The Essential Michael Jackson

The Essential Michael Jackson
Greatest hits album by
ReleasedJuly 19, 2005 (2005-07-19)
Recorded1969–2003
Length
  • 77:42 (International disc 1)
  • 77:24 (International disc 2)
  • 78:56 (North American disc 1)
  • 78:50 (North American disc 2)
  • 33:07 (3.0 disc)
Label
Producer
  • Michael Jackson
  • various
Michael Jackson chronology
The Ultimate Collection
(2004)
The Essential Michael Jackson
(2005)
Visionary: The Video Singles
(2006)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic
Pitchfork(8.7/10)

The Essential Michael Jackson is a greatest hits compilation album by American singer Michael Jackson. It was released on July 19, 2005, by Sony Music's catalog division Legacy Recordings as part of The Essential series. The two-disc compilation features thirty-eight hit songs by Michael Jackson, from his days at Motown Records with The Jackson 5 in the late 1960s and early 1970s to his 2001 hit "You Rock My World".

On August 26, 2008, The Essential Michael Jackson 3.0 was released in the United States as a limited edition containing an additional disc of seven songs performed by Jackson. A re-titled release in the United Kingdom was planned on July 6, 2009, as The Hits, but was cancelled upon Jackson's death. As of 2021, the album was certified 5× platinum in the United States for over 2.5 million copies sold. Worldwide, the compilation has sold an estimated 6 million copies.

Impact of album after death

Following Jackson's death on June 25, the album sold 102,000 units in the US on the chart week ending July 1, 2009. The following week the album sold 125,000 units in the US on the chart week ending July 8, 2009 and was the fourth biggest-selling album of the week.

As of 2021, the album was certified 5× platinum in the United States for over 2.5 million copies sold. Worldwide, the compilation has sold an estimated 6 million copies.

Track listing

European and international version

Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."I Want You Back" (performed by Jackson 5)The Corporation (Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell, Berry Gordy, Deke Richards)Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 (1969)2:58
2."ABC" (performed by Jackson 5)The CorporationABC (1970)2:58
3."The Love You Save" (performed by Jackson 5)The CorporationABC3:05
4."Got to Be There"Elliot WillenskyGot to Be There (1972)3:25
5."Rockin' Robin"Leon Rene (under the pseudonym Jimmie Thomas)Got to Be There2:32
6."Ben"Walter Scharf, Don BlackBen (1972)2:46
7."Blame It on the Boogie" (edited version; performed by The Jacksons)Michael G. Jackson-Clark, David Jackson-Rich, Hans Kampschroer, Elmar Krohn, Thomas MeyerDestiny (1978)3:30
8."Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" (7" version; performed by The Jacksons)Randy Jackson, Michael JacksonDestiny3:46
9."Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (7" edit)Michael JacksonOff the Wall (1979)3:56
10."Off the Wall" (attempted recreation of US 7" remix)Rod TempertonOff the Wall3:46
11."Rock with You" (7" remix)TempertonOff the Wall3:23
12."She's Out of My Life"Tom BahlerOff the Wall3:37
13."Can You Feel It" (7" edit; performed by The Jacksons)Michael Jackson, Jackie JacksonTriumph (1980)3:50
14."The Girl Is Mine" (Duet with Paul McCartney)Michael JacksonThriller (1982)3:41
15."Billie Jean"Michael JacksonThriller4:55
16."Beat It"Michael JacksonThriller4:18
17."Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (attempted recreation of 7" version)Michael JacksonThriller4:17
18."Human Nature" (attempted recreation of 7" remix)Steve Porcaro, John BettisThriller3:45
19."P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"James Ingram, Quincy JonesThriller3:58
20."I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (radio edit)Michael JacksonBad (1987)4:11
21."Thriller" (radio edit)TempertonThriller5:14
Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Bad" (7" single mix)Michael JacksonBad4:06
2."The Way You Make Me Feel" (attempted recreation of 7" remix)Michael JacksonBad4:26
3."Man in the Mirror"Siedah Garrett, Glen BallardBad5:18
4."Dirty Diana" (single edit)Michael JacksonBad4:40
5."Another Part of Me" (7" version)Michael JacksonBad3:46
6."Smooth Criminal" (album version #3)Michael JacksonBad4:17
7."Leave Me Alone"Michael JacksonBad4:39
8."Black or White" (single version)Michael Jackson; rap lyrics by Bill BottrellDangerous (1991)3:21
9."Remember the Time"Teddy Riley, Michael Jackson, Bernard BelleDangerous3:59
10."In the Closet" (7" edit)Michael Jackson, RileyDangerous4:48
11."Who Is It" (7" edit)Michael JacksonDangerous3:59
12."Heal the World"Michael JacksonDangerous6:24
13."Will You Be There" (radio edit)Michael JacksonDangerous3:40
14."You Are Not Alone" (LP edit)R. KellyHIStory (1995)4:55
15."Earth Song" (radio edit)Michael JacksonHIStory5:02
16."They Don't Care About Us"Michael JacksonHIStory4:44
17."You Rock My World" (album edit)Michael Jackson, Rodney Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, LaShawn Daniels, Nora PayneInvincible (2001)5:08

