The Best of Michael Jackson

~ Release by Michael Jackson (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Tracklist

1▼CD
#TitleRatingLength
1Smooth Criminal
recording engineer and mixer:
Bruce Swedien
co-producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
producer:
Quincy Jones
drums (drum set):
Bill Bottrell, John “JR” Robinson (session drummer) and Bruce Swedien
guitar:
David Williams (session guitarist and songwriter)
piano:
Kevin Maloney
saxophone:
Kim Hutchcroft and Larry Williams (jazz keyboard, sax, flute & clarinet; producer, composer, arranger, and multi‐instrumentalist)
synclavier:
Christopher Currell (arranger)
synthesizer:
John Barnes (US soul songwriter, keyboardist, synthesizer & pianist aka LA Jay) and Michael Boddicker
trumpet:
Gary Grant (brass) and Jerry Hey
background vocals and lead vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
wind instruments arranger:
Jerry Hey
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1987)
recording of:
Smooth Criminal
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Mijac Music
part of:
MJ: The Musical
4.554:18
2The Way You Make Me Feel
recording engineer and mixer:
Bruce Swedien
drums (drum set) programming:
Douglas Getschal
synthesizer programming:
Larry Williams (jazz keyboard, sax, flute & clarinet; producer, composer, arranger, and multi‐instrumentalist)
co-producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
producer:
Quincy Jones
drums (drum set):
John “JR” Robinson (session drummer)
guitar:
Eric Gale and David Williams (session guitarist and songwriter)
percussion:
Ollie E. Brown (US drummer, session musician & record producer) and Paulinho da Costa (Brazilian percussionist)
saxophone:
Kim Hutchcroft and Larry Williams (jazz keyboard, sax, flute & clarinet; producer, composer, arranger, and multi‐instrumentalist)
synclavier:
Christopher Currell (arranger)
synthesizer:
John Barnes (US soul songwriter, keyboardist, synthesizer & pianist aka LA Jay), Michael Boddicker and Greg Phillinganes
trumpet:
Gary Grant (brass) and Jerry Hey
background vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
wind instruments arranger:
Jerry Hey
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1987)
recorded at and mixed at:
Westlake Audio (former name of Westlake Recording Studios) in Los Angeles, California, United States
recording of:
The Way You Make Me Feel
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Mijac Music and Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
4.14:58
3Thriller
recording of:
Thriller
lyricist and composer:
Rod Temperton
publisher:
Almo Music Corp. (USA, affiliated with ASCAP), Chrysalis Music Ltd. (music publisher, affiliated with PRS), Rodsongs (publisher), Rondor Music (London) Ltd., Universal Music Publishing France (not for release label use!) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
is based on:
Starlight
part of:
MJ: The Musical
5:57
4You Are Not Alone
recording of:
You Are Not Alone
lyricist and composer:
R. Kelly
publisher:
R. Kelly Publishing, Inc. and Universal Music–Z Songs
4:36
5Black or White
recording of:
Black or White
additional lyricist:
Bill Bottrell
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
4:16
6Blood On The Dance Floor
assistant recording engineer:
Eddie DeLena (engineer) and Andrew Scheps
recording engineer:
Mick Guzauski, Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer) and Dave Way
engineer:
Mick Guzauski and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
mixer:
Mick Guzauski
keyboard and synthesizer:
Brad Buxer and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
background vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
drum machine arranger:
Brad Buxer and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
arranger:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
recorded at:
Mountain Studios (original Montreux location, 1975–2002) in Montreux, Vaud (Canton of Vaud), Switzerland (from 1991 until 1997), Soundtrack Studios in New York, New York, United States (from 1991 until 1997) and The Record Plant (aka “Record Plant” Los Angeles) in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (from 1991 until 1997)
recording of:
Blood on the Dance Floor
composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
44:14
7Dirty Diana
recording of:
Dirty Diana
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
4:41
8Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
recording of:
Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
6:06
9Ben
recording of:
Ben
lyricist:
Don Black (English lyricist)
composer:
Walter Scharf
publisher:
Jobette Music (in 1972)
part of:
The 45th Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 2)
2:46
10Ghosts
recording of:
Ghosts
lyricist:
Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
5:13
11Heal the World
recording of:
Heal the World
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Mijac Music and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., A Division)
6:25
12Leave Me Alone
recording of:
Leave Me Alone
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
4:40
13Come Together
recording of:
Come Together
writer:
John Lennon (The Beatles) and Paul McCartney (The Beatles)
publisher:
Blackwood Music Inc. (1953-02-07–1987-12-30), EMI-Songs Musikverlag, Maclen Music, Inc. (U.S. based publisher for Lennon–McCartney), Northern Songs, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC (1995–2020), Sony/ATV Songs LLC and Sony/ATV Tunes LLC (ASCAP)
is based on:
You Can’t Catch Me
4:03
15They Don't Care About Us
recording of:
They Don’t Care About Us
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
4:46
16Remember the Time
recording of:
Remember the Time
writer:
Bernard Belle, Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
4:00
17Rock With You
recording of:
Rock With You
lyricist and composer:
Rod Temperton
publisher:
Almo Music Corp. (USA, affiliated with ASCAP), Rodsongs (publisher) and Rondor Music (London) Ltd.
