Number Ones (Michael Jackson album)

From Jackopedia

Number Ones
Greatest hits by Michael Jackson
Released	November 18, 2003
Recorded	1978–2003
Genre	Pop, R&B, rock, new jack swing, funk, soul
Length	78:52 (American version) 79:01 (International version)
Label	Epic
Producer	Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Teddy Riley, R. Kelly, Dr. Freeze and others
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Guardian Unlimited link
Michael Jackson chronology
Invincible (2001) Number Ones (2003) Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection (2004)
Alternate cover 1
Alternate cover 2
Alternate cover 3

Number Ones is a greatest hits album of singer-songwriter Michael Jackson released by Sony Music worldwide on November 17 2003 (and one day later in the United States). It was Jackson's first proper compilation album with Sony, after the release of HIStory – Past, Present and Future, Book I in 1995 (and after the re-release of that album as a single-CD, only-hits edition in 2001). Adopting the concept from blockbuster greatest hits compilations such as The Beatles' 1 (2000) or ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits (2002), the album included Jackson singles that reportedly reached #1 in charts around the world (this way, the number-one rule was extended besides the UK/US-restricted politics used for the Beatles and Elvis compilations).

Number Ones was successful around the world, reaching #1 in the UK and #13 in the United States. It proved to be an enduring catalog seller, eventually returning to the top spot in the UK charts in June 28 2009 after Jackson's sudden death. It's sold more than 7.2 million copies worldwide to date.^[1]

Contents 1 Background 2 Album information and reception 2.1 American Version 2.2 European/Australian/Canadian slide cover version 3 Certifications 4 2009 5 See also 6 References

[edit] Background

In 1995 Jackson released HIStory – Past, Present and Future, Book I, a two-disc set featuring one disc of greatest hits and the second comprising new material. The album was well-received, but (as many critics pointed) it was seen by many buyers – who wanted exclusively a greatest hits set – as an unattractive product. A re-release of the hits disc only (titled Greatest Hits HIStory – Volume I) did not find much commercial success. It was in 2003 that Sony tried to make up this mistakes with the release of Number Ones. The set was designed on the way that changes with HIStory could be obviously appreciated. HIStory comprised fifteen singles (fourteen of them Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 hits) – three from Off the Wall, five from Thriller, four from Bad and three from Dangerous. The versions of those songs were included exactly as they appeared on the original albums. Number Ones changed that rule including some of them in radio edits and single versions, in favour of made available alternative versions in comparison of the ones available on the albums. Number Ones also offered an extended period of Jackson's career represented, as omitted some tracks from those four albums covered in HIStory (except for Bad, which was covered extensively) and offering also singles from the second disc of HIStory, plus the title track from Blood on the Dance Floor and "You Rock My World", the hit single from Invincible. The album also included two bonus tracks – "Break of Dawn" (a song from Invincible that was never released as a single) and the new, previously unreleased single, "One More Chance", which became his final hit single during his lifetime.

[edit] Album information and reception

In the U.S, Number Ones was certified Platinum in November 2005, and according to Nielsen Soundscan sold an additional 227,000 copies through to April 2007. Worldwide, the album has sold more than six million copies. A partnering Number Ones DVD was released simultaneously, also to significant success,

As well as including most of Jackson's international #1 hits, the compilation included one new track: "One More Chance", which was written for Jackson by R. Kelly. The U.S. release also included another track, a live rendition of "Ben".

Interestingly, some of Jackson's bigger hits such as "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", "Remember the Time" and the UK #1 "One Day In Your Life" were absent from the collection, while "Break of Dawn" was present on all editions, despite never being released as a single.

[edit] American Version

1. "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" – 3:55
   • 7" edit. First time available on an album.
2. "Rock with You" – 3:40
3. "Billie Jean" – 4:52
4. "Beat It" – 4:17
5. "Thriller" – 5:11
   • New edit. First time available.
6. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (with Siedah Garrett) – 4:11
7. "Bad" – 4:05
8. "Smooth Criminal" – 4:17
9. "The Way You Make Me Feel" – 4:56
10. "Man in the Mirror" – 5:04
    • Single version. First time available on an album. It's an exclusive track for the American version.
11. "Dirty Diana" – 4:40
12. "Black or White" – 3:19
    • New edit. First time available.
13. "You Are Not Alone" – 4:34
    • Radio edit. First time available on a Michael Jackson album.
14. "Earth Song" – 5:00
    • Radio edit. First time available on a Michael Jackson album.
15. "You Rock My World" – 4:25
    • Radio mix. First time available on a Michael Jackson album.
16. "Break of Dawn" – 5:29
17. "One More Chance" – 3:49
    • New song. Previously unreleased.
18. "Ben" (live) – 2:58
    • A live recording from the 1972 American number-one single. It's an exclusive track for the American version.

[edit] European/Australian/Canadian slide cover version

1. "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" – 3:55
   • 7" edit. First time available on an album.
2. "Rock with You" – 3:40
3. "Billie Jean" – 4:52
4. "Beat It" – 4:17
5. "Thriller" – 5:11
6. "Human Nature" – 4:05
   • It's an exclusive track for the non-American version.
7. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (with Siedah Garrett) – 4:11
8. "Bad" – 4:05
9. "The Way You Make Me Feel" – 4:56
10. "Dirty Diana" – 4:40
11. "Smooth Criminal" – 4:16
12. "Black or White" – 3:18
    • New edit. First time available.
13. "You Are Not Alone" – 4:33
    • Radio edit. First time available on a Michael Jackson album.
14. "Earth Song" – 5:00
    • Radio edit. First time available on a Michael Jackson album.
15. "Blood on the Dance Floor" – 4:11
    • It's an exclusive track for the non-American version.
16. "You Rock My World" – 4:25
    • Radio mix. First time available on a Michael Jackson album.
17. "Break of Dawn" – 5:29
18. "One More Chance" – 3:49
    • New song. Previously unreleased.

Note: The second Canadian version packaged with slide cover packaging uses this tracklist, but the CD has been erroneously printed with the US tracklist.

[edit] Certifications

Country	Peak	Certification	Sales
Europe		3x Platinum	3,000,000
U.S.	1	Platinum	1,745,757
UK	1	4x Platinum	1,570,000
Australia[2]	6	3x Platinum	210,000
Austria[3]	11	Gold	15,000
Argentina[4]		Gold	20,000
Brazil	27	Gold	50,000
Germany[5]	16	Gold	150,000
Ireland	1	5x Platinum	75,000
Japan	6	Gold	150,000
Mexico[6]		Gold	60,000
New Zealand	10	2x Platinum	30,000
Spain	17	Gold	50,000
Singapore		Platinum	17,650
Switzerland[7]	14	Gold	20,000
Turkey		Gold	80,000

[edit] 2009

Number Ones sold 108,000 units in the US on the chart week ending July 1st 2009 following Jackson's death and was the biggest selling album of the week. The album was not allowed to chart on the Billboard 200, but entered the Comprehensive chart at Number 1.

In the UK, the album re-entered the UK charts at Number 1.

[edit] See also

• Top selling singles and albums in Ireland 2003
• Number Ones DVD

[edit] References