The Essential Michael Jackson

From Jackopedia

The Essential Michael Jackson
Greatest hits by Michael Jackson
Released	July 18, 2005 (UK) July 19, 2005 (U.S.)
Recorded	August 1969–2001
Genre	Pop
Length	134:58
Label	Legacy, Epic
Producer	Various
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Pitchfork Media (8.7/10) link
Michael Jackson chronology
Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection (2004) The Essential Michael Jackson (2005) Visionary: The Video Singles (2006)
Essential Michael Jackson 3.0

The Essential Michael Jackson is a 2005 greatest hits compilation released by Sony Music's catalog division Legacy Recordings as part of The Essential series. The compilation features thirty-eight hit songs by Michael Jackson, from his days at Motown Records with The Jackson 5 in the late 1970s to his 2001 hit "You Rock My World". It was released on July 19, 2005 in the United States (released a day earlier in the United Kingdom). On August 26, 2008, The Essential Michael Jackson 3.0 was released in the US. ^[1] It had appeared that the album would be re-released on July 13, 2009, under a new title of The Hits. Pre-orders could be made on online stores like HMV and Amazon, but the release has disappeared from all sites, leaving only the original Essential album.

Contents 1 Reception 2 Track listing 2.1 International version 2.2 U.S. version 2.3 Essential 3.0 Bonus Disc 3 Certifications 4 Notes 5 External links

[edit] Reception

It entered the UK Albums Chart at #2 and sold over 200,000 copies in five months. During the initial release in the U.S., the compilation only reached a peak of #96 on the Billboard 200, selling 420,630 copies through to April 2009 - according to Nielsen Soundscan.

It re-charted at #23 on the Swedish album chart on February 14, 2008.^[2]

In March 2009, the album reached new heights in the US, following Jackson's announcement of new concerts. It peaked atop the US Pop Catalog Chart, and reached number 45 on the Billboard Comprehensive Albums chart, selling 11,000 copies that week.^[3][4][5] On June 25, 2009 following the announcement of Jackson's death, the album soared up to #2 on the American iTunes Download chart, the next day peaking at #1.

The set sold 102,000 units on the chart week ending July 1st 2009 following Jackson's death and would ultimately become the second biggest seller of the week behind his Number Ones compilation.

[edit] Track listing

[edit] International version

Disc one

1. "I Want You Back" (The Jackson 5) – 2:58
2. "ABC" (The Jackson 5) – 2:57
3. "The Love You Save" (The Jackson 5) – 3:05
4. "Got to Be There" – 3:25
5. "Rockin' Robin" – 2:32
6. "Ben" – 2:46
7. "Blame It on the Boogie" (The Jacksons) – 3:30
8. "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" (The Jacksons) – 3:45
9. "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough [7" Edit]" – 3:56
10. "Off the Wall" – 3:46
11. "Rock with You" – 3:23
12. "She's Out of My Life" – 3:37
13. "Can You Feel It" (The Jacksons) [7" Edit] – 3:50
14. "The Girl Is Mine" (Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney) – 3:41
15. "Billie Jean" – 4:52
16. "Beat It" – 4:18
17. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" [7" Edit] – 4:17
18. "Human Nature [7" Edit]" – 3:45
19. "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" – 3:58
20. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (Michael Jackson and Siedah Garrett) [Without Intro] – 4:11
21. "Thriller"[7" Edit] – 5:14

Disc two

1. "Bad" – 4:06
2. "The Way You Make Me Feel" [7" Edit] – 4:26
3. "Man in the Mirror" – 5:18
4. "Dirty Diana" – 4:40
5. "Another Part of Me" [7" Edit] – 3:46
6. "Smooth Criminal" – 4:17
7. "Leave Me Alone" – 4:39
8. "Black or White" [7" Edit] - 3:21
9. "Remember the Time" – 3:59
10. "In the Closet" (Duet by Michael Jackson and Mystery Girl) [7" Edit] – 4:48
11. "Who Is It" [7" Edit] – 3:59
12. "Heal the World" – 6:24
13. "Will You Be There" [7" Edit] – 3:40
14. "You Are Not Alone" [Single Edit] – 4:55
15. "Earth Song" [7" Edit] – 5:02
16. "They Don't Care About Us" – 4:44
17. "You Rock My World" – 5:08

[edit] U.S. version

Disc one

1. "I Want You Back" (The Jackson 5)
2. "ABC" (The Jackson 5)
3. "The Love You Save" (The Jackson 5)
4. "Never Can Say Goodbye" (The Jackson 5)
5. "Rockin' Robin"
6. "Ben"
7. "Enjoy Yourself" (The Jacksons)
8. "Blame It on the Boogie" (The Jacksons)
9. "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" (The Jacksons)
10. "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough"
11. "Rock with You"
12. "Off the Wall"
13. "She's Out of My Life"
14. "Can You Feel It" (The Jacksons)
15. "The Girl Is Mine" (With Paul McCartney)
16. "Billie Jean"
17. "Beat It"
18. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"
19. "Human Nature"
20. "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
21. "Thriller"

Disc two

1. "Bad"
2. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You"
3. "Leave Me Alone"
4. "The Way You Make Me Feel"
5. "Man in the Mirror"
6. "Dirty Diana"
7. "Another Part of Me"
8. "Smooth Criminal"
9. "Black or White"
10. "Heal the World"
11. "Remember the Time"
12. "In the Closet"
13. "Who Is It"
14. "Will You Be There"
15. "Dangerous"
16. "You Are Not Alone"
17. "You Rock My World"

[edit] Essential 3.0 Bonus Disc

1. "Can't Get Outta the Rain"
2. "Say Say Say" (with Paul McCartney)
3. "Jam"
4. "They Don't Care About Us"
5. "Blood on the Dance Floor"
6. "Stranger in Moscow"
7. "Butterflies"
8. "Scream"

[edit] Certifications

Country	Certification
Australia	2x Platinum (140,000 copies sold)[6]
Belgium	Gold
Brazil	3,000 copies sold
France	2x Gold (315,000 copies sold)[7]
Ireland	Platinum (15,000 copies sold)[8]
Japan	20,000 copies sold
New Zealand	Platinum (15,000 copies sold)[9]
South Korea	3,200 copies sold
Sweden	Gold (30,000 copies sold)[10]
Turkey	20,000 copies sold
U.S.	420,000+ copies sold
UK	300,000 copies sold

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• BBC: U.S. fans shun Michael Jackson CD