Off The Wall
Released in August 1979 by Epic. Off The Wall was Michael Jackson's first
solo album as an adult; unwittingly, it would lead to his coronation as an
entertainment icon. The album produced four hit singles: the #1 "Don't
Stop 'Til You Get Enough," which also earned Michael his first solo Grammy
Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance; the #1 "Rock With You"; "She's Out
Of My Life," and "Off The Wall." The two #1 singles sold more than one
million copies each, and Off The Wall stayed on Billboard's Top 100 Albums
chart for 84 weeks (including eight months in the Top 10), selling more
than five million copies in the U.S. and another three million worldwide.
Still doing double-duty as a member of the Jacksons, Michael led the
group's 1980 album Triumph to platinum-plus status with the singles
"Lovely One", "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Can You Feel It." The dynamic
"Heartbreak Hotel," in particular, would introduce Michael's lyrical
fixation with mystery, betrayal and romantic intrigue--all recurring
themes in future Jackson compositions. The following year, in 1981, the
Jacksons embarked on one of their most successful tours ever, a 36-city
trek that grossed $5.5 million. The group raised more than $100,000 for
the Atlanta Children's Foundation during a benefit performance. Later that
same year Epic released a double-album set from the tour, The Jacksons
Live!
In 1982, Michael wrote and produced the Top 10 single "Muscles" for
Diana Ross. He also narrated the special storybook album E.T.-The
Extra-Terrestrial, which earned both Michael and Quincy Jones a Grammy for
Best Children's Recording. MJ's career was as vibrant as ever; still, no
one could have predicted the deluge of success to come.
See also:
album
charts/sales |
US singles
chart |
| artistic credits
| # 1's
Thriller
Released in November 1982 by Epic. For Michael Jackson, October 1982
commenced calmly enough, at least in the musical sense. After all, the
first single from Thriller, his second Epic solo album, was "The Girl Is
Mine," a laid-back mid-tempo duet performed and co-writeen by Michael and
Paul McCartney. The single quickly sold a million copies, clearing the
launch pad for Thriller.
Thriller arrived in retail stores on December 1st, just in time for
Christmas; by the year's end, it had sold more than one million units.
January '83 saw the release of the album's second single, "Billie Jean."
Within three weeks, the song captured the #1 R&B slot, and in just over a
month topped the Pop chart as well. All hell was about to break loose.
The rock-tinged "Beat It," Thriller's third single, featured an
electrifying solo by guitar hero Eddie Van Halen and was an immediate hit
on AOR (Album-Oriented Rock) radio. Propelled by successful singles--and
the groundbreaking "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" short films--Thriller
conquers the #1 Pop Album spot on February 21st, 1983.
The flames were fanned in May when, during a reunion of the original
Jacksons lineup (including Jermaine) on the nationally televised "Motown
25th Anniversary Special," Michael, alone in the white spotlight,
performed "Billie Jean." This tour de force performance, featuring
Jackson's now historic Moonwalk dance, was seen by more than 50 million
American viewers and millions more worldwide. Following Michael's dazzling
performance, sales of Thriller went through the roof.
Thriller's next single, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," went Top 5,
followed by the Top 10 hits "Human Nature" and "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young
Thing)." "Say, Say, Say"--a duet performed and written by Michael Jackson
and Paul McCartney, from McCartney's album Pipes of Peace--went to #1 in
December, '83.
Thriller had already sold more than 10 million copies when, on December
2, 1983, the fabled 14-minute film "Thriller" debuted on MTV. Today,
"Thriller" is considered the most important clip in music video history,
and not only for its state-of-the-art production. The film turned
"Thriller" into the album's record-breaking sixth Top 10 single, and
propelled Thriller into the Guiness Book of World Records as the
best-selling album in history. Accordingly, The Making of Michael
Jackson's Thriller, released in December, became the largest-selling music
home video ever, with more than 900,000 units sold.
