The Essential Michael Jackson

( 31 )

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Rob Theakston
There are several Michael Jackson greatest-hits compilations out there, each one its own take on what should be the definitive portrait of the gloved one's career. The Ultimate Collection, The Essential Collection (different from the one here), and Number Ones have all surfaced in 2003 and 2004, and HIStory a few years prior. Each one of these collections, while commendable in its attempt to thoroughly document Jackson's accomplishments, has fallen woefully short in one aspect or another. This has finally been rectified with this installment of Sony's outstanding Essential collection. Starting with his campaign with his brothers in the Jackson 5, this two-disc set tours ...
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Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Rob Theakston
There are several Michael Jackson greatest-hits compilations out there, each one its own take on what should be the definitive portrait of the gloved one's career. The Ultimate Collection, The Essential Collection (different from the one here), and Number Ones have all surfaced in 2003 and 2004, and HIStory a few years prior. Each one of these collections, while commendable in its attempt to thoroughly document Jackson's accomplishments, has fallen woefully short in one aspect or another. This has finally been rectified with this installment of Sony's outstanding Essential collection. Starting with his campaign with his brothers in the Jackson 5, this two-disc set tours through every important single and every important fan favorite short of including his duet with Paul McCartney on "Say Say Say" (the Beatle does, however, make an appearance here on "The Girl Is Mine"). From Off the Wall to Dangerous, it's all here in one concise package, making it the ideal reference point from which exploration into his deeper catalog can begin. While die-hard fans will already have every single song contained herein and may be weary to purchase another greatest-hits compilation short of a greatest-hits compilation including his backing vocals on Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me," this may be the only one fans and casual listeners will ever have to purchase to get their fill of the King of Pop's magic.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 7/19/2005
  • Label: Sony
  • UPC: 827969428726
  • Catalog Number: 94287
  • Sales rank: 796

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 I Want You Back (2:58)
  2. 2 ABC (2:57)
  3. 3 The Love You Save (3:05)
  4. 4 Got to Be There (3:25)
  5. 5 Rockin' Robin (2:32)
  6. 6 Ben (2:46)
  7. 7 Enjoy Yourself (3:21)
  8. 8 Blame It on the Boogie (3:30)
  9. 9 Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) (3:44)
  10. 10 Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (5:51)
  11. 11 Rock With You (3:23)
  12. 12 Off the Wall (3:45)
  13. 13 She's Out My Life (3:37)
  14. 14 Can You Feel It (3:50)
  15. 15 The Girl Is Mine (3:41)
  16. 16 Billie Jean (4:52)
  17. 17 Beat It (4:18)
  18. 18 Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (4:17)
  19. 19 Human Nature (3:45)
  20. 20 P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) (3:58)
  21. 21 Thriller (5:12)
Disc 2
  1. 1 Bad (4:07)
  2. 2 I Just Can't Stop Loving You (4:11)
  3. 3 Leave Me Alone (4:40)
  4. 4 The Way You Make Me Feel (4:26)
  5. 5 Man in the Mirror - Andraé Crouch Choir (5:18)
  6. 6 Dirty Diana (4:40)
  7. 7 Another Part of Me (3:46)
  8. 8 Smooth Criminal (4:17)
  9. 9 Black or White (3:22)
  10. 10 Heal the World (6:25)
  11. 11 Remember the Time (3:59)
  12. 12 In the Closet (4:48)
  13. 13 Who Is It (3:59)
  14. 14 Will You Be There (3:40)
  15. 15 Dangerous (6:59)
  16. 16 You Are Not Alone (4:55)
  17. 17 You Rock My World (5:08)
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Album Credits

