The Very Best Of

~ Release by Michael Jackson (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Tracklist

1▼CD
#TitleRatingLength
1Butterflies
recording engineer:
Andre Harris (US hip hop/RnB producer, part of Dre & Vidal) and Bruce Swedien
assistant engineer:
Vidal Davis (US hip hop/RnB producer, part of Dre & Vidal)
producer:
Andre Harris (US hip hop/RnB producer, part of Dre & Vidal) and Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
mixer:
Bruce Swedien
horn [horns]:
Matt Cappy and Norman Jeff Bradshaw
instruments:
Andre Harris (US hip hop/RnB producer, part of Dre & Vidal)
background vocals:
Marsha Ambrosius
background vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 2001)
recorded at:
The Hit Factory in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States and Touch of Jazz Studios in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
recording of:
Butterflies
writer:
Marsha Ambrosius and Andre Harris (US hip hop/RnB producer, part of Dre & Vidal)
publisher:
Marshmellow Music (ended), SPZ Music (BMI affiliated) (ended), Dirty Dre Music (ASCAP), Jat Cat Music Publishing, Inc., Perfect Songs Ltd. (UK publisher, affiliated with PRS), Universal Music Corporation (USA, affiliated with ASCAP) and Universal–Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
3.54:40
2Speechless
recording engineer:
Stuart Brawley, Brad Buxer and Bruce Swedien
miscellaneous support:
Novi Novoq (task: contractor)
producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
mixer:
Bruce Swedien
editor:
Stuart Brawley and Brad Buxer
keyboard [keyboards]:
Brad Buxer
viola:
Novi Novoq and Thomas Tally
violin:
Kirstin Fife, Peter Kent (violinist), Gina Kronstadt, Robin Lorentz and John Wittenberg
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
conductor:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Jeremy Lubbock
performer:
Alfie Silas Durio, The Andraé Crouch Singers, Gloria Augustus, Tim Brown (US choir vocals), Andraé Crouch, Sandra Crouch, Valerie Doby, Kevin Dorsey, Marja Dozier, Geary Lanier Faggett, Vonciele Faggett, Judy Gossett, Harold Green, Tenika Johns, Angel Johnson (house DJ), Daniel Johnson (gospel vocalist), Zaneta M. Johnson, Laquentan Jordan, Maxi Anderson (70s US funk/soul artist Maxi Anderson), Howard McCrary, Linda McCrary, Sam McCrary, Alice Jean McRath, Sue Merriett, Patrice Morris, Kristle Murden, Deborah Sharp-Taylor, Ron Taylor (vocalist, formerly of Lillian Axe), Johnnie Walker, Yvonne Williams and Zandra Williams
arranger:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
orchestrator:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Jeremy Lubbock
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 2001)
recording of:
Speechless
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label) (ended) and Mijac Music
3.153:19
3Bad
recording engineer and mixer:
Bruce Swedien
drums (drum set) programming:
Douglas Getschal
co-producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
producer:
Quincy Jones
drums (drum set):
John “JR” Robinson (session drummer)
guitar:
David Williams (session guitarist and songwriter)
Hammond organ:
Jimmy Smith (US jazz organist)
percussion:
Paulinho da Costa (Brazilian percussionist) and How Now Brown Cow
saxophone:
Kim Hutchcroft and Larry Williams (jazz keyboard, sax, flute & clarinet; producer, composer, arranger, and multi‐instrumentalist)
synclavier:
Christopher Currell (arranger)
synthesizer:
John Barnes (US soul songwriter, keyboardist, synthesizer & pianist aka LA Jay), Michael Boddicker and Greg Phillinganes
trumpet:
Gary Grant (brass) and Jerry Hey
background vocals and lead vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
wind instruments arranger:
Jerry Hey
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1987)
recorded at and mixed at:
Westlake Audio (former name of Westlake Recording Studios) in Los Angeles, California, United States
recording of:
Bad
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Mijac Music and Warner-Tamerlane Publ. Co. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
4.254:08
4Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough
co-producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
producer:
Quincy Jones
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1979)
edit of:
Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough (album version) by Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
recording of:
Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough (in 2003)
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
4.253:56
5Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
edit of:
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ by Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
recording of:
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Byefall Productions, Inc. and Sony/ATV Harmony
quotes lyrics from:
Soul Makossa
part of:
MJ: The Musical
part of:
MJ: The Musical
54:17
6Another Part of Me
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
recording of:
Another Part of Me
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Mijac Music and Warner-Tamerlane Publ. Co. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
53:47
7Baby Be Mine
recording engineer and mixer:
Bruce Swedien
synthesizer programming:
Brian Banks (American keyboardist), Anthony Marinelli (Soundtrack composer) and Steve Porcaro
producer:
Quincy Jones
drums (drum set):
Leon Ndugu Chancler
flugelhorn and trumpet:
Gary Grant (brass) and Jerry Hey
flute and saxophone:
Larry Williams (jazz keyboard, sax, flute & clarinet; producer, composer, arranger, and multi‐instrumentalist)
guitar:
David Williams (session guitarist and songwriter)
keyboard and synthesizer:
Greg Phillinganes
synthesizer:
Michael Boddicker and David Paich
trombone:
Bill Reichenbach, Jr. (jazz trombonist)
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
horn arranger and wind instruments arranger:
Jerry Hey
synthesizer arranger:
Rod Temperton
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1982)
recorded at:
Westlake Recording Studios (founded as Westlake Audio in the early 1970s) in West Hollywood, California, United States (in 1982)
recording of:
Baby Be Mine
lyricist and composer:
Rod Temperton
3.654:20
8Rock With You
recording of:
Rock With You
lyricist and composer:
Rod Temperton
publisher:
Almo Music Corp. (USA, affiliated with ASCAP), Rodsongs (publisher) and Rondor Music (London) Ltd.
