The Essential Michael Jackson

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The Essential Michael Jackson is a greatest hits album by American singer Michael Jackson. It was released on July 19, 2005, by Sony Music Entertainment through its catalog label Legacy Recordings. The album is part of The Essential series.

The album includes many popular songs from Jackson's career. These songs come from his early time with The Jackson 5 and his later solo career.

Some well-known songs in the album include "Billie Jean", "Thriller", "Beat It", "Black or White", and "Man in the Mirror".

Track listing

North American version

Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."I Want You Back"The Corporation (Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell, Berry Gordy, Deke Richards)Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 (1969)2:58
2."ABC"The CorporationABC (1970)2:58
3."The Love You Save"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."Enjoy Yourself" (edit of alternative version)Kenneth Gamble, Leon HuffThe Jacksons (1976)3:24
8."Blame It on the Boogie" (edited version)Michael G. Jackson-Clark, David Jackson-Rich, Hans Kampschroer, Elmar Krohn, Thomas MeyerDestiny (1978)3:30
9."Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" (7" version)Michael Jackson, Randy JacksonDestiny3:46
10."Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (original 12" edit)Michael JacksonOff the Wall (1979)5:50
11."Rock with You" (7" remix)Rod 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"Tom BahlerOff the Wall3:37
14."Can You Feel It" (7" edit)Michael Jackson, Jackie JacksonTriumph (1980)3:50
15."The Girl Is Mine" (duet with Paul McCartney)Michael JacksonThriller (1982)3:42
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)Steve Porcaro, John BettisThriller3:45
20."P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"James Ingram, Quincy JonesThriller3:59
21."Thriller" (radio edit)TempertonThriller5:12
Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Bad" (7" single mix)Michael JacksonBad (1987)4:06
2."I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (radio edit) (duet with Siedah Garrett)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"Siedah Garrett, Glen 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 Bill BottrellDangerous (1991)3:21
10."Heal the World"Michael JacksonDangerous6:24
11."Remember the Time"Michael Jackson, Teddy Riley, Bernard 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. KellyHIStory (1995)4:55
17."You Rock My World" (album edit)Michael Jackson, Rodney Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, LaShawn Daniels, Nora PayneInvincible (2001)5:08

American limited-edition 3.0 bonus disc

No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Can't Get Outta the Rain" (single version)Michael Jackson, 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"Michael Jackson, Moore, Swedien, RileyDangerous5:38
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 JacksonHIStory5:45
7."Butterflies"Andre Harris, Marsha AmbrosiusInvincible4:40

European and international version

Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."I Want You Back"The Corporation (Perren, Mizell, Gordy, Deke Richards)Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 52:58
2."ABC"The CorporationABC2:58
3."The Love You Save"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."Blame It on the Boogie" (edited version)Jackson-Clark, Jackson-Rich, Kampschroer, Krohn, MeyerDestiny3:30
8."Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" (7" version)Michael Jackson, R. 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)Michael Jackson, Jackie 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) (duet with Siedah Garrett)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"Michael Jackson, Riley, 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. KellyHIStory4:55
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)Jackson, Jerkins, Jerkins III, Daniels, PayneInvincible5:08

Japanese version

Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."I Want You Back"The Corporation (Perren, Mizell, Gordy, Richards)Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 52:58
2."ABC"The CorporationABC2:58
3."The Love You Save"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)Jackson-Clark, Jackson-Rich, Kampschroer, Krohn, MeyerDestiny3:30
8."Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" (7" version)Michael Jackson, R. 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)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) (duet with Siedah Garrett)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"Michael Jackson, Riley, 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"The Corporation (Perren, Mizell, Gordy, Richards)2:58
2."ABC"The Corporation2:58
3."The Love You Save"The Corporation3:04
4."Got to Be There"Willensky3:23
5."Rockin' Robin"Rene2:32
6."Ben"Scharf, Black2:46
7."Enjoy Yourself"Gamble, Huff3:25
8."Blame It on the Boogie"Jackson-Clark, Jackson-Rich, Kampschroer, Krohn, Meyer3:30
9."Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" (7" version)Michael Jackson, R. 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)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) (duet with Siedah Garrett)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"Michael Jackson, Riley, 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

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