Rating:
Genre: R&B
Release Date: 08/26/2008

There are several Michael Jackson greatest-hits compilations out there, each one its own take on what should be the definitive portrait of the gloved one's career. The Ultimate Collection, The Essential Collection (different from the one here), and Number Ones have all surfaced in 2003 and 2004, and HIStory a few years prior. Each one of these collections, while commendable in its attempt to thoroughly document Jackson's accomplishments, has fallen woefully short in one aspect or another. This has finally been rectified with this installment of Sony's outstanding Essential collection. Starting with his campaign with his brothers in the Jackson 5, this two-disc set tours through every important single and every important fan favorite short of including his duet with Paul McCartney on "Say Say Say" (the Beatle does, however, make an appearance here on "The Girl Is Mine"). From Off the Wall to Dangerous, it's all here in one concise package, making it the ideal reference point from which exploration into his deeper catalog can begin. While die-hard fans will already have every single song contained herein and may be weary to purchase another greatest-hits compilation short of a greatest-hits compilation including his backing vocals on Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me," this may be the only one fans and casual listeners will ever have to purchase to get their fill of the King of Pop's magic. [Epic/Legacy's Limited Edition 3.0 appeared in 2008 and included a bonus CD -- in addition to the original, two-CD set.]

~Rob Theakston, All Music Guide

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Zedric Williams - Vocals (Background)
Andraé Crouch - Vocal Arrangement
Dick Zimmerman - Photography
David E. Williams - Guitar
Augie Johnson - Vocals (Background)
Johnny Mandel - Conductor
David Daoud Coleman - Design
Glen Ballard - Rhythm Arrangements
Dexter Simmons - Engineer
Brad Buxer - Keyboard Arrangements
John Barnes - Rhythm Arrangements
Jerry Hey - String Conductor
Jerry Marcellino - Producer
Jerry Hey - Horn Arrangements
Marty Paich - Arranger
Peter Granet - Engineer
Johnny Mandel - Orchestration
Rodney Jerkins - Producer
Bill Bottrell - Producer
Bruce Swedien - Mixing
Paul McCartney - Vocals
Andre Harris - Instrumentation
Bryan Loren - Percussion
Don Murray - Mixing
Paul McCartney - Soloist
Rodney Jerkins - Instrumentation
Mel Larson - Producer
Brad Buxer - Keyboards
Christopher Currell - Rhythm Arrangements
Andraé Crouch Choir - Vocals (Background)
Bobby Colomby - Executive Producer
Paulette McWilliams - Vocals (Background)
Greg Philinganes - Piano (Electric)
Heavy D - Rap
René Moore - Arranger
Mike "Cee" Carpenter - Programming
Claudio Slon - Drums
Steve Porcaro - Arranger
George Duke - Synthesizer
Brad Buxer - Synthesizer
Steve Porcaro - Synthesizer
Bobby Martin - Arranger
Jerry Hey - Synthesizer Arrangements
Marlo Henderson - Guitar
Mortonette Jenkins - Vocals (Background)
Michael Boddicker - Synthesizer Programming
George Duke - Synthesizer Programming
Quincy Jones - Rhythm Arrangements
Claudio Slon - Conga
Jean-Marie Horvat - Engineer
Don Murray - Engineer
Bruce Swedien - Arranger
Frank Dileo - Breathing
Steve Lukather - Arranger
Tito Jackson - Guitar
Jerry Hey - String Arrangements
Marsha Ambrosius - Vocals (Background)
David Paich - Arranger
Ben Wright - String Arrangements
Siedah Garrett - Vocals
Glen Ballard - Synthesizer Arrangements
Richard Heath - Percussion
Marty Paich - Conductor
Joy Gilbert Monfried - Project Director
Steve Porcaro - Keyboards
Quincy Jones - Synthesizer Arrangements
Christa Larson - Vocals
Leon Huff - Producer
Bruce Cannon - Effects
John Bahler - Arranger
Jim Gilstrap - Vocals (Background)
Michael Boddicker - Synthesizer
R. Kelly - Producer
David Paich - Keyboard Arrangements
Quincy Jones - Producer
Trevor Rabin - Guitar
Paulinho Da Costa - Percussion
Michael Boddicker - Keyboards
Quincy Jones - Vocal Arrangement
Greg Philinganes - Rhythm Arrangements
Joseph M. Palmaccio - Mastering
Chris Tucker - Introduction
L.T.B. - Rap
Kenneth Gamble - Producer
Bruce Swedien - Producer
Jeff Porcaro - Drums
Ed Green - Drums
Greg Philinganes - Keyboards
Laudir DeOliveira - Drums
Gary King - Bass
Rod Temperton - Vocal Arrangement
David "Hawk" Wolinski - Piano (Electric)
David Paich - Bass
Jay Marks - Mixing
Linda Harmon - Soprano (Vocal)
Gerald Vinci - Concert Master
Becky Lopez - Vocals (Background)
George DelBarrio - String Arrangements
Peter Granet - Mixing
John Barnes - Synthesizer Arrangements
Matt Cappy - Horn
Bruce Swedien - Effects
Brad Buxer - Drum Programming
Paul McCartney - Vocals (Background)
Laudir DeOliveira - Conga
Jeremy Lubbock - String Conductor
Hal Davis - Producer
Bunny Hull - Vocals (Background)
Stuart Brawley - Engineer
David Paich - Synthesizer
Vincent Price - Rap
Michael Sembello - Guitar
David Daoud Coleman - Art Direction
Maxine Willard Waters - Vocals (Background)
Steve Stevens - Soloist
Julia Waters - Vocals (Background)
Sandra Crouch - Choir Arrangement
Joe Tarsia - Engineer
Rod Temperton - Rhythm Arrangements
Rodney Jerkins - Mixing
James Ingram - Vocals (Background)
Rodney Jerkins - Engineer
Johnny Mandel - String Arrangements
Joe Tarsia - Mixing
Harvey Mason, Jr. - Digital Editing
Neal Preston - Photography
John Barnes - Vocal Arrangement
Oren Waters - Vocals (Background)
Douglas Kirkland - Cover Photo
Todd Gray - Photography
David Paich - Rhythm Arrangements
Steve Stevens - Guitar
Roland Bautista - Guitar
Ed Green - Keyboards
Sam Emerson - Photography
Greg Philinganes - Synthesizer
James Ingram - Arranger
Siedah Garrett - Duet
David Paich - Keyboards
Rod Temperton - Synthesizer Arrangements
John "4 Daddman" Robinson - Drums
Bobby Ray Watson - Bass
Nathan Watts - Bass
Steve Lukather - Guitar
Norman Jeffrey Bradshaw - Horn
Susan Hargrove - Packaging Manager
Nelson George - Liner Notes
Stuart Brawley - Digital Editing
John Barnes - String Arrangements
Andraé Crouch - Choir Arrangement

Release Date: 08/26/2008
Genre: r&b