Michael Jackson 25th Anniversary of Thriller (CD+DVD)

The 25th Anniversary edition of Thriller is a must own CD. The presentation of the CD is great, with top-notch production evident throughout. The original tracks still sound amazing. And the new remixed song versions should introduce younger R&B fans to the man who started it all.

There are many reasons to buy this version of the album even if you already own it. This version includes remastered mixes that sound great. This album also came out at the height of vinyl and casettes, so a lot of people may not own the album on CD. Old school fans will be seduced by the awesome holographic CD dust jacket, sharper re-mastered original tracks and included bonus DVD videos.

Younger music fans who love will.i.am, Kanye West, Fergie and Akon will be attracted by the remade versions. Hard-core Michael Jackson fans might not like those new versions as much. Still, no matter how you slice it, this 25th Anniversary edition belongs in your collection.

It's clear to anybody who follows R&B that so many artists over the past 10 years have made careers essentially emulating Michael's singing style and dance moves. You can include on that list:
- Justin Timberlake - FutureSex / LoveSounds
- Chris Brown - Chris Brown
- Usher - My Way
- Omarion - O

THE TRACKS AND EXTRAS

It's impossible not to hear the songs from this album from time to time, yet it had been a long time since I heard the original album in total, tracks 1-10 on this CD. When you listen to it again, it's impossible not to realize how amazing of a production this truly was, and still is even 25 years later. Every single song is a number one hit, and Michael moves through genres including pop, rock and R&B with ease. See my awards summary at the bottom for more on this.

The remakes can't possibly match Michael's original accomplishment. Yet they are not as bad as many say. I actually like the Akon version of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin." And Kanye West's "Billie Jean" mix highlights his abilities as a producer.

The included DVD includes the short film music video versions of "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and "Thriller." These videos are historic in their own right, each one a high budget production better than a lot of the movies made in 1982. There's also a nice liner jacket with all the original lyrics and cool album art.

There's also the Motown 25 performance of "Billie Jean." For those that don't remember this performance, it's the one where Michael first does the moonwalk on stage. It takes quite a performer to pull off a rhinestone shirt, rhinestone socks, sparkly jacket, high-waters and one white glove!

It's amazing to note that Michael Jackson actually wrote most of the biggest hits on this album, something today's R&B artists rarely do. Most of the biggest hits from the album are his original works, including "Wanna Be Startin' Something," "The Girl Is Mine," "Beat It," and "Billie Jean." "Baby Be Mine," "Thriller," and "The Lady In My Life" were written and composed by Rod Temperton. "PYT" was the work of the legendary James Ingram and Quincy Jones. And Steve Porcato wrote both "Human Nature" (with John Bettis) and the newly released "For All Time" (with Michael Sherwood), number 16 on this edition.

I really liked this previously unreleased track, and it definitely has a sound akin to Human Nature. I can only speculate that that similarity is what kept it off of the original release.

AWARDS

It's amazing to think this album won 8 Grammys, and I don't even believe it was close in any category.

+ Album of the Year
+ Record of the Year ("Beat It")
+ Best Male Pop Vocals ("Thriller")
+ Best Male Rock Vocals ("Beat It")
+ Best Male R&B Vocals ("Billie Jean")
+ Best R&B Song ("Billie Jean")
+ Producer of the Year (Qunicy Jones and Michael Jackson)
+ Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical (Bruce Swedien)

If there had been awards for best music video back then, "Thriller," "Billie Jean," and "Beat It" would have all been nominated.

CHOOSING THE BEST EDITION

The basic 25th anniversary edition includes the original album tracks, new remixed tracks, videos and a a liner jacket with all the original lyrics and album art. Even more album art and an extended text is included with the fold-out book version of this release, the Thriller Deluxe Casebook Edition). That version is worth getting for die-hard fans who want the case-book as a collector's item. Luckily I was able to get one of each when they were on sale the week of their release. At regular prices though, the regular edition is probably the way to go for most people.