Thriller generated a truckload of honors, including a record seven
American Music Awards and eight Grammy Awards in 1984. Michael Jackson and
Thriller also earned four Black Gold Awards, four American Video Awards,
and three MTV Video Awards; Michael received the People's Choice Award for
Favorite All-Around Male Entertainer.
See also:
album
charts/sales |
US singles
chart |
| artistic credits
| # 1's
Bad
 Released in
August 1987 by Epic. On August 8, 1987, the single "I Just Can't Stop
Loving You," a duet with Michael Jackson and singer Siedah Garret, was
released; its immediate acceptance at radio and retail quickly took the
song to #1. On August 31, Michael's Bad album arrived in stores, with the
largest advance orders for any album ever. That same day, CBS-TV aired the
prime-time special "Michael Jackson: The Magic Returns," which premiered
Jackson's 17-minute "Bad" short film, directed by Martin Scorsese. It was
Michaelmania all over again, as Bad became the first album in history to
spin off five #1 Pop singles (Dirty Diana, Man in the Mirror, The Way You
Make Me Feel, Bad, and I Just Can't Stop Loving You) and the second
best-selling (non-soundtrack) album in history behind Thriller. The Bad
tour--Michael's first ever as a solo artist--began in Japan and hit 127
dates in 15 countries, playing to nearly five million fans. By its
conclusion, in Los Angeles on January 27, 1989, the tour had set a world
record gross of more than $125 million.
It was during the astounding chart and sales performances of Bad that
Michael Jackson fans and industry insiders alike began referring to the
star as "the King of Pop." The general consensus, especially after the
solidifying success of Bad, was that Michael had done it all--and done it
bigger and better than any other entertainer. In April 1988, Michael
proved that he could dominate more than music charts when his
autobiography Moonwalker, edited by Jacqueline Onassis, topped the
best-seller lists in both the U.S. and U.K.
Now firmly entrenched in the visual arts, Michael released the video
film Moonwalker, a 94-minute fantasy of music, dance, and special effects.
Like everything else Jackson had touched, it too went to #1 on Billboard's
Video Sales chart, overtaking 1983's The Making of Michael Jackson's
Thriller as the largest selling music home video with over one million
units sold. Remarkably, Moonwalker was displaced from the top slot by the
May '89 video release Michael Jackson...The Legend Continues, which--with
a whopping 500,000 sales--became the second all-time best-selling music
video after Moonwalker.
Bad garnered its fair share of accolades. President Bush proclaimed
Michael Jackson the Artist of the Decade in a White House ceremony;
Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) inaugurated and presented him with the
first Michael Jackson Award of Achievement. The Bad single "Leave Me
Alone" earned a Grammy Award in the Best Music Video column, and Sony
Music (then CBS Records) honored Jackson as the 1980s Top-Selling
Recording Artist, with sales of more than 110 million units worldwide.
Indeed, by combining his Motown and Epic output with the Jacksons with his
work as a solo artist, Michael Jackson could claim a staggering 210
million in worldwide record sales.
See also:
album
charts/sales |
US singles
chart |
| artistic credits
| # 1's
Dangerous
Released in November 1991 by Epic/Sony. On September 5, 1991, MTV changed
its Video Vanguard Award to the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award in
the star's honor. A month later, on November 11, "Black or White" was
released as the first single from Dangerous; it would hold the #1 Pop
position for seven weeks. True to Michael's groundbreaking spirit, the
"Black or White" short film featured a striking new visual effect called
morphing. On November 14, the 11-minute "Black or White" had its worldwide
television premier.
Dangerous, fueled by the #1 R&B singles "Remember the Time" (#3 Pop)
and "In the Closet" (#6 Pop), and the #3 R&B hit "Jam," sold more than 17
million copies worldwide during its first 18 months. The Dangerous tour
dominated every country it flew into: in Japan alone, Michael played eight
sold-out shows to more than 500,000 fans.
