P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)

"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
Single by Michael Jackson
from the album Thriller
B-side
ReleasedSeptember 19, 1983 (1983-09-19)
Recorded1982
StudioWestlake (Los Angeles, California)[1]
Genre
Length3:59
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Quincy Jones
Michael Jackson singles chronology
"Human Nature"
(1983)		 "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
(1983)		 "Say Say Say"
(1983)
Audio
"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" on YouTube

"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" is a song by the American singer, songwriter and dancer Michael Jackson. It was released as the sixth single from his sixth studio album, Thriller (1982). The song was written by James Ingram and Quincy Jones.

"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" was released on September 19, 1983. The single went to number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Thus, becoming the sixth top 10 hit from the album. It also peaked at number 46 on the Hot Black Singles chart and number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. The single was most successful in Belgium. There, it peaked at number 6. The song has been covered and sampled by many artists. These include: Monica, Justin Guarini and Kanye West. The original demo was remixed by Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am. This was on Thriller 25 (2008).

Personnel

  • Written, composed and arranged by James Ingram and Quincy Jones
  • Produced by Quincy Jones
  • Michael Jackson – lead and backing vocals, handclaps
  • Greg Phillinganes – Rhodes piano, synthesizers, synthesizer programming, handclaps
  • Michael Boddicker – vocoder, E-mu Emulator
  • James Ingram – Portasound keyboards, handclaps
  • Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars
  • Louis Johnson – electric bass, handclaps
  • N'dugu Chancler – drums
  • Steven Ray – handclaps
  • P.Y.T.s:
  • Additional background vocals:
    • James Ingram
    • Howard Hewett

Track listing

45 RPM

A-side

  1. "P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing)" – 3:59

B-side

  1. "Working Day and Night" (live—Jacksons) – 4:26
Disco single

A-side

  1. "P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing)" – 3:59

B-side

  1. "This Place Hotel" – 4:41
  2. "Thriller" (instrumental) – 5:56

Charts

Weekly charts

Certifications

Certifications for "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[26] 2× Platinum 160,000double-dagger
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[27] Gold 30,000double-dagger
Mexico (AMPROFON)[28] Gold 30,000double-dagger
New Zealand (RMNZ)[29] 2× Platinum 60,000double-dagger
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] Platinum 600,000double-dagger
United States (RIAA)[31] 4× Platinum 4,000,000double-dagger

double-daggersales+streaming figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ Roberts, Randall (August 29, 2012). "Michael Jackson's 'Human Nature': An NYC classic on his birthday". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  2. 1 2 Scott, Gavin (February 21, 2024). "40 Years Ago: The Year Of The Superstar". The Music. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  3. ↑ Keyes, J. Edward (June 26, 2009). "Michael Jackson: The Essential Playlist". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  4. ↑ Breihan, Tom (November 28, 2012). "Nite Jewel - "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" (Michael Jackson Cover)". Stereogum. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  5. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. ↑ "Michael Jackson – P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4422." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4377." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 1, no. 4. April 23, 1984. p. 15. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  10. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 13, 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  11. 1 2 "Michael Jackson – P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  12. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – P.Y.T.". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 "Thriller – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 July 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  15. ↑ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – December 3, 1983". Cash Box. Archived from the original on September 11, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Michael Jackson – P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  17. ↑ "50 Back Catalogue Singles – 04/07/2009". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Michael Jackson – P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Chart Log UK: Jessie J – JX". Zobbel.de. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  24. ↑ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1983". Cash Box. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012.
  25. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1984" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Michael Jackson – P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)". Music Canada. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Michael Jackson – P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved April 22, 2022. Type Michael Jackson in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  29. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Michael Jackson – PYT (Pretty Young Thing)". Radioscope. Retrieved July 20, 2025. Type PYT (Pretty Young Thing) in the "Search:" field.
  30. ↑ "British single certifications – Michael Jackson – PYT (Pretty Young Thing)". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  31. ↑ "American single certifications – Michael Jackson – P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
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