Michael Jackson – Thriller

Great album by Michael Jackson!
Belongs in every MJ collection! 😋🪩🎸🎸

Found it at a flea market in pretty good condition, came to check how much it could worth, and apparently not much haha. Whatever, the songs are amazing, and that's all that matters

This album is awesome ! Love this music ! amaizing

Does someone know when the code bar appeared on that album? I've just seen a record sold as a first pressing with the code bar on it.
Thanks!

Arrived pretty quickly and the casing was well kept looked almost like it was the first time I got it. But there were a few skips when I played it which was kind of annoying.

Sweet! Yesterday was the 35th anniversary of this gorgeous album.

I mean talk about classic. I am a hip hop fan but this was kinda a part of hip hop as samples were used etc.

I have the "co-produced" vinyl QE-38112 but mine has P PAL38112-2DF and P PAL38112-2DB in the etched matrix. Is this version listed?

Ever noticed that Toto is mainly the backing band on the entire album? A shame they never got the credit they deserved, I mean Toto's keyboard player wrote "Human Nature"... Food for thought.

By the year 1982, the American singer Michael Jackson had fulfilled one of his most desired aims: the beginning of a promising solo career, with the unprecedented success of his fifth album (the first with Epic Records), 'Off the Wall'. However, there was something connected to that era that had greatly disappointed him. Despite the high number of sales, the two number ones collected on Billboard charts and his emerging stardom as a superstar, he believed to be worthy of a greater number of awards (especially the Grammy ones) because only scored one for the song Don't Stop 'Til Tou Get Enough, in 1980. Distressed and somewhat annoyed by the lack of recognition of his work by critics (in fact, Rolling Stone magazine declined to give an exclusive interview about his album, claiming that a black artist was not salable to the public) to which Michael responded to that refusal with the following statement: "I've been told over and over that black people on the cover of magazines doesn't sell copies... Just wait. Someday those magazines are going to be begging me for an interview. Maybe I'll give them one, and maybe I won't.". Anyway, Jackson felt 'Off the Wall' should have made a much bigger impact, and was determined to exceed expectations with his next release: 'Thriller'.

'Thriller', the sixth studio album in MJ's solo career, was recorded between April and November 1982, being finally released on 8 November of the same year. That was the second collaboration between Michael Jackson and his producer Quincy Jones and at that time began to turn up certain disagreements among them, as a product, perhaps, of the enormous pressure to overcome the previous milestone. For instance, Quincy did not consider Billie Jean good enough (!?) to be included in the album -anecdotally, noting that he wanted to put it Not My Lover as a title-, and he believed that the opening of the song was too long. In addition, Quincy complained that Michael used to spend too much time in preparing the choreographies for each track on his own. The passing of time has fully proved that Michael was completely right in his personal bet. Although Quincy was convinced that the new material did not have any opportunity to surpass the achievement of 'Off the Wall' -because he thought that the music industry was in crisis-, all negative expectations around 'Thriller' were dashed, becoming this album, thanks to the superb work of Quincy and Michael, the best selling of all time (a privilege that still retains), selling among 50-60 million records in the world, reaching the hundred -depending on different estimates-. It is also the most sold in the United States, in tough battle with Eagles' 'Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)'. Another world record in possession of 'Thriller' lies in having remained at number one on the charts for two consecutive years (1983 and 1984, respectively), a feat never emulated to date.

And, certainly, this unanimous acclaim is clearly justified. Going back to the review, nine songs were inserted on the album, being -all of them- practically characterized to reach the perfection down to the smallest detail and accuracy. Pop, R&B, post-disco -it is said that 'Thriller' killed disco music-, rock and funk were used for the occasion. Seven of the nine tracks were singles, being the most notable Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' -#5, the first time that Michael talked about paranoia issues -such as the invasion of privacy by tabloids- (one of his main skills and where, evidently, he was used to giving always the best of himself with remarkable originality and mastery); The Girl Is Mine -#2, a beautiful story of interracial love with Paul McCartney, in which both were vying for the loved girl; Billie Jean -fourth Michael's #1, being, surely, the best song of the 80's and the most emblematic and iconic theme in Jackson's discography, where we could see Michael doing his first 'Moonwalk' to public view in 1983, shining brightly while he was taking part of TV special show 'Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever'-; Beat It -fifth Jackson's #1, becoming his first rock track, with the participation of the famous guitarist Eddie Van Halen, making 'Michaelmania' through MTV possible all around the world-; Thriller - #4, the most popular short film of music history, with the catchy rap, courtesy of Rod Temperton-; Human Nature -#7, very touching and moving as well, with the assistance of Toto in lyrics- and PYT (Pretty Young Thing) -#10, with his sisters Latoya and Janet in the choirs-. I must mention, apart from the others, Baby Be Mine and The Lady in My Life -where we discover a romantic Michael interpreting the song with a magnificent sensuality and intensity almost never seen formerly by him-.

Definitely, another sublime piece to be added to Michael Jackson's solo career and his most recognized work worldwide, even admitted by his critics, that changed music standards forever. I rate this album with five out of five stars (5/5), and for each track:

-Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' -M. Jackson-: 9/10.
-Baby Be Mine -R. Temperton-: 7/10.
-The Girl Is Mine -M. Jackson-: 8/10.
-Thriller -R. Temperton-: 10/10.
-Beat It -M. Jackson-: 10/10.
-Billie Jean -M. Jackson-: 10/10.
-Human Nature -J. Bettis; S. Porcaro-: 10/10.
-PYT (Pretty Young Thing) -J. Ingram; Q. Jones-: 7/10.
-The Lady in My Life -R. Temperton-: 8/10.

Thriler (GLOBAL AVERAGE): 8.78/10.

The best:
a) 'Thriller' followed in the footsteps of 'Off the Wall', improving its advantages even further. 'Thriller''s up-tempo tracks were more addictive and down-tempo ones were much more inspiring.
b) Michael Jackson was in a state of grace, at his peak, a golden era that lasted for fifteen years (aproximately), from 1978 to 1993.
c) Here the reign of the King of Pop began to take shape.
d) The best selling album of all time (even today!).
e) Seven Grammy Awards in one night -a record never beat to date, until that Carlos Santana emulated him, in 2000, with 'Supernatural'- (the eighth was given as a result of Michael's involvement in E.T.'s soundrack).
f) Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', Thriller, Beat It, Billie Jean, Human Nature. Each song was intended for all audiences!

The worst:
a) The media and personal pressure the global success of 'Thriller' caused to Michael -with all-known consequences that they provoked to Michael's later life-.