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Thriller (album)

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Thriller is a famous music album by American singer Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Quincy Jones, "Diana" (1981 CBS press photo) (cropped)
Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Quincy Jones, "Diana" (1981 CBS press photo) (cropped)

It is known for having many different styles of music. The songs include pop, R&B, and rock music. Some songs are soft ballads, while others are fast and energetic. Jackson wanted every single song to be a hit. He did not want an album with only one good song. This goal helped make the album a huge part of music history.

Quincy jones 1980
Quincy jones 1980

Recording the album was a big job that took many months.

Michael Jackson with Grammy Awards in 1984
Michael Jackson with Grammy Awards in 1984

Jackson worked with a producer named Quincy Jones at Westlake Recording Studios. They spent $750,000 to make the music sound just right. Jackson wrote four songs, like "Billie Jean" and "Beat It." He did not use paper to write his lyrics. Instead, he spoke the words into a sound recorder. When it was time to record, he sang everything from memory. They even remixed every song to make sure they were perfect.

History shows that Thriller changed the music world in 1982.

Eddie Van Halen at the New Haven Coliseum 2
Eddie Van Halen at the New Haven Coliseum 2

The first recording happened on April 14, 1982. Jackson teamed up with Paul McCartney for the song "The Girl Is Mine." This was the first time a featured artist was credited on his album. The album was released on November 29, 1982, through Epic Records. It stayed at number one on the charts for 37 weeks. This was a record that showed how much people loved his music. Many fans became so excited that they called it "Michaelmania."

There are many amazing facts about the songs on this album. "Beat It" features a famous guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen. The song "Thriller" uses spooky sounds like creaking doors and howling dogs. For the song "Billie Jean," Jackson sang through a cardboard tube to get a special sound. The album won a record eight Grammy Awards in one night. It also won eight American Music Awards. By 1984, it was the best-selling album in the United States. It has since sold an estimated 70 million copies around the world.

Thriller did more than just sell records; it changed culture. The music videos helped turn videos into a real form of art. Jackson's success helped break racial barriers in the music industry. This meant more Black artists could find success in popular music. The Library of Congress even added it to the National Recording Registry. This is a list of recordings that are very important to history. Today, many people still call it one of the greatest albums ever made.

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🖼️ Images & Media (7)
File:Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Quincy Jones, "Diana" (1981 CBS press photo) (cropped).jpg
Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Quincy...
File:Quincy jones 1980.jpg
Quincy jones 1980.jpg
File:Eddie Van Halen at the New Haven Coliseum 2.jpg
Eddie Van Halen at the New Haven Coliseum 2.jpg
File:Michael Jackson Beat It Jacket (6043162620).jpg
Michael Jackson Beat It Jacket (6043162620).jpg
File:Michael Jackson with Grammy Awards in 1984.jpg
Michael Jackson with Grammy Awards in 1984.jpg
File:President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan with Michael Jackson.jpg
President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan...
File:Paul McCartney 930-6404 (cropped).jpg
Paul McCartney 930-6404 (cropped).jpg
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