sub-publisher:
ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division), ヤマハミュージックパブリッシング (Yamaha Music Publishing) (until 2017-03-31) and ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) (from 2017-04-01 to present)
3:40
18Scream
recording of:
Scream
writer:
Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”), Jimmy Jam (James Harris of Jam & Lewis) and Terry Lewis (US hip-hop/soul songwriter, producer & label owner)
4:06
19Stranger in Moscow
recording of:
Stranger in Moscow
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
5:46
20Threatened
recording of:
Threatened
writer:
LaShawn Daniels (US contemporary R&B songwriter), Fred Jerkins III, Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Rodney Jerkins
dedicated to:
Rick Baker (makeup effects specialist)
publisher:
Ensign Music Corporation (ended), LaShawn Daniels Productions Inc. (ended), Rodney Jerkins Productions Inc. (BMI) (ended), Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label) (ended), EMI April Music Inc., EMI Blackwood Music Inc., Fred Jerkins Publishing, Mijac Music and Sony/ATV Melody
4:18
21Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
recording of:
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Byefall Productions, Inc. and Sony/ATV Harmony
quotes lyrics from:
Soul Makossa
part of:
MJ: The Musical
part of:
MJ: The Musical
6:04
22Beat It
recording engineer:
Donn Landee and Bruce Swedien
synthesizer programming:
Steve Porcaro
co-producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
producer:
Quincy Jones
mixer:
Bruce Swedien
drums (drum set):
Jeff Porcaro
electric bass guitar and electric guitar:
Steve Lukather
guitar:
Paul Jackson, Jr. (fusion/urban jazz composer, arranger, producer and guitarist)
keyboard:
Bill Wolfer (record producer, songwriter, musician and synthesizer programmer from USA)
percussion [drum case beater], background vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
Rhodes piano and synthesizer:
Greg Phillinganes
solo electric guitar:
Edward Van Halen
synclavier:
Tom Bahler
synthesizer:
Steve Porcaro
synthesizer [Synergy synthesizer]:
Greg Smith (Producer/Keyboards)
vibraslap:
Chris Shepard
percussion arranger:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Quincy Jones
arranger:
Rod Temperton
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1982)
recorded at:
Westlake Recording Studios (founded as Westlake Audio in the early 1970s) in West Hollywood, California, United States (in 1982)
samples:
Untitled (side A) by Denny Jaeger
part of:
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock, NME: 50 Greatest Guitar Riffs of All Time (2012-10-25) (number: 18), VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s (compiled in 2006) (number: 21), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 185), Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 209) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 337)
recording of:
Beat It
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Mijac Music and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., A Division)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
4.354:16
23Will You Be There
recording of:
Will You Be There
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
7:41
24Billie Jean
recording of:
Billie Jean
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Mijac Music, Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label) and Warner/Chappell North America Limited (formerly incorporated as Marmalade Music Ltd., from 1968/09/19–1999/11/09)
sub-publisher:
Neue Welt Musikverlag GmbH & Co. KG (– 2017) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., A Division)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
4:51
25Blame It On The Boogie
recording of:
Blame It on the Boogie
writer:
Dave Jackson (Motown songwriter, aka Dave Jackson-Rich), Mick Jackson (English singer-songwriter, “Blame It On the Boogie” co-writer) and Elmar Krohn
publisher:
Almo Music Corp. (USA, affiliated with ASCAP), Carlin Music Ltd. and Peterman & Co. Ltd.
