Released: November 30th 1982

Produced by: Michael Jackson
Quincy Jones

Label: Epic

Sales: 50+ million

As an adult solo artist Michael Jackson set his sights as high as possible and dreamed of creating the best selling album in the world.

Michael's first album, "Off The Wall" had sold very well, over 15 million copies and Michael worked again with worked with Quincy Jones as producer and Rod Temperton writing some of the songs including the title "Thriller".

The albums aim was for every single to be a stand out track, and 7 of the albums 9 songs were released as singles. The exceptions being "Baby Be Mine" and "The Lady In My Life".

In promoting the album Michael was one of the first to use music videos to promote some of the songs. He created videos for 3 of the singles, Billie Jean, Beat It, and the Thriller video. After a slow start and some reported pressure from Michael the videos received regular plays on MTV which at the time was the worlds main satellite music channel and up until then rarely played music videos by black artists, including those by Michael.

In fact it was MTV who actually funded the 14 minute Thriller video which went on to become a record breaker in its own right after the record label had refused to fund a third album video, being fully satisfied with the albums success. The release of the Thriller video again sent album sales soaring.

Each video portrayed a story to go with the song, Michael often used to refer to these as short films rather than music videos.

Michael also teamed up again with Paul McCartney for the track "The Girl Is Mine" which was the first single to be released from the album.

Michael's sisters Janet Jackson and LaToya Jackson featured on back up vocals on "Pretty Young Thing".

Album Track listings

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

Awards

The Thriller album won a recording breaking 8 Grammy Awards, including album of the year 1984. Michael wore a blue and gold outfit, and white glitter glove.

It also won 8 American Music Awards in 1984.

The album has been released on cd, cassette and vinyl. There are also picture disc versions of the album.

Sales figures vary, but its believed the album has sold well over 50 million copies, some say over 100 million.

2001 Thriller Special Edition

In 2001 a Thriller Special Edition was released with remastered tracks plus interviews relating to the recording of the original album and extra tracks. The album cover was similar to the original with Michael in a white suit, but holding a small tiger cub. Extra Tracks:
10. Interview with Quincy Jones
11. Someone in the Dark
12. Interview with Quincy Jones
13. Billie Jean [Home Demo from 1981]
14. Interview with Quincy Jones
15. Interview with Rod Temperton
16. Interview with Quincy Jones
17. Voice-Over Session from Thriller
18. Interview with Rod Temperton
19. Interview with Quincy Jones
20. Carousel
21. "Interview with Quincy Jones

Michael Jackson 25th Anniversary of Thriller

In 2008 a new re mastered version of the Thriller album was released to celebrate its 25th Anniversary. The original recordings were remastered and additional tracks were added, a mix of new remix material and an old song.

The new tracks were:

10. Vincent Price Excerpt From "Thriller" Voice-Over Session
11. The Girl Is Mine 2008 with will.i.am (Thriller 25th Anniversary Remix Featuring will.i.am)
12. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) 2008 with will.i.am (Thriller 25th Anniversary Remix Featuring willi.i.am)
13. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008 with Akon (Thriller 25th Anniversary Remix Featuring Akon)
14. Beat It 2008 with Fergie (Thriller 25th Anniversary Remix Featuring Fergie)
15. Billie Jean 2008 Kanye West Mix (Thriller 25th Anniversary Remix Featuring Kanye West)
16. For All Time (unreleased track from the original Thriller sessions)

Track 13, Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008was the only track to feature newly recorded vocals for the album.

There were 2 album covers for this new release, one very similar to the original and another zombie cover with Michael wearing the red Thriller Jacket.

There is also a bonus dvd which features new digitally restored versions of the Thriller Video, Billie Jean Video and the Beat It Video. Plus the Mowtown 25 performance of Billie Jean in which Michael showed the world the Moonwalk for the first time.

Related Thriller Links

Read about the Thriller Era and the sequence of events that catapulted Michael Jackson into a previously unknown realm of superstardom.