The Essential Michael Jackson

The Essential Michael Jackson
Greatest hits album by
Michael Jackson
ReleasedJuly 19, 2005 (2005-07-19)
Recorded1969–2003
Length
  • 78:56 (North American disc 1)
  • 78:50 (North American disc 2)
  • 33:07 (3.0 disc)
  • 77:42 (International disc 1)
  • 77:24 (International disc 2)
Labels
Producers
  • Michael Jackson
  • various
Michael Jackson chronology
The Ultimate Collection
(2004)		 The Essential Michael Jackson
(2005)		 Visionary: The Video Singles
(2006)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStarHalf star
Pitchfork8.7/10

The Essential Michael Jackson is a greatest hits compilation album by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson. It was released on July 19, 2005, by Sony Music's catalog division Legacy Recordings as part of The Essential series. The two-disc compilation features thirty-eight hit songs by Michael Jackson, from his days at Motown Records with The Jackson 5 in the late 1960s and early 1970s to his 2001 hit "You Rock My World".

On August 26, 2008, The Essential Michael Jackson 3.0 was released in the United States as a limited edition containing an additional disc of seven songs performed by Jackson. A re-titled release in the United Kingdom was released on September 5, 2005, as The Hits. As of 2021, the album was certified 5× platinum in the United States for over 2.5 million copies sold. Worldwide, the compilation has sold an estimated 6 million copies.

Impact of album after death

Following Jackson's death on June 25th, 2009, the album sold 102,000 units in the US on the chart week ending July 1, 2009. The following week the album sold 125,000 units in the US on the chart week ending July 8, 2009 and was the third biggest-selling album of the week. In the UK, where the album had peaked at number two in 2005, it reached number one for seven consecutive weeks from the weeks ending July 11, 2009 to August 22, 2009, dethroning Jackson's own album, Number Ones, which topped the chart the week ending July 4, 2009.

The album has been certified 5× platinum in the United States 9× Platinum in Australia and 7× Platinum in the United Kingdom with worldwide sales estimated around 6 million copies.

As of November 30, 2024, the album reached a new milestone by remaining on the Billboard 200 chart for 500 consecutive weeks. This is Jackson's second album to achieve this feat right after his album Thriller, which holds the record for 653 weeks on the chart.

On 8 May 2026, the album returned to number 1 position on the official UK charts, due to the popularity of the biopic Michael.

Track listing

North American version

All tracks are written by Michael Jackson, except where noted.

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"Jimmie ThomasGot to Be There2:32
6."Ben"
Ben (1972)2:46
7."Enjoy Yourself" (edit of alternative version)
The Jacksons (1976)3:24
8."Blame It on the Boogie" (edited version)
Destiny (1978)3:30
9."Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" (7" version)
Destiny3:46
10."Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (original 12" edit) Off 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)
Triumph (1980)3:50
15."The Girl Is Mine" (duet with Paul McCartney) Thriller (1982)3:42
16."Billie Jean" Thriller4:54
17."Beat It" Thriller4:18
18."Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (attempted recreation of 7" version) Thriller4:17
19."Human Nature" (attempted recreation of 7" remix)
Thriller3:45
20."P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
Thriller3:59
21."Thriller" (radio edit)TempertonThriller5:12
Total length:79:35
Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Bad" (7" single mix) Bad (1987)4:06
2."I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (radio edit) (duet with Siedah Garrett) Bad4:11
3."Leave Me Alone" Bad4:39
4."The Way You Make Me Feel" (attempted recreation of 7" remix) Bad4:26
5."Man in the Mirror"
Bad5:18
6."Dirty Diana" (single edit) Bad4:40
7."Another Part of Me" (7" version) Bad3:46
8."Smooth Criminal" (album version #3) Bad4:17
9."Black or White" (single version)
Dangerous (1991)3:21
10."Heal the World" Dangerous6:24
11."Remember the Time"
Dangerous3:59
12."In the Closet" (7" edit)
  • Michael Jackson
  • Riley
Dangerous4:48
13."Who Is It" (7" edit) Dangerous3:59
14."Will You Be There" (radio edit) Dangerous3:40
15."Dangerous"
  • Michael Jackson
  • Bottrell
  • Riley
Dangerous6:59
16."You Are Not Alone" (album edit)R. KellyHIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995)4:55
17."You Rock My World" (album edit)
Invincible (2001)5:08
Total length:79:54
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
  • McCartney
Pipes of Peace (1983)3:55
3."Jam"
  • Michael Jackson
  • Moore
  • Swedien
  • Riley
Dangerous5:38
4."They Don't Care About Us" HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I4:44
5."Blood on the Dance Floor"
  • Michael Jackson
  • Riley
Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix (1997)4:15
6."Stranger in Moscow" HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I5:45
7."Butterflies"
Invincible4:40
Total length:33:08

