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'''''Thriller''''' is an album by [[pop music|pop]] singer [[Michael Jackson]], released by [[Epic Records]] on [[December 1]], [[1982]]. Widely considered one of the greatest albums ever made, ''Thriller'' established Michael Jackson as the most famous musician of the late twentieth century and initiated a surge in the popularity of pop music that continues to this day.
'''''Thriller''''' is an album by [[pop music|pop]] singer [[Michael Jackson]], released by [[Epic Records]] on [[December 1]], [[1982]]. Widely considered one of the greatest albums ever made, ''Thriller'' established Michael Jackson as the most famous musician of the late twentieth century and initiated a surge in the popularity of pop music that continues to this day.


According to ''[[The Guinness Book of Records]]'', ''Thriller'' is the world's all-time [[List of best-selling albums worldwide|best selling]] album, with sales estimated at over 104 million copies. The album is also notable for being one of only three albums to remain in the Top 10 of the [[Billboard 200]] for one full year (along with ''[[Falling Into You]]'' by [[Celine Dion]] and ''[[Jagged Little Pill]]'' by [[Alanis Morissette]]), spending 80 consecutive weeks in the Top 10.
According to ''[[The Guinness Book of Records]]'', ''Thriller'' is the world's all-time [[List of best-selling albums worldwide|best selling]] album, with sales estimated at over 51 million copies. The album is also notable for being one of only three albums to remain in the Top 10 of the [[Billboard 200]] for one full year (along with ''[[Falling Into You]]'' by [[Celine Dion]] and ''[[Jagged Little Pill]]'' by [[Alanis Morissette]]), spending 80 consecutive weeks in the Top 10.


== Recording ==
== Recording ==

Revision as of 14:35, 23 February 2007

Untitled

Thriller is an album by pop singer Michael Jackson, released by Epic Records on December 1, 1982. Widely considered one of the greatest albums ever made, Thriller established Michael Jackson as the most famous musician of the late twentieth century and initiated a surge in the popularity of pop music that continues to this day.

According to The Guinness Book of Records, Thriller is the world's all-time best selling album, with sales estimated at over 51 million copies. The album is also notable for being one of only three albums to remain in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 for one full year (along with Falling Into You by Celine Dion and Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette), spending 80 consecutive weeks in the Top 10.

Recording

Recorded between April and November 1982, Thriller was the second of Michael Jackson's solo albums to be produced by Quincy Jones, though this time showcasing Jackson in a more prominent position of control than the preceding Off the Wall album from 1979. Of the nine tracks that came to be on the final project of the album, Jackson wrote four.

The album's first single, "The Girl is Mine" (a poppy duet with former Beatle Paul McCartney) was a commercially successful, though critically maligned, song that was solely written by Jackson. It is questionable whether or not Jackson took inspiration from Frank Zappa's song "Who Needs the Peace Corps?", written in 1968, because the chord structure in both songs is strikingly similar. "The album's second single, "Billie Jean", was a more definitive hit. Despite the controversy surrounding the lyrics, which dealt with illegitimacy, "Billie Jean" catapulted Jackson and Thriller to the top of the charts, Jackson then performed "Billie Jean" at the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever Special exposing his signature dance move, the "Moonwalk" and from there Jackson's success grew. Jackson's reinvention as a crossover artist was complete with his third single, the rock number, "Beat It," which features guitar work by guitarist Eddie Van Halen. Several members of the Los Angeles band Toto contributed their musical talents (see track credit descriptions below).

Certifications

Country Certification Sales
Argentina 10x Platinum 500,000
Australia 12x Platinum 850,000
Brazil 2x Diamond 2,000,000
Belgium 11x Platinum 550,000
Canada 2x Diamond 2,000,000
Finland 3x Platinum 90,000
France 3x Diamond 3,000,000
Germany 3x Platinum 1,500,000
Japan Diamond 2,500,000
Mexico Diamond 500,000
Netherlands 11x Platinum 770,000
New Zealand 10x Platinum 150,000
Portugal 3x Platinum 120,000
Spain 8x Platinum 640,000
Switzerland 6x Platinum 240,000
UK 11x Platinum 3,570,000
USA 30x Platinum 30,000,000

In April 2005, the RIAA certified Thriller at 27x platinum. However, through soundscan, catalogue, and music club sales, Thriller has actually sold over 30 million copies in the United States alone.[citation needed]

Singles

Outtakes

  • "Got the Hots"
  • "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" (this early version is different from the final album recording, also later appeared on Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection.)
  • "Hot Street"
  • "Nite Line"
  • "Trouble"
  • "Who Do You Know?"
  • "Carousel" (also known as Circus Girl - a truncated version appeared on the Thriller Special Edition.)
  • "Love Never Felt So Good"

Track listing

Original release (1982)

