The Essential Michael Jackson [Slipcase]

Performer: Michael Jackson
Engineer: Don Murray; Joe Tarsia; Peter Granet
Producer: Hal Davis; Jerry Marcellino; Kenneth Gamble; Leon Huff; Mel Larson; Michael Jackson; Andre Harris; Quincy Jones; R. Kelly; Rodney Jerkins; Teddy Riley; The Corporation; The Jacksons; Bill Bottrell; Bruce Swedien
Distributor: BMG (distributor)

Notes: Personnel: Michael Jackson (vocals, percussion, background vocals); Christa Larson, Ashley Farell, Linda Harmon, Siedah Garrett, Vincent Price (vocals); L.T.B., Heavy D (rap vocals); Andre Harris (various instruments); David Williams , Slash, Steve Lukather, Steve Stevens, Trevor Rabin, Marlo Henderson (guitar); Michael Sembello, Roland Bautista , Tito Jackson (guitars); Jeff Bradshaw, Matt Cappy (horns); David Paich (keyboards, synthesizer, bass instrument); Brad Buxer, Teddy Riley (keyboards, synthesizer, drum programming); Steve Porcaro (keyboards, synthesizer); Ed Green (keyboards, drums); Greg Phillinganes (keyboards); George Duke (synthesizer, programming); Michael Boddicker (synthesizer); Gary King, Louis Johnson, Nathan Watts, Bobby Watson (bass instrument); Rick Morotta (drums, percussion); John "4 Daddman" Robinson (drums); Claudio Slon, Laudir DeOliveira (congas); Paulinho Da Costa, Randy Jackson , Richard Heath (percussion); Matt Carpenter (programming); Marsha Ambrosius, Becky Lopez, Zedric Williams, James Ingram , Jim Gilstrap, Julia Waters, Maxine Willard Waters, Andra� Crouch Choir, Oren Waters, Paulette McWilliams, Mortonette Jenkins, Augie Johnson, Bunny Hull (background vocals); Frank Dileo, Seawind Horns, The Winans. Audio Mixers: Don Murray ; Jay Marks; Joe Tarsia; Peter Granet. Arrangers: Tom Tom 84; Jorge Del Barrio Jr.; Christopher Currell; David Paich; Greg Phillinganes; Jackie Johnson; Jerry Hey; Johnny Mandel; Michael Jackson; Quincy Jones; Ren� Moore; Rod Temperton; Teddy Riley; The Corporation; The Jacksons; Ben Wright; John Bahler; Bobby Martin; Bruce Swedien. The title might sound like hyperbole, but this two-disc collection is, in fact, a pretty fair summation of Michael Jackson's career up to 2005. Of course, it's impossible for two discs to hold every hit single Michael Jackson has ever had, but THE ESSENTIAL MICHAEL JACKSON starts with the Jackson Five's debut single, "I Want You Back," and ends 38 tracks later with the 2001 comeback attempt "You Rock My World." In between is a chronological overview of some of the most significant pop music in the last three decades of the 20th century, climaxing with about two-thirds of THRILLER and half of OFF THE WALL, the album that in retrospect sounds even fresher and more exciting than its blockbuster follow-up. Disc Two starts in 1987 with eight tracks from the underrated BAD, and its second half does the listener the handy service of compressing the second act of Michael Jackson's life story (a time when the tabloid headlines were overshadowing his increasingly formulaic music) into nine entirely respectable, if not earth-shattering, singles.

Uncut (p.119) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[T]his is magical pop."

In the spotlight since the age of four, Michael Jackson rose to fame as the lead vocalist for the Jackson Five. In the late 1970s, Jackson embarked on a solo career as a young adult with the Quincy Jones-produced OFF THE WALL. With one hit album under his belt, Jackson proceeded to bring R&B to a whole new audience with his massive THRILLER release--one of the top-selling pop albums of all time--and his innovative videos, not only broke an unspoken color barrier, but began to dominate the newly founded MTV network. Although his personal life would become the ultimate fodder for the tabloids, the self-proclaimed "King of Pop" remained one of the most successful and influential recording stars worldwide until his sudden death in 2009 at 50.

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