CONCLUSION

This is a pivotal album that is well done here at an affordable price when you factor in all the cool stuff that's included. While some collectors will want to own both this version and the Deluxe Casebook Edition, I think the regular 25th Anniversary Edition has enough extras to satisfy most fans. The new tracks, previously unreleased original tracks, videos and great album art make this a great purchase for new and old fans alike.

Enjoy!!!

I woke up from a nap and there were three text messages on my phone. Nobody ever texts me, so I knew it must have been big news. I thought there was a fire or something. Turned out, Michael Jackson is dead. I was startled, to say the least, because MJ never seemed like the kind of person that could, you know, die. To be honest, he never really registered in my consciousness as being a person; Michael Jackson was the androgynous sexual panic of "Billie Jean," the breathless seduction of "P.Y.T.," the thrilling kitsch of "Thriller," the chattering afro-popisms of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'." The idea that he had a human body, one that needed food and air and sleep, never really clicked in my mind. But then again, I guess that's to be expected. I mean, how can a mere human being really be thought to be capable of creating something as monstrous, as mechanical, as all-encompassing, and as awesome as Thriller? This kid wasn't the king of pop; he was the whole damn kingdom. And we, the audience, are not his loyal subjects; we're just reading the travel brochures.

The point is, Thriller is one of the greatest moments in the history of pure pop. Which is to say, it's plastic, mass-produced, jugular-grabbingly commercial, and completely unconcerned with originality, artistic merit, or honesty. And goshdarnit, I wouldn't have it any other way! With songs and performances as irresistible and ecstatic as the ones found here, artfulness will only get in the way. Because when you have a song as swooping, as ethereal, as hypnotic, and as unashamedly romantic as "Baby Be Mine," there's really no need to question its validity. Just let those labyrinthine keyboards and yearning vocals carry you away to a shiny place. And when "Beat It" comes roaring out of the gates, it does so with such force and brutal eloquence that you completely forget how absurd it is for Michael Jackson to take on the role of a street-smart hoodlum. As a vision of ghetto reality, it's a nonsensical failure; but the important thing to remember is that, on a purely visceral level, it SOUNDS more convincing and more immediate than its more authentic counterparts.

And then there's "Billie Jean," whose lyrics are either shockingly amoral or completely uneventful, but which still manages to be one of the most magical, irresistible, and emotionally charged moments in the history of music. And if we found ourselves getting annoyed by the idea of having to root for a child-abandoning father, then we can just remind ourselves that it's only a pop album. An stunning pop album, to be precise.

Well... THRILLER came out in 1983 and if you wanna know what's the importance of this album, just think about this: not only it summed up the best things about American popular music so far but it also revolutionized the way pop music was marketed and regarded. Perhaps, in the History of American music, there are only two phases: before THRILLER and after THRILLER.

If we try to break down the album, we can see each song as the outstanding corollary of certain styles and influences... R&B, Motown, TSOP, Blues, Disco, Gospel, Electro and anything else you can think of. It's all there. And that is the proof that both Michael and his producer Quincy Jones were, at that time, a match made in heaven.

This is certainly an album to be studied.

This 25th Anniversary Edition puts together a nice package: first comes the CD with all the original tracks plus some new remixes and homages(made by Kanye West, Fergie and Will.I.Am) and a new unreleased track FOR ALL TIME.

Now... honestly... I found all this new material completely delectable. I really prefer the previous THRILLER SPECIAL EDITION which contains other unreleased tracks AND a beautiful demo of BILLIE JEAN that is gorgeous. That edition of THRILLER is, in my opinion, superior to this one. It is richer... while this one focuses on the "homage" side.

BUT... this edition comes with a DVD that cannot be missed. Not only it brings you the THRILLER video - without a doubt, the video that defined what a music video is today (before THRILLER, music videos were something else...) but it also comes loaded with new stuff (like the unreleased song FOR ALL TIME) and the great MOTOWN 25 TV special.

So, in a word, unmissable.

And if you are willing to spend more money, you can even get a DELUXE CASEBOOK EDITION that comes in a hardbound 48-page book full of rare photos, lyrics and more.

