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Thriller
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work
Thriller was made in 1982 at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, under producer Quincy Jones, who had also made Off the Wall. Michael Jackson wanted a record on which every track could be a hit. They recorded thirty songs, of which nine made it onto the album. Recording began with The Girl Is Mine, together with Paul McCartney.
The sound is post-disco and synth-pop with influences from funk and rock. For Beat It, Jones brought in Eddie Van Halen for the guitar solo. In Thriller, the actor Vincent Price speaks the closing line. With Billie Jean, Jones wanted to shorten the long intro, but Jackson insisted on keeping it because it made him want to dance. Billie Jean and Beat It topped the Hot 100. Seven singles reached the top ten, a record for a single album. The videos turned music videos into a serious art form. The album won eight Grammys and is regarded as the best-selling album of all time.
Listening
Track list
- 1Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'6:03Apple Music ↗
- 2Baby Be Mine4:20Apple Music ↗
- 3The Girl Is Mine (with Paul McCartney)3:42Apple Music ↗
- 4Thriller5:59Apple Music ↗
- 5Beat It4:18Apple Music ↗
- 6Billie Jean4:54Apple Music ↗
- 7Human Nature4:06Apple Music ↗
- 8P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)3:58Apple Music ↗
- 9The Lady in My Life4:58Apple Music ↗
30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