  1. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (Jackson)
  2. "Baby Be Mine" (Temperton)
  3. "The Girl Is Mine" (with Paul McCartney) (Jackson)
  4. "Thriller" (Temperton)
  5. "Beat It" (Jackson)
  6. "Billie Jean" (Jackson)
  7. "Human Nature" (Bettis/Porcaro)
  8. "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" (Ingram/Jones)
  9. "The Lady In My Life" (Temperton)

Special Edition release (2001)

  1. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (Jackson) – 6:03
  2. "Baby Be Mine" (Temperton) – 4:20
  3. "The Girl Is Mine" (with Paul McCartney) (Jackson) – 3:42
  4. "Thriller" (Temperton) – 5:57
  5. "Beat It" (Jackson) – 4:17
  6. "Billie Jean" (Jackson) – 4:53
  7. "Human Nature" (Bettis/Porcaro) – 4:05
  8. "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" (Ingram/Jones) – 3:58
  9. "The Lady In My Life" (Temperton) – 4:58
  10. Interview with Quincy Jones #1 – 2:18
  11. "Someone in the Dark" (Bergman/Bergman/Temperton) – 4:48
  12. Interview with Quincy Jones #2 – 2:04
  13. "Billie Jean" (Home Demo from 1981) (Jackson) – 2:20
  14. Interview with Quincy Jones #3 – 3:10
  15. Interview with Rod Temperton #1 – 4:02
  16. Interview with Quincy Jones #4 – 1:32
  17. Voice-Over Session from "Thriller" (Temperton) – 2:52
  18. Interview with Rod Temperton #2 – 1:56
  19. Interview with Quincy Jones #5 – 2:01
  20. "Carousel" (Sembello/D. Freeman) – 1:49
  21. Interview with Quincy Jones #6 – 1:17

Note: track information in italics do not have official names; they are assumed titles

Credits

"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"

further information see Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'

  • Written and composed by Michael Jackson
  • Produced by Quincy Jones
  • Co-produced by Michael Jackson
  • Rhodes and synthesizer: Greg Phillinganes
  • Synthesizer: Michael Boddicker and Bill Wolfer
  • Guitar: David Williams
  • Bass: Louis Johnson
  • Percussion: Paulinho Da Costa
  • Trumpet and flügelhorn: Jerry Hey
  • Trumpet and flügelhorn: Gary Grant
  • Saxophone and flute: Larry Williams
  • Trombone: Bill Reichenbach
  • Bathroom stomp board: Steven Ray
  • Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson
  • Rhythm arrangement by Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones
  • Horn arrangement by Jerry Hey and Michael Jackson
  • Background vocals: Julia Waters, Maxine Waters, Oren Waters, James Ingram, Michael Jackson, Bunny Hull and Becky Lopez

"Baby Be Mine"

further information see Baby Be Mine

  • Written and composed by Rod Temperton
  • Produced by Quincy Jones
  • Keyboards and synthesizer: Greg Phillinganes
  • Synthesizer: Michael Boddicker and David Paich
  • Synthesizer programming: Steve Porcaro, Brian Banks and Anthony Marinelli
  • Guitar: David Williams
  • Drums: N'dugu Chancler
  • Trumpet and flügelhorn: Jerry Hey
  • Trumpet and flügelhorn: Gary Grant
  • Saxophone and flute: Larry Williams
  • Trombone: Bill Reichenbach
  • Vocal, rhythm and synthesizer arrangement by Rod Temperton
  • Horn arrangement by Jerry Hey

"The Girl Is Mine"

further information see The Girl Is Mine

  • Written and composed by Michael Jackson
  • Produced by Quincy Jones
  • Rhodes: Greg Phillinganes
  • Piano: David Paich
  • Synthesizer: David Foster
  • Synthesizer programming: Steve Porcaro
  • Guitar: David Parks and Steve Lukather
  • Bass: Louis Johnson
  • Drums: Jeff Porcaro
  • Vocal: Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson
  • Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones
  • Rhythm arrangement by Quincy Jones and David Paich
  • Synthesizer arrangement by David Foster
  • Strings arranged and conducted by Jerry Hey
  • Concertmaster: Jerry Vinci

"Thriller"

further information see Thriller

  • Written and composed by Rod Temperton and Michael Jackson
  • Produced by Quincy Jones
  • Featuring: Rap by Vincent Price
  • Synthesizers: Greg Philinganes, Rod Temperton and Brian Banks
  • Synthesizer programming: Anthony Marinelli
  • Guitar: David Williams
  • Trumpet and flügelhorn: Jerry Hey
  • Trumpet and flügelhorn: Gary Grant
  • Saxophone and flute: Larry Williams
  • Trombone: Bill Reichenbach
  • Vocal, rhythm and synthesizer arrangement by Rod Temperton
  • Horn arrangement by Jerry Hey
  • Effects by Bruce Cannon and Bruce Swedien