A little more expensive, but twice unmissable. (laughs)

This second re-issue of Thriller is a better re-issue than the 2001 Special Edition. The sound quality is a lot better. But I still find it a tad lacking. It is missing "Can't get Outta The Rain" Which appeared on side 2/B of the 45 release of Billie Jean and "Got the hots" (Which is appearing on the Japan Release). Those 2 tracks should have been added. I wouldn't be surprised if the album has a 30th anniversary edition 5 years later with those 2 songs adeed. Also, The Kanye West Remix of Billie Jean was a tad disappointing. Kanye gave the song a great new beat but I was hoping to get a rap verse out of him on the track. The Fergie remix to Beat It wasn't too bad either. I have nothing against Fergie but I think that P!nk would have been a better choice for the song. Anyways,Anyways, Like I said, this is a big improvement from the 2001 Special Edition for the sound quality. The Interviews on that edition are better bonus features. I think it's well worth getting for the better sound quality. But Even though the sound is better, I find the DVD lacking. Thriller is missing the making of the video. That should have been added.

Although I typically stay in the field of heavy metal, I am a child of the 1980's which spells out that Michael Jackson was a huge influence on my musical taste. The original Thriller album is a classic which deserves 5 stars, hands down. This review is not meant for those songs, but for the additional material for the 25th Anniversary Edition.

Is it possible to ruin Michael Jackon's work? Is it possible to turn something that is perfect into complete and utter garbage? Well, if you add will.i.am, Fergie, Akon and Kanye West to the mix you can. These talentless hacks have done something that was initially thought to be impossible in turning the core Thriller material into laughable throw-aways.

Starting with the girl is mine, the song took Paul McCartney's part out completely. How absurd! Replacing Paul McCartney with will.i.am is a recipe for disaster and had no chance to do anything but crash and burn. Similarly you find the terrible "remix" of PYT with, yet again, will.i.am trashing it with his ridiculous original rap placed in the middle.

Akon and Fergie then appear on Wanna Be Startin Something and Beat It, respectively. The instrumentation on Wanna Be Startin Something has been changed with a completely different tempo and takes away the majority of magic that makes the song what it is. The re-hashed version of Beat It is a one-two punch of Fergie and Michael sharing lines that makes you wish for an actual punch rather than listen any further. The combo is simply sad. Also the guitar part of the song has been completely removed, except for the solo which feels completely out of place now.

The only good part of this disc is the addition of For All Time. The song is a slightly different version of Human Nature. The other good part is having the Billie Jean, Beat It and Thriller music videos on DVD.

In the end, the "remixes" can be thrown away and you can be happy that you have the previously unreleased song and the music videos. The so called talent that has been inspired by Michael Jackson and brought in put a modern spin on the hit songs are so bad that they have actually ruined some of the world's best music.

I heard the devastating news of Michael's passing on the radio as I drove from work. At the age of 50 he died very prematurely. As I digested this devastating news I reflected on his influence in my own life. I owned Thriller when it first came out on vinyl. I had never heard anything that sounded like it before. As for the videos a whole new level of skill,talent and showmanship had just opened in front of our eyes.
Then my 26 Year old son gave me and his mother an anniversary present of this album a few months ago. We watched the video that comes with it and listened to all his songs. I have played those songs over and over again. They sound fresh each and every time. Thriller is an amazing album and goes into the annals of history forever. I recalled the Jackson 5 as a teenager. I grew up on their music and owned most works of MJ.
Michael was the king of Pop. He is dead but for most of us he lives on forever as the greatest gift to the world of music in modern times. The world is poorer for his loss but it's also enriched by the legacy of this talented genius of our time.
Michael rest in peace. Long Live The King!

