The essential Michael Jackson albums

Michael Jackson would have turned 53 years old come August 29. His life was brief but I do not think there will ever come a time when his music will not be appreciated. Now that the frenzy over his tragic death on June 25, 2009 has abated, I believe that we have come to a time when we can sit back and fully enjoy the legacy he left behind.

These recordings made a huge impact on prevailing trends but I think that what is more important is how great the songs turned out to be. Motown soul, R&B, hip-hop, dance, pop standards: Michael did them all and made them his. It is sad knowing he is not going to do more. But it also feels good finding out that all of his recordings are now available for us to enjoy.

The other albums may impress more in terms of artistic and technological brilliance but Off The Wall from 1979 is my favorite. This was the first production with Quincy Jones and it happened before life became complicated for Michael. Can you think of anything more sweetly painful than She’s Out Of My Life or something as teasingly sexy as Rock With You? I also noticed this thread that runs throughout the CD and sews up all the elements together into a seamless whole. Also includes Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough, Workin’ Day And Night, Get On The Floor and Off The Wall.

Thriller, 1982, also produced by Quincy, the biggest-selling album of all time. Lucky you if you still have the original LP or the beautifully packaged 25th Anniversary edition that includes the greatest music video of them all. This one has no video but will also serve as well. It has that entire original album Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’, Baby Be Mine, This Girl Is Mine with Paul McCartney, Thriller, Beat It, Billie Jean, Human Nature, P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) and The Lady In My Life. Then there are the updated recordings done for the 25th anniversary re-issue which has Michael singing with will.i.am, Akon, Fergie and Kanye West.

For a full set, you might want to include Bad, 1987. Bad, The Way You Make Me Feel, Man In The Mirror, I Just Can’t Stop Loving You, Dirty Diana and Smooth Criminal. Also Dangerous, 1991. Why You Wanna Trip On Me, Remember The Time, Can’t Let Her Get Away, Heal The World, Black Or White, Will You Be There, Keep The Faith and Gone Too Soon. These CDs happened at a time when he was becoming aware that the media that calls him the King of Pop could turn around and make him into a monster.

History Past, Present And Future, Book 1, 1995; History Begins Disc I is Michael’s first all-hits collection. It is in the second disc, History Continues where the action really gets going with some of his best works, Scream with Janet Jackson, They Don’t Care About Us, Stranger In Moscow, This Time Around, Earth Song; D.S.’ Money, Come Together, You Are Not Alone, Childhood (Theme from Free Willy), Tabloid Junkie, Bad, History, Little Susie and his personal favorite, Smile. If your budget allows you to buy only one Michael CD, then I recommend that you get History.

Invincible, 2001. This is the last studio album and one of his saddest. Savaged by the critics, Michael here can be heard almost pleading for a respite from his life. With Unbreakable, Heartbreaker, Invincible, Heaven Can Wait, You Rock My World, Butterflies, Speechless, Privacy, Don’t Walk Away, Cry and The Lost Children.

 This Is It, 2009. Billed as the music that inspired the movie of the same title, this is dedicated to Michael’s children. It is a collection of hits that would have been included in the concert This Is It, but were later put together to provide the soundtrack for the movie of his final days. Notable inclusions are the Beat It (demo) and Planet Earth, a poem.

Michael, 2010. These are tracks that Michael had been working on with various collaborators like Akon, 50 Cent, Lenny Kravitz before his death. It is an assorted mix that often does not live up to his usual standards but is still better than most and fun to listen to. It makes you wonder what sounds he had been cooking then and had wanted to share with us.

Also available are the compilation CDs, The Essential Michael Jackson, Number Ones and The Very Best Of The Jacksons, a two-disc set of songs that Michael recorded with his brothers. It covers a lot, from I Want You Back, I’ll Be There, Never Can Say Goodbye, Got To Be There, Rockin’ Robin, Ben, One Day In Your Life to State Of Shock with Mick Jagger.

Then there is Hello World, The Motown Solo Collection, a special limited collector’s edition three-disc set packaged in a beautiful book with gorgeous photographs of the young Michael. This one costs a whopping P2,200 but the sight of those pictures alone makes it worth the price.

Somehow I cannot help but think of the tricks fortune chose to play on this talented boy. How he was made into a star and then taken for a ride on an alternately blessed and unfortunate life. The hits from the Motown era are all here plus 12 never before released masters like I Hear a Symphony and Lonely Teardrops.