The Essential Michael Jackson

The Essential Michael Jackson is a 2005 greatest hits compilation released by Epic Records featuring thirty-eight hit songs by Michael Jackson, from his days at Motown with The Jackson 5 in the late 1960s to his last big hit, 2001's "You Rock My World". It was released on July 19 2005 in the United States (released a day earlier in the United Kingdom).

Untitled

The album received mixed reactions and many considered it an unnecessary compilation, after the relative success of "Number Ones" two years earlier. It entered the UK album charts at #2, higher than many expected, and sold over 200,000 copies in five months. In the U.S. the compilation had minimal promotion and reached only #96.

Track listing

International version

Disc one

1. "I Want You Back" (The Jackson 5) – 2:58
2. "ABC" (The Jackson 5) – 2:57
3. "The Love You Save" (The Jackson 5) – 3:05
4. "Got to Be There" – 3:25
5. "Rockin' Robin" – 2:32
6. "Ben" – 2:46
7. "Blame It on The Boogie" (The Jacksons) – 3:30
   • From Destiny
8. "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" (The Jacksons) – 3:45
   • From Destiny
9. "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" – 3:56
   • From Number Ones
10. "Off the Wall" – 3:46
    • From Off the Wall (Special Edition)
11. "Rock with You" – 3:23
    • From Off the Wall (Special Edition)
12. "She's Out of My Life" – 3:37
    • From Off the Wall (Special Edition)
13. "Can You Feel It" (The Jacksons) – 3:50
    • From Triumph
14. "The Girl Is Mine" (Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney) – 3:41
    • From Thriller (Special Edition)
15. "Billie Jean" – 4:52
    • From Thriller (Special Edition)
16. "Beat It" – 4:18
    • From Thriller (Special Edition)
17. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" – 4:17
    • From Thriller (Special Edition)
18. "Human Nature" – 3:45
    • From Thriller (Special Edition)
19. "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" – 3:58
    • From Thriller (Special Edition)
20. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (Michael Jackson and Siedah Garrett) – 4:11
    • From Bad (Special Edition)
21. "Thriller" – 5:14
    • From Thriller (Special Edition)

Disc two

1. "Bad" – 4:06
   • From Bad (Special Edition)
2. "The Way You Make Me Feel" – 4:26
   • From Bad (Special Edition)
3. "Man in the Mirror" – 5:18
   • From Bad (Special Edition)
4. "Dirty Diana" – 4:40
   • From Bad (Special Edition)
5. "Another Part of Me" – 3:46
   • From Bad (Special Edition)
6. "Smooth Criminal" – 4:17
   • From Bad (Special Edition)
7. "Leave Me Alone" – 4:39
   • From Bad (Special Edition)
8. "Black or White" – 3:21
   • From Dangerous (Special Edition)
9. "Remember the Time" – 3:59
   • From Dangerous (Special Edition)
10. "In the Closet" (Duet by Michael Jackson and Mystery Girl) – 4:48
    • From Dangerous (Special Edition)
11. "Who Is It" – 3:59
    • From Dangerous (Special Edition)
12. "Heal the World" – 6:24
    • From Dangerous (Special Edition)
13. "Will You Be There" – 3:40
    • From Dangerous (Special Edition)
14. "You Are Not Alone" – 4:55
    • From HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1
15. "Earth Song" – 5:02
    • From HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1
16. "They Don't Care About Us" – 4:44
    • From HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1
17. "You Rock My World" – 5:08
    • From Invincible

U.S. version

Disc one

1. "I Want You Back" (The Jackson 5)
2. "ABC" (The Jackson 5)
3. "The Love You Save" (The Jackson 5)
4. "Got to Be There"
5. "Rockin' Robin"
6. "Ben"
7. "Enjoy Yourself" (The Jacksons)
8. "Blame It on The Boogie" (The Jacksons)
9. "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" (The Jacksons)
10. "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough"
11. "Off the Wall"
12. "Rock with You"
13. "She's Out of My Life"
14. "Can You Feel It" (The Jacksons)
15. "The Girl Is Mine" (With Paul McCartney)
16. "Billie Jean"
17. "Beat It"
18. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"
19. "Human Nature"
20. "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
21. "Thriller"

Disc two

1. "Bad"
2. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You"
3. "Leave Me Alone"
4. "The Way You Make Me Feel"
5. "Man in the Mirror"
6. "Dirty Diana"
7. "Another Part of Me"
8. "Smooth Criminal"
9. "Black or White"
10. "Heal the World"
11. "Remember the Time"
12. "In the Closet"
13. "Who Is It"
14. "Will You Be There"
15. "Dangerous"
16. "You Are Not Alone"
17. "You Rock My World"

Songs that were not included in the tracklisting of Disc 2 of the American and European versions

Scream, from HIStory

Stranger In Moscow, from HIStory

Blood On the Dance Floor, from Blood on the Dance Floor\HIStory In the Mix

One More Chance

External links

• BBC: U.S. fans shun Michael Jackson CD