I was thoroughly pleased with the Thriller Deluxe edition. I never bought any 2001 Special Edition, so I am glad this is the only one I am listening to. The album itself was excellent, lots of work with into it. Will.i.am did great with the first two songs, "The girl is mine" I loved it. The remix was more upbeat than the original with today's flavor added to give it zing. Even P.Y.T. has an awesome beat to it. The remixes were all good, but I was a bit disappointed with "Billy Jean". Although good, you didn't hear much of Kayne West doing what he does best. Akon, on the other hand, brought a different flava to "Wanna be startin something," that makes the track sound even better.
You can tell the artists put their heart and soul into making this project with Michael Jackson, one of the best productions ever.
The deluxe edition, although expensive, gives you your money's worth. It is a piece of artwork put together. Photos, lyrics, credits, even some history and even more special it has a golden signature of Michael. It definitely is a great collector's piece of art. I certainly recommend it. It's well worth the money.

My four children, now all in their 30's, came of age with this album. This version is a great reissue of the original. Michael Jackson defined popular music for my kids' generation, as Elvis did for mine and Sinatra did for my parents.

Where MJ transcended them is as a composer, dancer, and all-around entertainer. Elvis shook his hips; MJ danced and evoked the wondering praise of Fred Astaire. Sinatra used the technology of his time, recording, movies, the microphone to transmit his art. MJ re-created the technology with a completely new approach to videos and stage pyrotechnics that now define modern song and dance, concerts and showmanship.

Thriller was his apogee. The tiniest handful of gifted performers attained anything approaching his genius, his talent, his out and out supremacy as an entertainer.

I was always more of a rock type when I was younger, but listened to some Motown. Then there was the Thriller, the perfect blend of rock and pop.

And of course the song writing and musicianship was brilliant. Michael was very smart in what he did during these times, and Eddie playing guitar was suprising and great. He repeated this later on on Dangerous with Slash, another call which may have had some people sctratching their heads, but worked.

Later on many performers emulated what he had done, cross over performances with artist's (Walk This Way comes to mind) and his stage show and moves were blueprints for so many.

He truly was the King Of Pop.

"Thriller" is an essential purchase and an undeniably great album full of infectious hooks, deep grooves and a glossy hi-tech sheen that has emerged unscathed from the 1980's into the 21st century (and perhaps beyond). Neither time nor the veil of nostalgia have blunted its impact -- an all-time bestseller, to be sure -- as a crucial flashpoint from which a decade was defined (along with U2's "The Joshua Tree," Madonna's first two albums, Prince's "Purple Rain" LP and David Bowie's "Let's Dance" album).

Putting aside the hype, the tie-in merchandise and all that came afterward for the artist (both personally and professionally), Michael Jackson rolled through the 1980's as a veritable juggernaut of talent. How many Gen. X'ers wore out their footwear trying to imitate his trademark Moonwalk? I'm fairly certain I wasn't the only one.

Have a listen to the song samples included here by Amazon. That bass line in "Billie Jean?" Delicious! How about that five-note synth loop and Vincent Price's rap in "Thriller" itself? Admit it: you love it, I love it (and so does your Grandma)! The first cut, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" flirts with African chants and polyrhythms, earlier used to such great effect by Talking Heads and presages the coming popularity of World Music (and Paul Simon's 1986 "Graceland" LP). To these ears, "Baby Be Mine" sounds best, coming across as an understated, sparkling, danceable standout with a funky virtuoso synth hook and soulful vocal found nowhere else on the record ("Billie Jean" and "P.Y.T." approach it, though).

"Beat It" simply rocks!

The Michael Jackson 25th Anniversary of Thriller contains all the videos (how scary was the "Thriller" short film back in the day?) and a delightful Motown TV performance that showcases everything that made Michael Jackson the King of Pop. "Nobody moves like Michael Jackson," said one fan when interviewed back in the '80s. Indeed! The extra tracks are just superfluous honey on an already sweet treat.

Being too young to appreciate "Off the Wall" when it came out (an interesting Disco record but nothing more) and too old by the time "Bad" came 'round (not nearly as funky; too poppy), this always felt like "my" Michael Jackson album. It seems several million others feel the same way.

According to the liner notes, Michael Jackson was justly proud of "Thriller" as both a landmark personal achievement and a historical one. Pick this one up -- it's a classic!