Performance Credits
Michael Jackson Primary Artist, Percussion, Vocals, Background Vocals, Soprano (Vocal), Hand Clapping, Finger Snapping, Soloist
Siedah Garrett Vocals
James Ingram Background Vocals
Paul McCartney Vocals, Background Vocals, Soloist
Trevor Rabin Guitar
Steve Stevens Guitar, Soloist
Larry Carlton Guitar
George Duke Synthesizer
Roland Bautista Guitar
Bryan Loren Percussion
Michael Sembello Guitar
Vincent Price Rap, Spoken Word
Bunny Hull Background Vocals
Andraé Crouch Vocals
Glen Ballard Synthesizer
Michael Boddicker Synthesizer, Keyboards
Brad Buxer Synthesizer, Keyboards
Paulinho Da Costa Percussion
Frank DiLeo Breathing
Jim Gilstrap Background Vocals
Linda Harmon Vocals, Soprano (Vocal)
Richard Heath Percussion
Marlo Henderson Guitar
Randy Jackson Percussion
Tito Jackson Guitar
Mortonette Jenkins Background Vocals
Augie Johnson Background Vocals
Louis Johnson Bass, Bass Guitar
Gary King Bass, Bass Guitar
L.T.B. Rap
Christa Larson Vocals
Rhett Lawrence Synthesizer
Becky Lopez Background Vocals
Paulette McWilliams Background Vocals
Johnny Mandel Conductor
Rick Marotta Percussion, Drums
Marty Paich Conductor
David Paich Synthesizer, Keyboards
Jeff Porcaro Drums
Greg Phillinganes Synthesizer, Keyboards, Electric Piano
Steve Porcaro Synthesizer
Teddy Riley Synthesizer
Seawind Horns Ensemble
Slash Guitar
Gerald Vinci Concert Master
Maxine Willard Waters Background Vocals
Oren Waters Background Vocals
Zedric Williams Background Vocals
David "Hawk" Wolinski Piano, Electric Piano
Claudio Slon Percussion, Conga, Drums
Julia Waters Background Vocals
Nathan Watts Bass, Bass Guitar
Bobby Watson Bass Guitar
Ashley Ferrell Vocals
David E. Williams Guitar
John "4 Daddman" Robinson Drums
Andraé Crouch Choir Background Vocals, Choir, Chorus
Laudir DeOliveira Percussion, Conga, Drums
Bobby Ray Watson Bass
Ed Green Drums
Mystery Girl Vocals
Ed Green Drums
Technical Credits
Sandra Crouch Choir Arrangement
The Winans Contributor
Siedah Garrett Composer, Duet
James Ingram Arranger, Composer
Michael Jackson Arranger, Composer, Producer, Executive Producer, Vocal Arrangements, Horn Arrangements, rhythm arrangement, Synthesizer Arrangements, Instrumentation, Percussion Arrangement, Introduction, Duet
Quincy Jones Arranger, Composer, Producer, Vocal Arrangements, rhythm arrangement, Synthesizer Arrangements, Audio Production
Jeremy Lubbock String Conductor
David Foster Synthesizer Arrangements
Jackie Jackson Arranger
R. Kelly Producer
Andraé Crouch Vocal Arrangements, Choir Arrangement
John Bahler Choir Arrangement
Tom Bahler Composer
Glen Ballard Composer, rhythm arrangement, Synthesizer Arrangements
Bernard Belle Composer
John Bettis Composer
Don Black Composer
Bill Bottrell Composer, Producer, Audio Production
Brad Buxer keyboard arrangements
David Daoud Coleman Art Direction
Bobby Colomby Executive Producer
Christopher Currell rhythm arrangement
Hal Davis Producer, Audio Production
Frank DiLeo Contributor
Kenny Gamble Composer, Producer
Brad Gilderman Engineer
Berry Gordy Jr. Composer
Peter Granet Engineer
Jerry Hey Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements, rhythm arrangement, Synthesizer Arrangements, String Conductor
Jean-Marie Horvat Engineer
Leon Huff Composer, Producer, Audio Production
Randy Jackson Composer
Elmar Krohn Composer
Mel Larson Producer, Audio Production
Steve Lukather Arranger
Johnny Mandel String Arrangements, Orchestral Arrangements
Jerry Marcellino Producer, Audio Production
Marty Paich Arranger, Composer
Alphonso Mizell Composer
Don Murray Engineer
David Paich Arranger, rhythm arrangement, keyboard arrangements, Synthesizer Arrangements
Joseph M. Palmaccio Mastering
Freddie Perren Composer
Greg Phillinganes rhythm arrangement
Steve Porcaro Arranger, Composer
Deke Richards Composer
Teddy Riley Composer, Producer, Vocal Arrangements, rhythm arrangement, Synthesizer Arrangements
Walter Scharf Composer
Bruce Swedien Producer
Rod Temperton Composer, Vocal Arrangements, rhythm arrangement, Synthesizer Arrangements
Tom Tom 84 Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements
Elliot Willensky Composer
Nelson George Liner Notes
Rodney Jerkins Composer, Producer, Engineer, Instrumentation
Robert Kelly Composer
Dexter Simmons Engineer
Stuart Brawley Engineer, Digital Editing
Chris Tucker Introduction
Fred Jenkins III Composer
Harvey Mason Jr. Digital Editing
Nora Payne Composer
LaShawn Daniels Composer
Bobby Martin Arranger
The Corporation Audio Production
Douglas Kirkland Cover Photo
Ben Wright String Arrangements
Susan Hargrove Packaging Manager
Mike Atkinson Executive Producer
Bill Colomby Executive Producer
Jeff Tarsia Engineer
John Bahler Singers Contributor
John Barnes Vocal Arrangements, String Arrangements, rhythm arrangement, Synthesizer Arrangements
George Del Barrio String Arrangements
Kenneth Gamble Audio Production
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 31 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(26)

