Michael Jackson – Thriller 25 (Deluxe Edition) (a J!-ENT World Groove Album Review)

June 27, 2009 by Dennis Amith 

“The 25th Anniversary of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ features the original album plus new musical interpretations and remixes from the Black Eyed Peas will.i.am and Fergie, Akon and Kanye West.  Plus an unreleased ballad from the original ‘Thriller’ sessions.”

ARTIST: Michael Jackson

ALBUM: Thriller 25 (Deluxe Edition) (Digital Version)

LABEL: EPIC/LEGACY

DURATION: 1:07:11

RELEASE DATE: February 12, 2008

1. Wanna Be Startin’ Something (Album Version)
2. Baby Be Mine (Album Version)
3. The Girl Is Mine (Album Version)
4. Thriller (Album Version)
5. Beat It (Single Version)
6. Billie Jean (Single Version)
7. Human Nature (Album Version)
8. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) (Album Version)
9. The Lady In My Life (Album Version)
10. Vincent Price Excerpt from “Thriller” Voice-Over Sessions
11. The Girl is Mine 2008 with will.i.am (Thriller 25th Anniversary Remix featuring w.ill.iam)
12. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) 2008 with will.i.am (Thriller 25th Anniversary Remix featuring w.ill.iam)
13. Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ 2008 with Akon (Thriller 25th Anniversary Remix featuring w.ill.iam)
14. Beat It 2008 with Fergie ((Thriller 25th Anniversary Remix featuring Fergie)
15. Billie Jean 2008 Kanye West Mix (Thriller 25th Anniversary Remix featuring Kanye West)
16. For All Time (Previously unreleased track from the original Thriller sessions)

BUY THIS ALBUM:

Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, the sixth full-length album from Michael Jackson and is the best selling album of all time.  Released back in November 30, 1982, the album would win a record-breaking eight Grammy Awards in 1984 and of the nine tracks on the album, seven would be released as singles such  “The Girl is Mine”, “Billie Jean”, “Beat It”, “Thriller”, “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’”, “Human Nature”, “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” would become major hits.

Needless to say, “Thriller” was an album that many of us owned in our collections.  I owned it on LP and cassette, the 2001 remastered version which included a demo of Billie Jean, interviews with Quincy Jones and the unreleased track “Carousel” and now the 25th Anniversary version which was executive produced by Michael Jackson and featured collaborations with the Black Eyed Peas w.ill.iam, FERGIE and pop artists Akon and Kanye West.

When the 25th Anniversary album was released in February 2008, the album would be the largest selling album for Michael Jackson and ranked #1 on many album charts worldwide and selling over 3,000,000 copies worldwide in 12 weeks which is incredible for today’s album releases.

What is quite amazing when this album came out was the criticism it received when “The Girl is Mine” (the first single released featuring both Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney) and many critics didn’t think the album would do that well because of the first single that was released from the album.

And also, at the time when MTV was airing only music primarily from white rock bands, it took CBS Records President Walter Yetnikoff to pressure MTV to get a Black artist on MTV and eventually getting “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” in which Michael’s music helped pave the way for Black artists to get recognition on television.

The album faced challenges from its critics but not only did it surpass critics expectations, it became the best selling album of all time and it also became a winner of a multitude of awards.

Suffice to say, “Thriller” is a monumental album not only musically but also how it was an album that was purchased by people who listened to different genres of music and people of different ethnicity.  The album featured R&B, rock n’ roll, pop and there was a song that appealed to everyone.  From the fans who loved his awesome music to those who weren’t familiar with his music but were drawn in by Eddie Van Halen’s guitar playing for “Beat It”, were hooked on “Thriller” (as MTV promoted the heck of this music video premiere) and would become a popular song which fans would try to emulate the choreography for many years to come and of course, who can not forget the Motown 25th Anniversary performance of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” which brought “The moonwalk” to the public and became the trendy dance of the early 80′s.

As for the newer tracks of the album, for the 25th Anniversary, to promote the music to a new generation of music listeners, you get the collaboration with popular producer w.ill.iam of the Black Eyed Peas who comes with a beat-driven, upbeat groove for “The Girl Is Mine 2008″ which is actually an enjoyable remix and really gives this classic track some new life through w.ill.iam’s musical interpretation.   For “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) 2008″, w.ill.iam gives another musical interpretation with an upbeat synth track which was average at best remix.

Akon’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ 2008″ is a reimagining of the popular song but Akon definitely brings his style to the song and overall, a pretty solid version of bringing something new to the classic hit.  Upbeat and refreshingly cool!

Fergie’s “Beat It 2008″ combines vocals from Fergie and Michael Jackson.  Upbeat sans the Eddie Van Halen electric guitar playing.  Overall, an average remix.

Kanye West gives a dark brooding remix to “Billie Jean 2008″ which is an interesting interpretation musically from the artist.  Makes me wonder how Kanye would do things differently if the album was created a year later ala post “Heartbreak”.

The final track “For All Time” is actually a pretty good song and I wonder why it was not included in the original “Thriller”.  It’s actually a solid and passionate ballad.  Very awesome track!

I write this review three days after the death of Michael Jackson.  I think I’ve listened to this album dozens of times and reflecting on how much of his music from this album was part of my life growing up.  I can listen to each song and just remember so many memories from the past and how much the music touched my life.

From watching “Beat It” and being mesmerized by the music video and hoping it would beat Quiet Riot and Def Leppard on the MTV Friday Night Music Video Fights, staying up late with friends and rewatching the music premiere of “Thriller”, watching “Billie Jean” and always being curious about the lyrics, listening to “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” and loving the swahili chorus at the end and being surprised by the “You’re a vegetable” lyrics.  But also listening to “The Lady In My Life” and being together with a girl and singing this song to her while this song played on the radio.   And listening to the album again, on the day I got married.  Needless to say, this album and its music are quite nostalgic for me and  it was and still is an album that I would listen to countless times throughout my life.

“Thriller” was just an incredible album and listening to these songs again, despite the sadness I feel over the death of the King of Pop, I can’t help but be happy that Michael Jackson will live forever in the hearts of millions, as his music will live forever.

“Thriller 25 (Deluxe Edition)” is an enjoyable release and if you are like millions of listeners like myself who have exhausted those old cassette tapes, no longer have a record player in the home to play the LP, it’s a great time to enjoy the music of Michael Jackson once again and this album and many of the classic tracks are definitely worth repurchasing via digital or CD.

Highly recommended!

Note: There is a “Super Deluxe Edition” also available which features a revised version of the original “Thriller” cover and includes a total of 30 tracks which include interviews with Quincy Jones and Rod Temperton.  Plus a home demo version and a underground remix of “Billie Jean” and more.