European and international version

Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."I Want You Back"The CorporationDiana 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"ThomasGot to Be There2:32
6."Ben"
  • Scharf
  • Black
Ben2:46
7."Blame It on the Boogie" (edited version)
  • Jackson-Clark
  • Jackson-Rich
  • Kampschroer
  • Krohn
  • Meyer
Destiny3:30
8."Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" (7" version)
  • Michael Jackson
  • R. Jackson
Destiny3:46
9."Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (7" edit) Off 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 Jackson
Triumph3:50
14."The Girl Is Mine" (duet with Paul McCartney) Thriller3:41
15."Billie Jean" Thriller4:55
16."Beat It" Thriller4:18
17."Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (attempted recreation of 7" version) Thriller4:17
18."Human Nature" (attempted recreation of 7" remix)
  • Porcaro
  • Bettis
Thriller3:45
19."P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
  • Ingram
  • Jones
Thriller3:58
20."I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (radio edit) (duet with Siedah Garrett) Bad4:11
21."Thriller" (radio edit)TempertonThriller5:14
Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Bad" (7" single mix) Bad4:06
2."The Way You Make Me Feel" (attempted recreation of 7" remix) Bad4:26
3."Man in the Mirror"
  • Garrett
  • Ballard
Bad5:18
4."Dirty Diana" (single edit) Bad4:40
5."Another Part of Me" (7" version) Bad3:46
6."Smooth Criminal" (album version #3) Bad4:17
7."Leave Me Alone" Bad4:39
8."Black or White" (single version)
  • Michael Jackson
  • Bottrell
Dangerous3:21
9."Remember the Time"
  • Michael Jackson
  • Riley
  • Belle
Dangerous3:59
10."In the Closet" (7" edit)
  • Michael Jackson
  • Riley
Dangerous4:48
11."Who Is It" (7" edit) Dangerous3:59
12."Heal the World" Dangerous6:24
13."Will You Be There" (radio edit) Dangerous3:40
14."You Are Not Alone" (LP edit)R. KellyHIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I4:55
15."Earth Song" (radio edit) HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I5:02
16."They Don't Care About Us" HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I4:44
17."You Rock My World" (album edit)
  • Jackson
  • R. Jerkins
  • F. Jerkins
  • Daniels
  • Payne
Invincible5:08

Japanese version

Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."I Want You Back"The CorporationDiana 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"ThomasGot to Be There2:32
6."Ben"
  • Scharf
  • Black
Ben2:46
7."Blame It on the Boogie" (edited version)
  • Jackson-Clark
  • Jackson-Rich
  • Kampschroer
  • Krohn
  • Meyer
Destiny3:30
8."Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" (7" version)
  • Michael Jackson
  • R. Jackson
Destiny3:46
9."Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (7" edit) Off 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 Jackson
Triumph3:50
14."The Girl Is Mine" (duet with Paul McCartney) Thriller3:41
15."Billie Jean" Thriller4:55
16."Beat It" Thriller4:18
17."Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (attempted recreation of 7" version) Thriller4:17
18."Human Nature" (attempted recreation of 7" remix)
  • Porcaro
  • Bettis
Thriller3:45
19."P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
  • Ingram
  • Jones
Thriller3:58
20."I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (radio edit) (duet with Siedah Garrett) Bad4:11
21."Thriller" (radio edit)TempertonThriller5:14
Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Bad" (7" single mix) Bad4:06
2."The Way You Make Me Feel" (attempted recreation of 7" remix) Bad4:26
3."Man in the Mirror"
  • Garrett
  • Ballard
Bad5:18
4."Dirty Diana" (single edit) Bad4:40
5."Another Part of Me" (7" version) Bad3:46
6."Smooth Criminal" (album version #3) Bad4:17
7."Leave Me Alone" Bad4:39
8."Black or White" (single version)
  • Michael Jackson
  • Bottrell
Dangerous3:21
9."Remember the Time"
  • Michael Jackson
  • Riley
  • Belle
Dangerous3:59
10."In the Closet" (7" edit)
  • Michael Jackson
  • Riley
Dangerous4:48
11."Who Is It" (7" edit) Dangerous3:59
12."Heal the World" Dangerous6:24
13."Will You Be There" (radio edit) Dangerous3:40
14."You Are Not Alone" (album edit)R. KellyHIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I4:55
15."Blood on the Dance Floor"
  • Michael Jackson
  • Riley
Blood 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)
  • Jackson
  • R. Jerkins
  • F. Jerkins
  • Daniels
  • Payne
Invincible5:08