4 Star

(1)

3 Star

(1)

2 Star

(3)

1 Star

(0)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 31 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    BEST CD EVER!

    I love Michael Jackson and I'm a HUGE fan. I've had this CD for a while and I listen to it constantly. There is no one as talented as Michael Jackson as far as I'm concerned!

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Oh yay! Finally a compilation that's just 2-disc!

    Yay! Finally a compilation w/Michael's earliest hits w/the Jackson 5 all the way to 2001's "You Rock My World" that is only 2 discs! I hope everybody buys it!

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    To be expected

    All in all, its a quality collection of MJ's hits spanning from the infancy of his career up to the 90s. Most of the classics are on here, although there were a few I was disappointed to not find in the collection, but overall, a fairly good summary of his career

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Almost Perfect

    Every Michael Jackson song you would ever want except its missing his colaboration with his sister Janet from his HIStory CD called Scream. Thats the only one missed on essential.

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    A must have for the Michael Jackson collection

    I truly enjoyed singing and dancing along to all the hits on this collection.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted October 1, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    A Must

    If you are a Michael Jackson fan, you have to have this 2 disk CD for your collection. It is a comprehensive look at Michael Jackson's career and fun to listen to.

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    The Essential Earth, Wind & Fire [Columbia/Legacy]

    Best MJ Compilation Short of An Anthology

    If you are a fan of the Jackson 5, the Jacksons and Michael Jackson, this 2 CD set is the best compilation spanning the hits of both his solo career and as well as the Jackson 5/Jacksons. The 5 CD Ultimate Collection contains a few hits that this one is missing, such as Dancing Machine & Mama's Pearl, but also contains many songs that were lesser known hits and one that only the most serious Jackson fan would have heard.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A must have

    There are so many great Michael Jackson songs and this is probably one of the best compliations I have seen. He was and will remain an great influence to music, entertainment, and the world. A must have for any Michael Jackson fan.

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    Really Super CD!

    This package is Jackson's best! It has his best songs on it, all in one package. It is Super!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    MJ

    I agree....I would have liked to have had Scream on this but also I'll be There and We are the World(even though that is not just a MJ song but he is the reason for that song).

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 25, 2009

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    Posted August 15, 2009

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 10, 2009

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 13, 2009

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 28, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

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    Posted December 10, 2009

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    Posted August 22, 2009

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    Posted June 26, 2009

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    Posted August 30, 2009

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    Posted November 6, 2009

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 31 Customer Reviews