North American version

Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."I Want You Back" (performed by Jackson 5)The Corporation (Perren, Mizell, Gordy, Deke Richards)Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 52:58
2."ABC" (performed by Jackson 5)The CorporationABC2:58
3."The Love You Save" (performed by Jackson 5)The CorporationABC3:05
4."Got to Be There"WillenskyGot to Be There3:25
5."Rockin' Robin"Rene (under the pseudonym J. Thomas)Got to Be There2:32
6."Ben"Walter Scharf, Don BlackBen2:46
7."Enjoy Yourself" (edit of alternative version; performed by The Jacksons)Kenneth Gamble, Leon HuffThe Jacksons (1976)3:24
8."Blame It on the Boogie" (edited version; performed by The Jacksons)Jackson-Clark, Jackson-Rich, Kampschroer, Krohn, MeyerDestiny (1978)3:30
9."Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" (7" version; performed by The Jacksons)R. Jackson, Michael JacksonDestiny3:46
10."Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (original 12" edit)Michael JacksonOff the Wall5:50
11."Rock with You" (7" remix)TempertonOff the Wall3:23
12."Off the Wall" (attempted recreation of US 7" remix)TempertonOff the Wall3:46
13."She's Out of My Life"BahlerOff the Wall3:37
14."Can You Feel It" (7" edit; performed by The Jacksons)Michael Jackson, Jackie JacksonTriumph3:50
15."The Girl Is Mine" (duet with Paul McCartney)Michael JacksonThriller3:42
16."Billie Jean"Michael JacksonThriller4:54
17."Beat It"Michael JacksonThriller4:18
18."Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (attempted recreation of 7" version)Michael JacksonThriller4:17
19."Human Nature" (attempted recreation of 7" remix)Porcaro, BettisThriller3:45
20."P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"Ingram, JonesThriller3:59
21."Thriller" (radio edit)TempertonThriller5:12
Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Bad" (7" single mix)Michael JacksonBad4:06
2."I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (radio edit)Michael JacksonBad4:11
3."Leave Me Alone"Michael JacksonBad4:39
4."The Way You Make Me Feel" (attempted recreation of 7" remix)Michael JacksonBad4:26
5."Man in the Mirror"Garrett, BallardBad5:18
6."Dirty Diana" (single edit)Michael JacksonBad4:40
7."Another Part of Me" (7" version)Michael JacksonBad3:46
8."Smooth Criminal" (album version #3)Michael JacksonBad4:17
9."Black or White" (single version)Michael Jackson; rap lyrics by BottrellDangerous3:21
10."Heal the World"Michael JacksonDangerous6:24
11."Remember the Time"Teddy Riley, Michael Jackson, BelleDangerous3:59
12."In the Closet" (7" edit)Michael Jackson, RileyDangerous4:48
13."Who Is It" (7" edit)Michael JacksonDangerous3:59
14."Will You Be There" (radio edit)Michael JacksonDangerous3:40
15."Dangerous"Michael Jackson, Bottrell, RileyDangerous6:59
16."You Are Not Alone" (album edit)R. KellyHIStory4:55
17."You Rock My World" (album edit)Jackson, Jerkins, Jerkins III, Daniels, PayneInvincible5:08