Qobuz.com Studio Masters (digital version; 24bit/96kHz)

Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Want You Back"The Corporation2:58
2."ABC"The Corporation2:58
3."The Love You Save"The Corporation3:04
4."Got to Be There"Willensky3:23
5."Rockin' Robin"Thomas2:32
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" 6:04
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) 3:42
16."Billie Jean" 4:56
17."Beat It" 4:19
18."Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (7" version) 4:20
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) 4:06
2."I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (radio edit) (duet with Siedah Garrett) 4:11
3."Leave Me Alone" 4:39
4."The Way You Make Me Feel" (7" remix) 4:26
5."Man in the Mirror"Garrett, Ballard5:18
6."Dirty Diana" (single edit) 4:40
7."Another Part of Me" (7" version) 3:46
8."Smooth Criminal" (album version #3) 4:17
9."Black or White"Michael Jackson; rap lyrics by Bottrell4:16
10."Heal the World" 6:24
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) 3:59
14."Will You Be There" (radio edit with string intro) 3:40
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

Charts

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for The Essential Michael Jackson
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) 9× Platinum 630,000‡
Belgium (BRMA) Gold 25,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) 3× Platinum 60,000‡
Finland (Musiikkituottajat) Gold 20,290
France (SNEP) 2× Gold 200,000*
Hungary (MAHASZ) Gold 5,000^
Ireland (IRMA) Platinum 15,000^
Italy (FIMI)
sales since 2009 		Platinum 60,000*
Japan (RIAJ) Gold 100,000^
Mexico (AMPROFON) Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) 4× Platinum 60,000‡
Sweden (GLF) Gold 30,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) 8× Platinum 2,400,000‡
United States (RIAA) 5× Platinum 2,500,000‡
Summaries
Europe (IFPI) 2× Platinum 2,000,000*
Worldwide — 6,000,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. ↑ AllMusic review
  2. ↑ "Michael Jackson: The Essential Michael Jackson". Pitchfork.
  3. ↑ "The Essential 3.0 Michael Jackson". www.amazon.com. Retrieved August 24, 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 Sullivan, Randall (2012). Untouchable: The Strange Life and Tragic Death of Michael Jackson. Atlantic Books. ISBN 978-1611859935. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
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  81. 1 2 "Kulta- ja platinalevyt - Michael Jackson" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  82. ↑ "French album certifications – Michael Jackson – The Essential" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  83. ↑ "Adatbázis – Arany- és platinalemezek – 2010" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ.
  84. ↑ "The Irish Charts - 2005 Certification Awards - Platinum". Irish Recorded Music Association.
  85. ↑ "Italian album certifications – Michael Jackson – The Essential Michael Jackson" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  86. ↑ "Japanese album certifications – Michael Jackson – The Essential" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan.
  87. ↑ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Type Michael Jackson in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and The Essential in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  88. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Michael Jackson – The Essential Michael Jackson". Radioscope. Retrieved December 14, 2024. Type The Essential Michael Jackson in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  89. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2005" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011.
  90. ↑ "British album certifications – Michael Jackson – The Essential". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 19, 2026. Select albums in the Formats field. Type The Essential Michael Jackson in the "Search:" field.
  91. ↑ "American album certifications – Michael Jackson – The Essential". Recording Industry Association of America.
  92. ↑ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2009". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.