Thriller

~ Release by Michael Jackson (see all versions of this release, 85 available)

Annotation

4th Japanese CD pressing

Tracklist

1▼CD
#	Title	Artist	Length
1	Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ recording engineer and mixer: Bruce Swedien drum machine programming and co-producer: Michael Jackson producer: Quincy Jones electric bass guitar: Louis Johnson flugelhorn and trumpet: Gary Grant and Jerry Hey flute and saxophone: Larry Williams foot stomps [bathroom stomp board]: Nelson Hayes, Michael Jackson and Steven Ray guitar: David Williams percussion: Paulinho da Costa Rhodes piano and synthesizer: Greg Phillinganes synthesizer: Michael Boddicker and Bill Wolfer trombone: Bill Reichenbach, Jr. background vocals: Bunny Hull, James Ingram, Michael Jackson, Becky Lopez, Julia Waters, Maxine Waters and Oren Waters lead vocals: Michael Jackson horn and percussion arranger: Michael Jackson horn arranger: Jerry Hey percussion arranger: Quincy Jones wind instruments arranger: Jerry Hey and Michael Jackson phonographic copyright (℗) by: MJJ Productions Inc. (in 1982) recorded at: Westlake Recording Studios in West Hollywood, California, United States (in 1982) samples: Soul Makossa by Manu Dibango recording of: Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ lyricist and composer: Michael Jackson publisher: Byefall Productions, Inc. and Sony/ATV Harmony quotes lyrics from: Soul Makossa part of: MJ: The Musical part of: MJ: The Musical	Michael Jackson	6:04
2	Baby Be Mine recording engineer and mixer: Bruce Swedien synthesizer programming: Brian Banks, Anthony Marinelli and Steve Porcaro producer: Quincy Jones drums (drum set): Leon Ndugu Chancler flugelhorn and trumpet: Gary Grant and Jerry Hey flute and saxophone: Larry Williams guitar: David Williams keyboard and synthesizer: Greg Phillinganes synthesizer: Michael Boddicker and David Paich trombone: Bill Reichenbach, Jr. lead vocals: Michael Jackson horn arranger and wind instruments arranger: Jerry Hey synthesizer arranger: Rod Temperton phonographic copyright (℗) by: MJJ Productions Inc. (in 1982) recorded at: Westlake Recording Studios in West Hollywood, California, United States (in 1982) recording of: Baby Be Mine lyricist and composer: Rod Temperton	Michael Jackson	4:21
3	The Girl Is Mine recording engineer and mixer: Bruce Swedien synthesizer programming: Steve Porcaro producer: Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones drums (drum set): Jeff Porcaro (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16) electric bass guitar: Louis Johnson (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16) guitar: Steve Lukather (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16) and Dean Parks (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16) piano: David Paich (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16) Rhodes piano: Greg Phillinganes (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16) synthesizer: David Foster (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16) violin: Gerald Vinci (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16) guest lead vocals: Paul McCartney (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16) lead vocals: Michael Jackson (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16) conductor: Jerry Hey (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16) percussion arranger: David Paich strings arranger: Jerry Hey synthesizer arranger: David Foster arranger: Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones phonographic copyright (℗) by: MJJ Productions Inc. (in 1982) recorded at: Cherokee Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16) recording of: The Girl Is Mine (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16) lyricist and composer: Michael Jackson publisher: Mijac Music and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部	Michael Jackson with Paul McCartney	3:42
4	Thriller recording engineer and mixer: Bruce Swedien synthesizer programming: Anthony Marinelli producer: Quincy Jones drum machine [LinnDrum], background vocals and lead vocals: Michael Jackson flugelhorn and trumpet: Gary Grant and Jerry Hey flute and saxophone: Larry Williams guitar: David Williams synthesizer: Brian Banks, Greg Phillinganes and Rod Temperton trombone: Bill Reichenbach, Jr. spoken vocals: Vincent Price horn arranger and wind instruments arranger: Jerry Hey percussion arranger and synthesizer arranger: Rod Temperton sound effects: Bruce Cannon and Bruce Swedien phonographic copyright (℗) by: MJJ Productions Inc. (in 1982) recorded at: Westlake Recording Studios in West Hollywood, California, United States (in 1982) music videos: Thriller by Michael Jackson part of: Billboard Hot 100: 2025-11-15 (number: 10) and Billboard Hot 100: 2025-11-08 (number: 32) recording of: Thriller lyricist and composer: Rod Temperton publisher: Almo Music Corp., Chrysalis Music Ltd., Rodsongs, Rondor Music (London) Ltd., Universal Music Publishing France and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 is based on: Starlight part of: MJ: The Musical	Michael Jackson	5:59
5	Beat It recording engineer: Donn Landee and Bruce Swedien synthesizer programming: Steve Porcaro co-producer: Michael Jackson producer: Quincy Jones mixer: Bruce Swedien drums (drum set): Jeff Porcaro electric bass guitar and electric guitar: Steve Lukather guitar: Paul Jackson, Jr. keyboard: Bill Wolfer percussion [drum case beater], background vocals and lead vocals: Michael Jackson Rhodes piano and synthesizer: Greg Phillinganes solo electric guitar: Edward Van Halen synclavier: Tom Bahler synthesizer: Steve Porcaro synthesizer [Synergy synthesizer]: Greg Smith vibraslap: Chris Shepard percussion arranger: Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones arranger: Rod Temperton phonographic copyright (℗) by: MJJ Productions Inc. (in 1982) recorded at: Westlake Recording Studios in West Hollywood, California, United States (in 1982) samples: Untitled by Denny Jaeger part of: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock, NME: 50 Greatest Guitar Riffs of All Time (number: 18), VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s (number: 21), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 185), Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (number: 209) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (number: 337) recording of: Beat It lyricist and composer: Michael Jackson publisher: Mijac Music and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 part of: MJ: The Musical	Michael Jackson	4:19
6	Billie Jean recording engineer and mixer: Bruce Swedien synthesizer programming: Bill Wolfer co-producer: Michael Jackson producer: Quincy Jones bass guitar: Louis Johnson drums (drum set): Leon Ndugu Chancler guitar: David Williams Rhodes piano and synthesizer: Greg Phillinganes synthesizer: Bill Wolfer lead vocals: Michael Jackson conductor: Jeremy Lubbock percussion and synthesizer arranger and synthesizer arranger: Michael Jackson strings arranger: Jerry Hey phonographic copyright (℗) by: MJJ Productions Inc. (in 1982) recorded at: Westlake Recording Studios in West Hollywood, California, United States (in 1982) part of: VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s (number: 4), Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (number: 7), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock, Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 44), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (number: 58) and Billboard: Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Songs (number: 95) recording of: Billie Jean lyricist and composer: Michael Jackson publisher: Mijac Music, Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. and Warner/Chappell North America Limited sub-publisher: Neue Welt Musikverlag GmbH & Co. KG and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 part of: MJ: The Musical	Michael Jackson	4:54
7	Human Nature recording engineer and mixer: Bruce Swedien synthesizer programming: Steve Porcaro producer: Quincy Jones drums (drum set): Jeff Porcaro guitar: Steve Lukather percussion: Paulinho da Costa synthesizer: David Paich and Steve Porcaro lead vocals: Michael Jackson arranger: Steve Lukather, David Paich and Steve Porcaro phonographic copyright (℗) by: MJJ Productions Inc. (in 1982) recorded at: Westlake Recording Studios in West Hollywood, California, United States (in 1982) recording of: Human Nature lyricist: John Bettis composer: Steve Porcaro publisher: John Bettis Music and Mystical Light Music sub-publisher: Sony Music Publishing France, Warner Chappell Music France, ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部, 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 (, from 2017-04-01 to present), ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 and ヤマハミュージックパブリッシング (until 2017-03-31) part of: MJ: The Musical	Michael Jackson	4:06
8	P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) recording engineer and mixer: Bruce Swedien synthesizer programming: Greg Phillinganes producer: Quincy Jones drums (drum set): Leon Ndugu Chancler electric bass guitar: Louis Johnson guitar: Paul Jackson, Jr. handclaps: James Ingram, Michael Jackson, Greg Phillinganes and Steven Ray handclaps and keyboard and keyboard: James Ingram handclaps and synthesizer and synthesizer: Greg Phillinganes vocoder: Michael Boddicker additional background vocals: Howard Hewett and James Ingram background vocals: Bunny Hull, Janet Jackson, LaToya Jackson and Becky Lopez lead vocals: Michael Jackson arranger: James Ingram and Quincy Jones phonographic copyright (℗) by: MJJ Productions Inc. (in 1982) recorded at: Westlake Recording Studios in West Hollywood, California, United States (in 1982) recording of: P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) writer: James Ingram and Quincy Jones publisher: Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp., Yellowbrick Road Music, 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, ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部, フジパシフィック音楽出版 BMG事業部 (until 2014-12-31) and フジパシフィックミュージック BMG事業部 (from 2015-01-01 to present)	Michael Jackson	3:59
9	The Lady in My Life recording engineer and mixer: Bruce Swedien producer: Quincy Jones bass guitar: Louis Johnson drums (drum set): Jeff Porcaro guitar: Paul Jackson, Jr. Rhodes piano: Greg Phillinganes synthesizer: David Paich and Steve Porcaro lead vocals: Michael Jackson arranger: Rod Temperton phonographic copyright (℗) by: MJJ Productions Inc. (in 1982) recorded at: Westlake Recording Studios in West Hollywood, California, United States (in 1982) recording of: The Lady in My Life lyricist and composer: Rod Temperton publisher: Almo Music Corp.	Michael Jackson	5:00