part of:
MJ: The Musical
3:30
26Can't Let Her Get Away
recording of:
Can't Let Her Get Away
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
4:59
27Give in to Me
recording of:
Give In to Me
lyricist and composer:
Bill Bottrell and Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Ignorant Music (ASCAP-affiliated), MIJAC Music and Sony/ATV Songs, LLC
5:29
28I Just Can't Stop Loving You
recording of:
I Just Can’t Stop Loving You
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Mijac Music
4:13
29Bad
recording engineer and mixer:
Bruce Swedien
drums (drum set) programming:
Douglas Getschal
co-producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
producer:
Quincy Jones
drums (drum set):
John “JR” Robinson (session drummer)
guitar:
David Williams (session guitarist and songwriter)
Hammond organ:
Jimmy Smith (US jazz organist)
percussion:
Paulinho da Costa (Brazilian percussionist) and How Now Brown Cow
saxophone:
Kim Hutchcroft and Larry Williams (jazz keyboard, sax, flute & clarinet; producer, composer, arranger, and multi‐instrumentalist)
synclavier:
Christopher Currell (arranger)
synthesizer:
John Barnes (US soul songwriter, keyboardist, synthesizer & pianist aka LA Jay), Michael Boddicker and Greg Phillinganes
trumpet:
Gary Grant (brass) and Jerry Hey
background vocals and lead vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
wind instruments arranger:
Jerry Hey
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1987)
recorded at and mixed at:
Westlake Audio (former name of Westlake Recording Studios) in Los Angeles, California, United States
recording of:
Bad
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
4.34:08
30In the Closet
recording of:
In the Closet
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
6:32
31Who Is It
recording of:
Who Is It
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
6:35
32Workin' Day and Night
recording of:
Workin’ Day and Night
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Miran Publishing Inc. (BMI-affiliated, associated with Michael Jackson)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
5:14
33You Rock My World
recording of:
You Rock My World
writer:
LaShawn Daniels (US contemporary R&B songwriter), Fred Jerkins III, Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”), Rodney Jerkins and Nora Payne
publisher:
Ensign Music Corporation (ended), LaShawn Daniels Productions Inc. (ended), Rodney Jerkins Productions Inc. (BMI) (ended), Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label) (ended), EMI April Music Inc., EMI Blackwood Music Inc., Fred Jerkins Publishing, Generations Third Music Publishing, Mijac Music and Sony/ATV Melody
5:39
34Human Nature
recording of:
Human Nature
lyricist:
John Bettis
composer:
Steve Porcaro
publisher:
John Bettis Music and Mystical Light Music
sub-publisher:
Sony Music Publishing France, Warner Chappell Music France, ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., A Division), ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) (, from 2017-04-01 to present), ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division) and ヤマハミュージックパブリッシング (Yamaha Music Publishing) (until 2017-03-31)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
4:05
35I Want You Back
recording of:
I Want You Back
lyricist and composer:
The Corporation (Motown songwriters)
publisher:
EMI April Music Inc., Jobete Music Co., Inc., イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
2:59
36Jam
recording of:
Jam
lyricist:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”), René Moore, Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer) and Bruce Swedien
part of:
MJ: The Musical
part of:
MJ: The Musical
5:40
37Man in the Mirror
recording of:
Man in the Mirror
writer:
Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett
publisher:
Arlovol Music, Universal Music Corporation (France), Universal/MCA Music Publishing Pty Ltd, Warner Chappell Music (publisher as Warner/Chappell Music) and Yellowbrick Road Music
sub-publisher:
シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント (Shinko Music Entertainment Co., Ltd.), ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label), ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部 (Universal Music Publishing, Synch Division) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
5:20
38Morphine
recording of:
Morphine
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
6:29
39Speed Demon
recording of:
Speed Demon
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
4:01
40Why You Wanna Trip on Me
recording of:
Why You Wanna Trip on Me
lyricist and composer:
Bernard Belle and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
5:24
41Dangerous
recording engineer:
Jean‐Marie Horvat, Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer), Thom Russo and Bruce Swedien
producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
mixer:
Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer) and Bruce Swedien
synthesizer:
Brad Buxer, Rhett Lawrence and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
background vocals and lead vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
synthesizer arranger and additional arranger:
Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
vocals arranger:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
recording of:
Dangerous (in 1991)
lyricist and composer:
Bill Bottrell, Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
3.96:58
42Liberian Girl
recording of:
Liberian Girl
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Mijac Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing France and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., A Division)
3:54
43Another Part of Me
recording of:
Another Part of Me
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
3:55
44She Drives Me Wild
recording of:
She Drives Me Wild
additional lyricist:
Aqil Davidson
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
3:42
45Is It Scary
recording of:
Is It Scary
lyricist:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”), Jimmy Jam (James Harris of Jam & Lewis) and Terry Lewis (US hip-hop/soul songwriter, producer & label owner)
5:36