Thriller (25th Super Deluxe Edition)
Thriller (25th Super Deluxe Edition)
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Originally released in the US 25 years ago on November 30, 1982 by Epic Records, Thriller, Michael Jackson’s sixth solo album and second with producer Quincy Jones, rocketed the former child-star lead singer for the Jackson 5 into the stratosphere of international superstardom. Introducing the “robot” and the “moonwalk” into the international lexicon of clubland dance moves via the pulsing sounds of Thriller, Michael Jackson revolutionized all aspects of mainstream pop culture — from radio airwaves to the newly emerging art form of music videos — becoming the world’s most popular entertainer in the process.

The original Thriller spent an astounding 80 consecutive weeks in the American Top 10, 37 of those at #1. Seven of the album’s original nine tracks became Top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 while individual singles from Thriller reached #1 chart positions in the US, the UK, France, Italy, Australia, Denmark, Belgium, South Africa, Spain, Ireland, New Zealand and Canada.

Thriller made history as the first and only record to be America’s top-selling album two years running (1983 and 1984).

Thriller has been certified 33x platinum by the RIAA, giving it Triple Diamond Award status in the US. In addition, the album has achieved Diamond or Multi-Platinum status in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. In 1985, the Guinness Book of Records named Thriller the Best Selling Album of All Time, an achievement which remains unsurpassed to this day.

In February 1984, Michael Jackson held a record-breaking 12 Grammy nominations, going on to win eight, which stands as the record for most Grammy Awards to be won by anyone in a single year. Seven of Michael’s Grammys that year were for Thriller: Album of the Year; Record of the Year (“Beat It”); Best Male Pop Vocal Performance (“Thriller”); Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical (Thriller); Best Male Rock Vocal Performance (“Beat It”); Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (“Billie Jean”); Best R&B Song (“Billie Jean”). (Michael’s eighth Grammy that year was in the Best Recording For Children – Single or Album, Musical or Spoken category for “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial”). That same year, Michael Jackson took home eight American Music Awards and three MTV Video Music Awards. The following year, “The Making of Michael Jackson’s Thriller” took home the Best Video Album trophy at the 27th Annual Grammy Awards.

Named the “Most Successful Entertainer of All Time” by the Guinness World Records, Michael Jackson is among the most highly acclaimed and influential artists in pop culture. He was named the World Music Award’s Best-Selling Pop Male Artist of the Millennium and received the American Music Award’s Artist of the Century Award. He has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice: in 1997 as a member of the Jackson 5 and as a solo artist in 2001.

The Thriller – 25th Anniversary Edition includes the original album in its entirety as well as eight bonus tracks and a DVD featuring Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking short films from Thriller (“Thriller,” “Beat It,” and “Billie Jean”) and the artist’s Emmy-nominated breakout performance of “Billie Jean” from the legendary “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever” television special (first broadcast on NBC on May 16, 1983).

The expanded version of Thriller premieres five tracks previously unreleased in any form: a new Kanye West remix of “Billie Jean”; a new 2008 version of “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'” with Akon and will.i.am; will.i.am remixes of “The Girl Is Mine” and “P.Y.T.”; and “For All Time,” a rare unreleased cut from the original Thriller recording sessions, newly mixed and mastered by Michael Jackson.

Additional bonus material on the Thriller – 25th Anniversary Edition includes “Someone In The Dark,” “Carousel,” and Michael Jackson’s original demo recording of “Billie Jean.”

The deluxe Thriller – 25th Anniversary Edition packaging contains a personal greeting from Michael Jackson to his fans penned exclusively for this special release.

1. Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
2. Baby Be Mine
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
10. Vincent Price Excerpt From “Thriller” Voice-Over Session (Thriller 25th Anniversary 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) (Previously unrelease track from the Thriller sessions)
17. Voice-Over Intro Quincy Jones Interview #1/Quincy Jones Interview #1
18. Someone In The Dark
19. Voice-Over Intro Quincy Jones Interview #2/Quincy Jones Interview #2/Voice-Over Intro Billie Jean (Demo)
20. Billie Jean (Home Demo From 1981)
21. Quincy Jones Interview #3
22. Voice-Over Intro Rod Temperton Interview #1/Rod Temperton Interview #1
23. Quincy Jones Interview #4
24. Voice-Over Intro Voice-Over Session From Thriller/Voice-Over Session From Thriller
25. Voice-Over Intro Rod Temperton Interview #2/Rod Temperton Interview #2
26. Quincy Jones Interview #5
27. Carousel
28. Voice-Over Intro Quincy Jones Interview #6/Quincy Jones Interview #6
29. Billie Jean (Underground Mix)
30. Thriller (Instrumental)
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