With the dawn of the new year 1993, Michael and his music took over TV
screens around the world. His shimmering January 31 half-time performance
during Superbowl XXVII drew the single largest American viewing audience
in television history. On February 10th, his exclusive prime-time TV
interview with Oprah Winfrey was viewed by 100 million people. On February
24th, 1.2 billion vieweres around the world tuned in to the 35th Grammy
Awards to watch Michael's performance and his acceptance of the Living
Legend Award.
On March 9, Michael appeared on the Soul Train Music Awards, where he
received the Humanitarian of the Year Award along with honors for Best R&B
Single ("Remember the Time") and Best R&B Album (Dangerous). But the most
exciting part of the show came when Michael, suffering from a severe ankle
injury, turned the show on its ear by performing the funky "Remember the
Time" from a wheelchair!
On March 19th, Michael received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the
Hollywood Guiness Book of World Records Museum for his unprecedented
achievements in the entertainment industry.
See also:
album
charts/sales |
US singles
chart |
| artistic credits
| # 1's
HIStory: Past Present & Future - Book 1
 Released by Epic Records
and Sony Music on June 20, 1995 at 12:01 a.m. Jackson presents what is
without a doubt his most ambitious musical undertaking yet. HIStory: Past
Present & Future - Book I is a two-CD set, containing 30 songs and 150
minutes of music, that not only chronicles Michael Jackson's dynamic
musical career, but gives fans a fascinating listen to where he is
musically in the '90s--and an exciting glimpse at his direction for the
future.
HIStory Begins: The Greatest Hits
HIStory Disc I is more than merely Michael Jackson's greatest hits; it is
15 of pop's biggest chart records ever, a deluxe retrospective and a
virtual soundtrack for the last decade. The Epic albums from which these
singles are culled forever changed the business of pop music; the songs
themselves left an indelible imprint on pop culture. Meticulously
remastered, the hits sound better than ever.
Included are "Rock With You" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," the
#1 singles from Jackson's multi-platinum Off the Wall, the 1979 album
which marked Michael's auspicious debut as an adult solo artist. "The Girl
Is Mine," "Beat It," "Billie Jean," and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" are
all from the 1982 album Thriller, which--having spent 37 weeks at #1 and
selling more than 44 million copies worldwide--remains the all-time
best-selling album in history and the record that made Michael Jackson an
international icon.
"I Just Can't Stop Loving You," "Bad," "The Way You Make Me Feel," and
"Man In The Mirror" are taken from the 1987 album Bad. To date, Bad has
sold more than 25 million copies worldwide, making it the second all-time
best-selling (non-soundtrack) album. "Black or White," "Remember the
Time," and "Heal the World" are from Jackson's 1991 album Dangerous, which
has sold over 23 million copies worldwide.
HIStory Continues: The New Album
HIStory Disc II contains 15 new songs produced by Michael Jackson. 12 of
the songs were composed by Michael Jackson. Jackson's celebrated
collaborators included the team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, David
Foster, Dallas Austin, R. Kelly, Janet Jackson, MJ production mainstays
Bill Botrell, Bruce Swedien and Rene, and a dazzling array of guest
artists and top-notch players.
HIStory Disc II features a Michael Jackson the world has never heard
before, an artist at his prolific peak. If Thriller was Michael Jackson at
his most successful in terms of sheer numbers, then HIStory Disc II is
Jackson turning the creative corner as a composer, producer, and arranger.
His singing exudes a renewed passion, and on some tracks he even reveals
his talent on keyboards and guitar. Lyrically, Michael is unusually
open--and often angry. A careful listen to HIStory Disc II makes one thing
immediately crystal clear: Despite his phenomenal success and unique
circumstances, Michael Jackson has not lost his passion for life, his
disdain for the forces of evil, or his faith in the future. He still has
hit finger on the pulse of great popular music, and he's still as funky as
ever.
This disk opens with "Scream," the album's first single and Michael's
first-ever duet with his sister Janet. The two spew verses that condemn
the pressures of society, their words driven home by a rambunctious,
high-tech monster of a groove. The second single, "You Are Not Alone," was
the first ever single to debut at #1 on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart.
