Yankovic, Beat It competes with Billie Jean as Jackson's best song ever. Who thought that the infusion of hard rocking guitars courtesy of Van Halen would make the song so addictive?
• Billie Jean – This song about a woman falsely accusing Michael Jackson of being the father of her baby may have been a glimpse into a paranoid mind, but it was also an undeniably attractive pop track.
• Thriller – While the song was a creative attempt to introduce cheesy B-movie horror vibes into a pop song, the music video Jackson created for it was equally, if not more, memorable than the song itself. Excessive and over-the-top, this early-MTV favorite was as much a mini-film as it was an actual video.

It can be difficult for people today to believe that Michael Jackson was once respectable and cool, but those who experienced the 80's can remember their days well. Jackson's filler-free masterpiece reflected the height of his career, and even to this today, Thriller remains the quintessential portrait of brilliant pop music.

Note: The special edition CD of Thriller comes with additional tracks that include new songs and interviews; an even better value for the money.

Rating: 9 stars

Track List Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' Baby Be Mine The Girl Is Mine Thriller Beat It Billie Jean Human Nature P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) The Lady in My Life

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