This article is about the album. You may have been looking for the song.
Thriller is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released through Epic Records on November 30, 1982. It is Jackson's second album co-produced with Quincy Jones. Thriller remains the best-selling album of all time, with sales of 70 million copies worldwide. The album foreshadows themes of Jackson's personal life, using a motif of paranoia and darker themes in general.
Thriller set the standard for the music industry with its songs, music videos, and promotional strategies. The release generated some of the most iconic hits released by the singer, including "Billie Jean", "Thriller", and "Beat It". The record's success led to him gaining a standing of cultural significance no black artist had gained before.
Background[]
| “ | It was a complete transition. Ever since I was a little boy, I would study composition. And it was Tchaikovsky that influenced me the most. If you take an album like Nutcracker Suite, every song is a killer, every one. So I said to myself, 'Why can't there be a pop album where every song is a killer?' | ” |
–Jackson talking about Thriller[1] | ||
Following Off the Wall, Jackson went on to reunite with Jones to create his next project. They began working on multiple songs, with the first sessions beginning in the fall of 1981. Thriller was recorded at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California, starting on April 14, 1982, with a production budget of $750,000 ($2,274,310.34 in 2022 US dollars). Songs written by Michael were dictated into an audio recorder, after which he'd sing them from memory. Among the personnel members was the band Toto. Most notably, Eddie Van Halen was featured as the lead guitarist for "Beat It", creating one of the most iconic guitar solos in pop history. The album also featured Jackson's first credited collaboration. Paul McCartney would provide co-lead vocals for "The Girl is Mine", Thriller's lead single. However, originally he had some other singers in mind as well, including Freddie Mercury who he'd soon write with anyway in 1983.[2][3]
Michael Jackson and the team behind Thriller in the studio
Of course, the production couldn't go by without any struggles. Jackson and Jones made many different mixes of each song due to their dissatisfaction with every result. Additionally, creative differences started to show between the two. Quincy initially didn't want "Billie Jean" on the record. As Jackson insisted on having it on Thriller, Jones once again suggested changes, such as shortening the intro or re-naming it to "Not My Lover". Thankfully, those wouldn't ruin the atmosphere and on November 8, 1982 the final touches to the record were made.[4]
Artwork[]
The album cover was shot by Dick Zimmerman on July 22, 1982 and features Jackson laying on the ground in a white suit, holding a baby tiger.
- Main article: 1982 Dick Zimmerman Photoshoot
Charts[]
Thriller became Jackson's first number one album on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart, where it spent a record 37 non-consecutive weeks at number one, from February 26, 1983, to April 14, 1984.
Track list[]
| Standard edition | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" | 6:03 |
| 2. | "Baby Be Mine" | 4:20 |
| 3. | "The Girl Is Mine" (featuring Paul McCartney) | 3:42 |
| 4. | "Thriller" | 5:57 |
| 5. | "Beat It" | 4:18 |
| 6. | "Billie Jean" | 4:54 |
| 7. | "Human Nature" | 4:06 |
| 8. | "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" | 3:59 |
| 9. | "The Lady in My Life" | 5:00 |
| Total length: | 42:16 | |
| Special Edition | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 10. | "Quincy Jones Interview #1" | 2:17 |
| 11. | "Someone in the Dark" | 4:48 |
| 12. | "Voice-Over Intro Quincy Jones Interview #2/Quincy Jones Interview #2 / Voice-Over Intro Billie Jean (Demo)" | 2:04 |
| 13. | "Billie Jean (Home Demo From 1981)" | 2:20 |
| 14. | "Quincy Jones Interview #3" | 3:10 |
| 15. | "Voice-Over Intro Rod Temperton Interview #1 / Rod Temperton Interview #1" | 4:02 |
| 16. | "Quincy Jones Interview #4" | 1:32 |
| 17. | "Voice-Over Intro / Voice-Over Session from Thriller" | 2:52 |
| 18. | "Voice-Over Intro Rod Temperton Interview #2 / Rod Temperton Interview #2" | 1:55 |
| 19. | "Quincy Jones Interview #5" | 2:01 |
| 20. | "Carousel" | 1:49 |
| 21. | "Voice-Over Intro Quincy Jones Interview #6 / Quincy Jones Interview #6" | 1:17 |
| Total length: | 1:10:23 | |
Singles[]
October 18, 1982
January 2, 1983
February 14, 1983
May 8, 1983
July 3, 1983
September 19, 1983
January 23, 1984
Notes[]
- All of the singles reached the top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, setting the record at the time for the most top 10 singles from an album, with "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" reaching number one.
Cut songs[]
|
Re-releases[]
Thriller: Special Edition[]
On October 16, 2001, a special edition of the album was released. This included "Someone in the Dark" (originally from the E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial soundtrack) and for the first time ever, the 1981 home demo of Billie Jean and "Carousel". Along with these, interviews with Quincy and Rod Temperton were included.
Thriller 25[]
On February 8, 2008, Thriller 25 was released. This was Michael's final studio album released during his lifetime. This included five remixes of "The Girl is Mine", "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)", "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", "Beat It" and "Billie Jean". Jackson served as executive producer. These featured will.i.am, Kanye West, Akon and Fergie. Two previously unheard tracks, "For All Time", and "Got the Hots" appeared on the rerelease as well, although the former originates from the Dangerous sessions, and the latter was only on the Japanese edition of the album as a bonus track. It also included a DVD featuring three music videos, the Motown 25 "Billie Jean" performance and a booklet with a message from Jackson.
- Main article: Thriller 25
Thriller 40[]
On November 18, 2022, the most recent reissue being Thriller 40 was released. This included the biggest amount of demos and outtakes in comparison to the previous albums. Most notably, the release featured the demo of "Behind the Mask", original version of "Best of Joy", titled "The Toy" and more.
- Main article: Thriller 40 (album)
Tour[]
Michael Jackson with The Jacksons (Victory Tour, 1984)
Although Michael once again didn't tour for Thriller, songs from it ended up on the set list for The Jacksons' Victory Tour in 1984. These included "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", "Human Nature", "Beat It" and "Billie Jean". This tour would be Michael's last with his brothers, as for the next release he'd pursue a solo world tour.
- Main article: Victory Tour
Trivia[]
- Thriller was one of the first albums in history to use music videos for promotional purposes, which was finally considered a serious art form.
- In 2024, Thriller landed at #2 in Apple Music's 100 Best Albums list.[5]
- In October 2024, Thriller surpassed 5 billion streams on Spotify, making it the only album by Jackson to do so.[6]
- Some copies contained a exclusive promo picture for "Someone in the Dark".
References[]
- ↑ https://www.mtv.com/news/xzy1i0/michael-jackson-opens-up-25-years-after-thriller-about-the-classic-lp-and-this-whole-hip-hop-thing
- ↑ https://youtu.be/Vm2gu79sWM8?si=9EKFYHyvhh0new3l
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV1kIO6u1mM&t=597s
- ↑ Thriller 25 booklet
- ↑ https://100best.music.apple.com/us
- ↑ https://x.com/chartdata/status/1849569346080866597