The romantic ballad begins intimately, then slowly swells into a pop love
plea of anthemic proportions. The album has since produced 3 more
worldwide singles ("Earth Song," "They Don't Care About Us," and "Stranger
in Moscow), all of which doing extrememly well on worldwide charts. The
album has officially sold nearly 14 million copies, and on top of the
HIStory World Tour, described as Michael's largest and most ambitious tour
yet, the album continues to sell very well after 18 months. The album is
expected to last until late 1997, with additional singles being released
over that time as Michael continues his HIStory World Tour.
See also:
album
charts/sales |
US singles
chart |
| artistic credits
| # 1's
Blood On The Dance Floor: HIStory In The Mix
Released in May 1997, this remix album contains 13 tracks, consisting of 5
new songs and 8 previously unreleased re-mix versions of songs from the
HIStory album. According to Epic, the album was initially intended as a
promotional disk for Michael's forthcoming European summer tour, but the
project soon blossomed into a tip o' the hat to the club community, which
has been unwavering in its continued support of Michael Jackson. Work on
the album has taken place all around the world as Michael has been
touring, and the remixes have been done by many of the leading producers
and creators in this field.
Two singles were released from this album: the Blood on the Dance
Floor single was released worldwide, while Ghost/History was
released in some parts of the world, such as Europe and Australia, but not
in USA.
Tracklisting for the Album:
- Blood on the Dance Floor (4:13)
co-written and co-produced by Michael Jackson and Teddy Riley.
- Morphine (6:28)
written and produced by Michael Jackson
- Superfly Sister (6:27)
written and produced by Michael Jackson and Bryan Loren,
who are the only two musicians on the track.
- Ghost (5:08)
co-written and co-produced by Michael Jackson and Teddy Riley.
- Is It Scary (5:35)
co-written and co-produced by Michael with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, who
play all the instruments on the track
- Scream Louder-- Flyte Time Remix (Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis) (5:30)
- Money -- Fire Island Radio Edit (4:23)
- 2Bad -- Refugee Camp Mix (3:32)
- Stranger in Moscow -- Tees In House Club Mix (6:54)
- This Time Around -- DM Radio Mix (4:05)
- Earth Song -- Hani's Club Experience (7:55)
- You Are Not Alone -- Frankie Knuckles Classic Club Mix (7:37)
- HIStory -- Tony Moran's HIStory Lesson Remix (8:01)
Invincible
 Released
in Ocotober 29, 2001. One single was released form this album " You Rock
My World "
Tracklisting for the Album:
- Unbreakable (Daniels/Jackson/Jerkins/Jerkins/Payne/Smith)
(6:25)
-
Heartbreaker (Daniels/Gregg/Jackson/Jerkins/Jerkins/Mischke)
(5:10)
-
Invincible (Daniels/Gregg/Jackson/Jerkins/Jerkins) (4:45)
-
Break of Dawn (Dr. Freeze/Jackson) (5:32)
-
Heaven Can Wait (Beal/Heard/Jackson/Laues/Quiller/Riley/Smith)
(4:49)
-
You Rock My World (Daniels/Jackson/Jerkins/Jerkins/Payne) (5:38)
-
Butterflies (Ambrosius/Harris) (4:40)
-
Speechless (Jackson) (3:18)
-
2000 Watts (Gibson/Henson/Jackson/Riley) (4:24)
-
You Are My Life (Babyface/Jackson/McClain/Sager) (4:33)
-
Privacy (Belle/Daniels/Jackson/Jerkins/Jerkins) (5:04)
-
Don't Walk Away (Jackson/Riley/Sities/Vertelney) (4:24)
-
Cry (R Kelly) (5:00)
-
The Lost Children (Jackson) (4:00)
-
Whatever Happens (Jackson/Quay/Riley/Williams) (4:56)
-
Threatened (Daniels/Jackson/Jerkins/Jerkins) (4:20)
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