American limited-edition 3.0 bonus disc

No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Can't Get Outta the Rain" (single version)Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones"The Girl Is Mine" single (1982)4:06
2."Say Say Say" (duet with Paul McCartney)Michael Jackson, McCartneyPipes of Peace (1983)3:55
3."Jam" (7" edit)Michael Jackson, Moore, Swedien, RileyDangerous4:08
4."They Don't Care About Us"Michael JacksonHIStory4:44
5."Blood on the Dance Floor"Michael Jackson, RileyBlood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix (1997)4:15
6."Stranger in Moscow"Michael JacksonHistory: Past, Present and Future, Book I5:45
7."Butterflies"Andre Harris, Marsha AmbrosiusInvincible4:40

Japanese version

Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."I Want You Back" (performed by Jackson 5)The Corporation (Perren, Mizell, Gordy, Richards)Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 52:58
2."ABC" (performed by Jackson 5)The CorporationABC2:58
3."The Love You Save" (performed by Jackson 5)The CorporationABC3:05
4."Got to Be There"WillenskyGot to Be There3:25
5."Rockin' Robin"Rene (under the pseudonym J. Thomas)Got to Be There2:32
6."Ben"Scharf, BlackBen2:46
7."Blame It on the Boogie" (edited version; performed by The Jacksons)Jackson-Clark, Jackson-Rich, Kampschroer, Krohn, MeyerDestiny3:30
8."Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" (7" version; performed by The Jacksons)R. Jackson, Michael JacksonDestiny3:46
9."Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (7" edit)Michael JacksonOff the Wall3:56
10."Off the Wall" (attempted recreation of US 7" remix)TempertonOff the Wall3:46
11."Rock with You" (7" remix)TempertonOff the Wall3:23
12."She's Out of My Life"BahlerOff the Wall3:37
13."Can You Feel It" (7" edit; performed by The Jacksons)Michael Jackson, J. JacksonTriumph3:50
14."The Girl Is Mine" (duet with Paul McCartney)Michael JacksonThriller3:41
15."Billie Jean"Michael JacksonThriller4:55
16."Beat It"Michael JacksonThriller4:18
17."Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (attempted recreation of 7" version)Michael JacksonThriller4:17
18."Human Nature" (attempted recreation of 7" remix)Porcaro, BettisThriller3:45
19."P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"Ingram, JonesThriller3:58
20."I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (radio edit)Michael JacksonBad4:11
21."Thriller" (radio edit)TempertonThriller5:14
Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Bad" (7" single mix)Michael JacksonBad4:06
2."The Way You Make Me Feel" (attempted recreation of 7" remix)Michael JacksonBad4:26
3."Man in the Mirror"Garrett, BallardBad5:18
4."Dirty Diana" (single edit)Michael JacksonBad4:40
5."Another Part of Me" (7" version)Michael JacksonBad3:46
6."Smooth Criminal" (album version #3)Michael JacksonBad4:17
7."Leave Me Alone"Michael JacksonBad4:39
8."Black or White" (single version)Michael Jackson; rap lyrics by BottrellDangerous3:21
9."Remember the Time"Riley, Michael Jackson, BelleDangerous3:59
10."In the Closet" (7" edit)Michael Jackson, RileyDangerous4:48
11."Who Is It" (7" edit)Michael JacksonDangerous3:59
12."Heal the World"Michael JacksonDangerous6:24
13."Will You Be There" (radio edit)Michael JacksonDangerous3:40
14."You Are Not Alone" (album edit)R. KellyHIStory4:55
15."Blood on the Dance Floor"Michael Jackson, RileyBlood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix4:15
16."One More Chance"R. KellyNumber Ones (2003)3:49
17."You Rock My World" (album edit)Michael Jackson, Jerkins, Jerkins III, Daniels, PayneInvincible5:08

Qobuz.com Studio Masters (digital version; 24bit/96kHz)

Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Want You Back" (performed by Jackson 5)The Corporation (Perren, Mizell, Gordy, Richards)2:58
2."ABC" (performed by Jackson 5)The Corporation2:58
3."The Love You Save" (performed by Jackson 5)The Corporation3:04
4."Got to Be There"Willensky3:23
5."Rockin' Robin"Rene2:32
6."Ben"Scharf, Black2:46
7."Enjoy Yourself" (performed by The Jacksons)Gamble, Huff3:25
8."Blame It on the Boogie" (performed by The Jacksons)Jackson-Clark, Jackson-Rich, Kampschroer, Krohn, Meyer3:30
9."Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" (7" version; performed by The Jacksons)R. Jackson, Michael Jackson3:46
10."Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"Michael Jackson6:04
11."Rock with You" (7" remix)Temperton3:23
12."Off the Wall" (UK 7" remix – edited version)Temperton3:46
13."She's Out of My Life"Bahler3:37
14."Can You Feel It" (7" edit; performed by The Jacksons)Michael Jackson, J. Jackson3:50
15."The Girl Is Mine" (duet with Paul McCartney)Michael Jackson3:42
16."Billie Jean"Michael Jackson4:56
17."Beat It"Michael Jackson4:19
18."Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (7" version)Michael Jackson4:20
19."Human Nature" (7" remix)Porcaro, Bettis3:47
20."P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"Ingram, Jones3:59
21."Thriller" (radio edit)Temperton5:12
Disc Two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Bad" (7" single mix)Michael Jackson4:06
2."I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (radio edit)Michael Jackson4:11
3."Leave Me Alone"Michael Jackson4:39
4."The Way You Make Me Feel" (7" remix)Michael Jackson4:26
5."Man in the Mirror"Garrett, Ballard5:18
6."Dirty Diana" (single edit)Michael Jackson4:40
7."Another Part of Me" (7" version)Michael Jackson3:46
8."Smooth Criminal" (album version #3)Michael Jackson4:17
9."Black or White"Michael Jackson; rap lyrics by Bottrell4:16
10."Heal the World"Michael Jackson6:24
11."Remember the Time"Riley, Michael Jackson, Belle3:59
12."In the Closet" (7" edit)Michael Jackson, Riley4:48
13."Who Is It" (7" edit)Michael Jackson3:59
14."Will You Be There" (radio edit with string intro)Michael Jackson3:40
15."Dangerous"Michael Jackson, Bottrell, Riley6:59
16."You Are Not Alone" (album edit)R. Kelly4:55
17."You Rock My World" (album edit)Michael Jackson, Jerkins, Jerkins III, Daniels, Payne5:08
  • All attempted recreation of single edits are restored to actual single versions on digital edition with the exception of "Off the Wall", which is a further edit of UK 7" remix and "Will You Be There", which is a radio edit with newly added string intro. Both versions are exclusive to this release.
  • "Enjoy Yourself", "Blame It on the Boogie", "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", and "Black or White" are restored to their album length on the digital edition.
  • The uncut version of "The Lady in My Life" was announced on Legacy Recordings' website to be released on 2008's 3.0 edition bonus disc, but eventually omitted for unknown reasons. However, this version is previously available on the 2002 compilation The Songs of Rod Temperton, which has become a much sought-after item among Jackson collectors upon release, despite the fact that the version on the compilation is an inferior tape transfer with heavy, irreparable distortion due to tape degradation.
  • A UK-exclusive edition of this compilation was renamed as The Hits (with the same font as the five-album box set The Collection) and given a colorized version of the cover in 2009.

Charts

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for The Essential Michael Jackson
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) 9× Platinum 630,000
Belgium (BEA) Gold 25,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) Gold 20,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat) Gold 20,290
France (SNEP) 2× Gold 200,000*
Hungary (MAHASZ) Gold 5,000^
Ireland (IRMA) Platinum 15,000^
Italy (FIMI)
sales since 2009
Platinum 60,000*
Japan (RIAJ) Gold 100,000^
Mexico (AMPROFON) Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) 2× Platinum 30,000^
Sweden (GLF) Gold 30,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) 5× Platinum 1,500,000
United States (RIAA) 5× Platinum 2,500,000
Summaries
Europe (IFPI) 2× Platinum 2,000,000*
Worldwide 6,000,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also


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