sub-publisher:
ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division), ヤマハミュージックパブリッシング (Yamaha Music Publishing) (until 2017-03-31) and ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) (from 2017-04-01 to present)
3:23
9The Way You Make Me Feel
recording of:
The Way You Make Me Feel
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Mijac Music and Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
4:26
10In the Closet
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
vocals:
Mystery Girl
recording of:
In the Closet
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
44:49
11Stranger in Moscow
recording of:
Stranger in Moscow
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
4:06
12Get on the Floor
recording engineer and mixer:
Bruce Swedien
co-producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
producer:
Quincy Jones
alto saxophone, flute and tenor saxophone:
Larry Williams (jazz keyboard, sax, flute & clarinet; producer, composer, arranger, and multi‐instrumentalist)
baritone saxophone, flute and tenor saxophone:
Kim Hutchcroft
bass guitar:
Louis Johnson (bass, member of Brothers Johnson)
clavinet:
Greg Phillinganes
drums (drum set):
John “JR” Robinson (session drummer)
flugelhorn and trumpet:
Jerry Hey
guitar:
Melvin “Wah Wah” Watson
percussion:
Paulinho da Costa (Brazilian percussionist)
trombone:
Bill Reichenbach, Jr. (jazz trombonist)
trumpet:
Gary Grant (brass)
additional background vocals:
Jim Gilstrap, Mortonette Jenkins, Augie Johnson, Paulette McWilliams and Zedric Williams
background vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
strings arranger:
Benjamin Wright
wind instruments arranger:
Jerry Hey
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1979)
recording of:
Get on the Floor
composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Louis Johnson (bass, member of Brothers Johnson)
publisher:
Carlin Music Corp., Kodi Music, Miran Music (BMI-affiliated, associated with the works of Michael Jackson.), Sunbury Music Ltd. and Yellow Brick Road Music
3.84:38
13Liberian Girl
recording engineer and mixer:
Bruce Swedien
drums (drum set) programming:
Douglas Getschal
synthesizer programming:
Steve Porcaro
co-producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
producer:
Quincy Jones
drums (drum set):
John “JR” Robinson (session drummer)
percussion:
Paulinho da Costa (Brazilian percussionist)
synclavier:
Christopher Currell (arranger)
synthesizer:
John Barnes (US soul songwriter, keyboardist, synthesizer & pianist aka LA Jay), Michael Boddicker, David Paich and Larry Williams (jazz keyboard, sax, flute & clarinet; producer, composer, arranger, and multi‐instrumentalist)
background vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
synthesizer arranger:
John Barnes (US soul songwriter, keyboardist, synthesizer & pianist aka LA Jay), Jerry Hey and Quincy Jones
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1987)
recording of:
Liberian Girl
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Mijac Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing France, Warner-Tamerlane Publ. Co. (publisher; do NOT use as release label) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., A Division)
3.33:54
14Thriller
recording of:
Thriller
lyricist and composer:
Rod Temperton
publisher:
Almo Music Corp. (USA, affiliated with ASCAP), Chrysalis Music Ltd. (music publisher, affiliated with PRS), Rodsongs (publisher), Rondor Music (London) Ltd., Universal Music Publishing France (not for release label use!) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
is based on:
Starlight
part of:
MJ: The Musical
5:15
15Off the Wall
recording of:
Off the Wall
lyricist and composer:
Rod Temperton
3:46
16Remember the Time
recording engineer and mixer:
Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer), Bruce Swedien and Dave Way
programming:
Wayne Cobham (US engineer)
co-producer:
Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
keyboard and synthesizer:
Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
background vocals and lead vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
synthesizer arranger and additional arranger:
Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
vocals arranger:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
recording of:
Remember the Time (in 1991)
writer:
Bernard Belle, Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
publisher:
BMG Rights Management (US) LLC (file releases under its imprint “BMG (2008–present)” if the release has an imprint), Sony/ATV Tunes LLC (ASCAP), Universal Music–Z Tunes LLC and Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
3.854:00
17Smile
cover recording of:
Smile (song version w/ lyrics)
lyricist:
Geoffrey Parsons (lyricist) and John Turner (lyricist)
composer:
Charlie Chaplin (filmmaker)
publisher:
Bourne France Éditions Musicale, Bourne Music Ltd., Bourne, Inc. and Bourne Co. (not for release label use, this is a music publisher) (in 1954)
sub-publisher:
Editions Vedette Sprl and 日音 Synch事業部 (NICHION, INC. Synch Division)
is based on:
Smile (Modern Times; original instrumental version)
part of:
Chaplin
4:11
18Ben
producer:
The Corporation (Motown songwriters)
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) (in 1972)
arranger:
The Corporation (Motown songwriters)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label)
recording of:
Ben (in 1972)
lyricist:
Don Black (English lyricist)
composer:
Walter Scharf
publisher:
Jobette Music (in 1972)
part of:
The 45th Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 2)
3.852:46
19Billie Jean
recording engineer and mixer:
Bruce Swedien
synthesizer programming:
Bill Wolfer (record producer, songwriter, musician and synthesizer programmer from USA)
co-producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
producer:
Quincy Jones
bass guitar:
Louis Johnson (bass, member of Brothers Johnson)
drums (drum set):
Leon Ndugu Chancler
guitar:
David Williams (session guitarist and songwriter)
Rhodes piano and synthesizer:
Greg Phillinganes
synthesizer:
Bill Wolfer (record producer, songwriter, musician and synthesizer programmer from USA)
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
conductor:
Jeremy Lubbock
percussion and synthesizer arranger and synthesizer arranger:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
strings arranger:
Jerry Hey
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1982)
recorded at:
Westlake Recording Studios (founded as Westlake Audio in the early 1970s) in West Hollywood, California, United States (in 1982)
edit of:
Billie Jean (long version) by Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
music videos:
Billie Jean by Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
part of:
VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s (compiled in 2006) (number: 4), Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 7), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-05-23 (number: 15), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock, Billboard Hot 100: 2026-05-16 (number: 17), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-06-20 (number: 18), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-06-06 (number: 19), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-06-13 (number: 19), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-05-30 (number: 32), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-05-09 (number: 38), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 44), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 58) and Billboard: Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Songs (number: 95)
recording of:
Billie Jean
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Mijac Music, Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label) and Warner/Chappell North America Limited (formerly incorporated as Marmalade Music Ltd., from 1968/09/19–1999/11/09)
sub-publisher:
Neue Welt Musikverlag GmbH & Co. KG (– 2017) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., A Division)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
4.14:54
20Man in the Mirror
recording engineer and mixer:
Bruce Swedien
co-producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
producer:
Quincy Jones
guitar:
Dann Huff
keyboard:
Greg Phillinganes
synthesizer:
Glen Ballard and Randy Kerber
background vocals:
The Andraé Crouch Choir, Siedah Garrett and The Winans
background vocals and lead vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
synthesizer arranger:
Glen Ballard, Jerry Hey and Quincy Jones
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1987)
recording of:
Man in the Mirror
writer:
Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett
publisher:
Areostation Corporation, Arlovol Music, MCA Music Publishing (renamed since c. 1996 as Universal Music Publishing Group), Universal Music Corporation (France), Universal/MCA Music Publishing Pty Ltd, Warner Chappell Music (holding behind all publishing activities of Warner Music Group, 2019–) and Yellowbrick Road Music
sub-publisher:
シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント (Shinko Music Entertainment Co., Ltd.), ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label), ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部 (Universal Music Publishing, Synch Division) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
3.955:20
21She's Out of My Life
recording of:
She’s Out of My Life
lyricist and composer:
Tom Bahler
publisher:
Careers-BMG Music, Careers–BMG Music Publishing, Inc., Fiddleback Music Publishing Co., Inc., Kidada Music, Inc. (publisher), Sunbury Music Ltd. and Universal Music Careers
part of:
MJ: The Musical
3:37
2▶CD