"Beat It"

further information see Beat It

  • Written and composed by Michael Jackson
  • Produced by Quincy Jones
  • Co-produced by Michael Jackson
  • Featuring: Guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen
  • Rhodes and synthesizer: Greg Phillinganes
  • Keyboards: Bill Wolfer
  • Synclavier: Tom Bahler
  • Synthesizer and synthesizer programming: Steve Porcaro
  • Synergy: Greg Smith
  • Guitars, electric Bass: Steve Lukather
  • Guitar: Paul Jackson
  • Drums: Jeff Porcaro
  • Drum case beater: Michael Jackson
  • Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson
  • Rhythm arrangement by Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones

"Billie Jean"

further information see Billie Jean

  • Written and composed by Michael Jackson
  • Produced by Quincy Jones
  • Co-produced by Michael Jackson
  • Rhodes and synthesizer: Greg Phillinganes
  • Synthesizer: Greg Smith
  • Synthesizer and synthesizer programming: Bill Wolfer
  • Guitar: David Williams
  • Bass: Louis Johnson
  • Drums: N'dugu Chancler
  • Emulator: Michael Boddicker
  • Vocal, rhythm and synthesizer arrangement by Michael Jackson
  • Strings arranged by Jerry Hey
  • Strings conducted by Jeremy Lubbock

"Human Nature"

further information see Human Nature

  • Written and composed by Steve Porcaro and John Bettis
  • Synthesizer and synthesizer programming: David Paich
  • Guitar: Steve Lukather
  • Drums: Jeff Porcaro
  • Percussion: Paulinho Da Costa
  • Emulator: Michael Boddicker
  • Arrangement by David Paich, Steve Porcaro and Steve Lukather

"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"

further information see P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)

  • Written and composed by James Ingram and Quincy Jones
  • Produced by Quincy Jones
  • Synthesizer and synthesizer programming: Greg Phillinganes
  • Vocoder and emulator: Michael Boddicker
  • Portasound keyboard: James Ingram
  • Guitars: Paul Jackson
  • Electric bass: Louis Johnson
  • Drums: N'dugu Chancler
  • Handclaps: Michael Jackson, Louis Johnson, Greg Phillinganes, James Ingram and Steve Ray
  • Arrangement by James Ingram and Quincy Jones
  • P.Y.T.'s
  • Additional background vocals
    • James Ingram
    • Howard Hewitt

"The Lady In My Life"

  • Written and composed by Rod Temperton
  • Produced by Quincy Jones
  • Rhodes: Greg Phillinganes
  • Synthesizer: David Paich and Steve Porcaro
  • Guitar: Paul Jackson
  • Bass: Louis Johnson
  • Drums: Jeff Porcaro
  • Emulator: Michael Boddicker
  • Arrangement by Rod Temperton

Technical credits

  • Recorded and mixed by Bruce Swedien
  • Technical engineer: Matt Forger
  • Assistant engineer: Steve Bates and Mark Ettel
  • Additional sound sources recorded by Humberto Gatica and Matt Forger
  • Eddie Van Halen's guitar solo on "Beat It" recorded by Donn Landee

Music samples

Template:Multi-listen start Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen end

Trivia

Rumors

In early 1984, a rumor surfaced that the first 7 digits of the UPC Code for 'Thriller' were Michael Jackson's phone number.

Other trivia

  • The original name for the "Thriller" single was "Give Me Starlight", while the album was originally to be called "Starlight".
  • The original name for "Billie Jean" was "Not My Lover", since Quincy Jones feared people were going to mix up "Billie Jean" with "Billie Jean King".
  • Jackson had originally written "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" with his keyboardist Greg Phillinganes. The demo of that version can be heard on Jackson's Ultimate Collection box set. The song was later re-written by Quincy Jones and James Ingram as a more edgy funk-rock staple, rather than the original mid-tempo R&B version.
  • "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin" was originally written by Jackson during the Off the Wall period but was recorded for Thriller.
  • Michael Jackson's video game Moonwalker sampled synthesized versions of Thriller tracks.
  • The album holds the record for the longest stay at #1 on Billboard's Pop Albums (Billboard 200) chart, staying at #1 for a non-consecutive 37 weeks. The most consecutive weeks Jackson spent at the top was 17, on two separate occasions.
  • Thriller is tied for the record for the most top ten singles from an album, with seven. Bruce Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A. and Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 also contain seven top ten singles, however, Thriller was the first to reach seven.
  • Thriller is ranked #20 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In 1989, it was rated #7 on their list of the 100 greatest albums of the 1980s.
  • In November 2006, Thriller was named the eighth biggest selling album in British history by the British Phonographic Industry. It was Jackson's second album inside the top ten all time list, with Bad at number nine.[2]
  • Vincent Price appears as narrator at the end of the title song.
  • Queen singer (and then good friend of Jackson's), Freddie Mercury, recorded a few songs with Jackson during the Thriller sessions, those being State of Shock, There Must Be More To Life Than This and Victory. None of these tracks have ever been officially released, but there are plans for the Jackson/Mercury recordings to be released by Queen manager Jim Beech.

References

  1. ^ Album Credits for Thriller, from Artist Direct retrieved on February 3, 2006
  2. ^ The UK's Bestselling Albums from The BPI

See also

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