The Essential - Michael Jackson Album Review

Image:link

Album Review

After four months of emotional battering and drama in a California court which rocked his world, the ‘case of the century’ turned into a real Thriller. Now Wacko gets a ‘backo’ with the Essential release on Monday July 18, a superb back-catalogue collection, though there are glaring omissions.

This is set to be another monster success for the humbled pop icon, but things could have been a lot worse. Down in the dumps and, apparently, down on the funds, someone out there believes Jacko is in much need of a refill. His behaviour might well be Off The Wall, but he’s not all Bad. When you’re as talented as Michael Jackson, there’s no suppressing Human Nature, as he’s sure to pump up the units once again, adding to his global 130 million sales.

Thriller remains the best selling album ever, with sales between 47 and 52 million, which was nominated for a record 12 Grammys. Collectively, this made him the first act to top $100m in one year. Back on creative territory, he has single -handedly changed the face of pop - oriented soul music over the past four decades, either as part of the brotherhood, (The Jackson 5 and The Jacksons ) or as a solo artist. Tracklisted in a non-chronological format, delving as far back as 1969 when he was 11 years of age with I Want You Back to Invincible’s ‘You Rock my World’, you can trace the progress of one of the most distinctive voices on the planet. Solo hits include number ones Billie Jean, I Just Can’t Stop Loving You, Black or White, You Are Not Alone, and his biggest selling UK single Earth Song – 1,038,821 copies.

Surprisingly missing are the brilliant Bill Withers cover of Ain’t No Sunshine and his first chart UK topper One Day In Your Life, so it loses points for that. The longest period Jackson has gone without a major hit was an incredible seven years, between Ben (who else could sing about a rat and get a hit?) in 1972, and Don’t Stop in 1979.

How long before his next one I wonder?

Elly Roberts