Michael Jackson Buying Guide

The world continues to mourn the sudden death of our beloved (and often troubled) "King of Pop, " Michael Jackson. 

The legendary musician went under cardiac arrest on Thursday, June 25th, at his rented home in Los Angeles, and he was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. Jackson was just 50 years old.

In recent years, Jackson's personal demons overshadowed the legacy of his musical contributions. With his numerous plastic surgeries, his eccentric, childlike lifestyle, and more importantly, the allegations of child molestation, he was viewed by many as a "reclusive freak" and not as the perfect entertainer. And now with his untimely death, not only are older fans (including myself) rediscovering our love (and near worship) of Michael Jackson, there's also a younger generation who is now listening to his music for the very first time.

I was barely old enough to start school when Thriller  hit music stores. Watching his music videos was an event because everyone around me would completely stop what they were doing and just stare in awe of his talent. Jackson's music videos were really short films and nothing like this in music had ever been done before. Videos for "Billie Jean, " "Beat It, " and of course, "Thriller, " not only brought more viewers to MTV and VH1, but also forced other artists of that time to step up their game and make choreography a key component in their own music videos.

During his career, Michael Jackson sold over 750 million records worldwide. Thriller remains as the top selling album of all time. He broke every record he set out to break and just days before his death, Jackson was rehearsing tirelessly for his upcoming tour in London.

Michael Jackson's legacy is that he gave so much of himself in all that he did--as a singer, songwriter, dancer, performer, and humanitarian.

Discography

Off The Wall  This was Jackson's first collaboration with legendary producer Quincy Jones  and songwriter Rod Temperton. With classics like "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock with You," Jackson established himself as a soulful force to be reckoned with in popular music.	Thriller  With countless millions of records sold worldwide, this remains the best-selling album of all time. Jackson reunited with producer Quincy Jones to generate such hits as "Billie Jean," "Human Nature," and the title track, "Thriller."	Bad   This album shows off Jackson's strengths as a songwriter and performer. While "Man in the Mirror"  called for global change and peace, we also heard Jackson's edgy and naughty side on songs like "The Way You Make Me Feel"  and "Dirty Diana."	Dangerous  Jackson's music proved to be timeless as he transitioned almost seamlessly into the 1990s with this album. Thanks to producers like Teddy Riley, inventor of "New Jack Swing," songs like "Remember the Time," "In the Closet," and "Black or White"  remain staples on mainstream radio.	HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I  The title for this double album is simple but perfect. While Disc 1 chronicled the early years of Michael Jackson's solo career, Disc 2 offered mostly brand new tracks including the monumental smash "Scream," which paired superstar Janet Jackson  with her older brother.

 

Invincible   Released in 2001, this was Jackson's final studio album. Many argue whether Jackson's personal battles overshadowed this album's ultimate potential. But songs like "You Rock My World" and the soulful "Butterflies" definitely make this record worth adding to the collection.	The Essential Michael Jackson  If you don't already own all of Jackson's albums (or even if you do), this compilation is definitely a must have. And best of all, it also includes classics from The Jackson 5  like "I Want You Back"  and "ABC. "	The Jacksons Live   Both recorded and released during the Triumph album tour, this not only reunited The Jacksons  on classics like "Can You Feel It" and "This Place Hotel," but also offers Michael's live versions of tracks from the Off The Wall  album.	Blood on the Dance Floor  The remix album featured not only reworked versions of songs from HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I , but also included brand new songs like "Ghosts," "Morphine," and the title track, "Blood on the Dance Floor," which he co-wrote with producer Teddy Riley.	Michael Jackson Number Ones   Simply put, it's a compilation of all of Jackson's many hits from his extraordinary solo career. It now includes the previously unreleased track, "One More Chance," which was written for Jackson by singer/songwriter R. Kelly.

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External Links

• Wikipedia.org: General overview of the life and music of Michael Jackson.