Credits

Release group

associated singles/EPs:	Beat It Billie Jean Human Nature P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) The Girl Is Mine by Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney Thriller Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ / Beat It
covers:	Easy Star’s Thrillah by Easy Star All-Stars Thriller Recovered by Various Artists

part of:

Billboard Decade End Chart: Billboard 200 (number: 1) (order: 1)
Music Canada Certified Double Diamond Albums (number: 1984-04-01) (order: 1)
Apple Music: 100 Best Albums (number: 2) (order: 2)
Brit Award for British Album of the Year (number: 1984) (order: 4)
Rolling Stone: 100 Best Albums of the Eighties (number: 7) (order: 7)
Z-Trip’s Top Nine 80s Records (number: Honorable Mention) (order: 10)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2020 edition (number: 12) (order: 12)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2023 edition (number: 12) (order: 12)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2003 edition (number: 20) (order: 20)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2012 edition (number: 20) (order: 20)
Grammy Award: Album of the Year nominees (number: 1984 winner) (order: 109)
Discothèque Idéale Qobuz / Qobuz Ideal Discography (order: 131)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (number: 506) (order: 507)

Wikipedia:	en: Thriller 25 [info] en: Thriller 40 [info]
Discogs:	https://www.discogs.com/master/8883 [info]
lyrics page:	https://genius.com/albums/Michael-jackson/Thriller [info]
reviews:	https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/649p [info]
other databases:	https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/michael_jackson/thriller/ [info] https://www.musik-sammler.de/album/23365/ [info] https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-details-12 [info]
Allmusic:	https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000056882 [info]
Wikidata:	Q44320 [info]