Michael Jackson albums discography
American singer-songwriter; best-selling albums include Thriller and Bad.
Michael Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) began his career at age six as the lead singer of The Jackson 5 in 1964, a group that became major stars in the 1970s. As a solo artist, he released ten studio albums, five soundtrack albums, fifty-five compilation albums, ten video albums, and seven remix albums. He is one of the best-selling music artists ever, with over 500 million records sold worldwide and 90 million certified albums in the United States, according to the RIAA.
His first solo studio album, Got to Be There, came out in 1972 on Motown while he was still in The Jackson 5. It reached number 14 on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart and earned a Gold certification. Later that year, Ben peaked at number 5 on the same chart and went Silver in the UK; its title track became his first number 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 and also topped the Australian ARIA chart. He followed with Music & Me (1973) and Forever, Michael (1975). In 1975, he signed with Epic Records and released Off the Wall in 1979. That album hit number 3 on the Billboard chart, produced two number 1 Hot 100 singles, and made him the first solo artist to have four top-10 singles from one album. It went Diamond in the US, sold over 20 million copies worldwide, and won him Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male at the 1980 Grammys.
Thriller (1982) became his first number 1 album on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart, spending a record 37 non-consecutive weeks at the top from February 1983 to April 1984. All seven singles reached the Hot 100 top 10, a record, with "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" hitting number 1. It was the best-selling album worldwide in 1983 and the first to be the best-selling US album for two straight years (1983–1984). The album broke racial barriers in pop music, leading to Jackson’s appearances on MTV and a White House meeting with President Ronald Reagan. It set new standards for music videos and promotion, influencing artists, labels, and choreographers. Certified 34× Platinum by the RIAA, it remains the best-selling album of all time with 70 million copies sold. It won a record eight Grammys in 1984, including Album of the Year, and eight American Music Awards.
Bad (1987) debuted at number 1 on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums chart and in 25 other countries. It produced seven Hot 100 hits, including a record five number 1 singles.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Michael Jackson albums
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- 10
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- 55
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- 7
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- Remix albums
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Jackson released his debut studio album, Got to Be There, in 1972 through Motown while still a member of The Jackson 5. It peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart and was certified Gold. Later that year, Ben peaked at number 5 and its title track became his first number 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100. He released Music & Me (1973) and Forever, Michael (1975) before signing to Epic Records. His fifth studio album, Off the Wall (1979), peaked at number 3, spawned two number 1 singles, and made him the first solo artist to have four top-10 singles from one album. It was certified Diamond and sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
Thriller (1982) became his first number 1 album, spending a record 37 non-consecutive weeks at number 1. Seven singles reached the top 10, with 'Beat It' and 'Billie Jean' hitting number 1. It was the best-selling album worldwide in 1983 and the first to be the best-selling US album for two consecutive years. Thriller broke racial barriers, enabling Jackson's appearances on MTV and a meeting with President Ronald Reagan. It won eight Grammy Awards in 1984, including Album of the Year, and remains the best-selling album of all time with 70 million copies sold. Bad (1987) debuted at number 1 in the US and 25 other countries, producing a record five number 1 singles and selling over 35 million copies.
Dangerous (1991) debuted at number 1 in the US and 13 other countries, sold 5 million copies in its first week, and was the best-selling album worldwide of 1992. HIStory (1995) debuted at number 1 in the US and 19 other countries. Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix (1997) became the best-selling remix album of all time. Invincible (2001) topped international charts. After Jackson's death, sales surged; Number Ones and The Essential Michael Jackson became the first catalog albums to outsell new releases. Sony Music signed a $250 million deal with the estate in 2010, extending distribution rights until at least 2017, and renewed for another $250 million in 2017. Two posthumous albums of unreleased tracks, Michael (2010) and Xscape (2014), were released.
Reader's Guide
Michael Jackson's album discography spans from his 1972 debut Got to Be There through the posthumous releases Michael and Xscape. His work with The Jackson 5 established him as a child star, but his solo career redefined popular music. Off the Wall broke ground as the first album by a solo artist to yield four top-10 singles, while Thriller set enduring records: most weeks at number 1 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart (37), most top-10 singles from an album (seven), and best-selling album of all time (70 million copies). Bad continued this dominance with five number 1 singles. Dangerous and HIStory each debuted at number 1 in multiple countries and rank among the best-selling albums worldwide. The remix album Blood on the Dance Floor remains the best-selling remix album ever. Jackson's catalog sales soared after his death, with compilation albums Number Ones and The Essential Michael Jackson becoming international best-sellers and the first catalog albums to outsell new releases. The 2010 and 2017 Sony deals, each valued at $250 million, underscore the enduring commercial value of his recorded work. His albums collectively sold over 500 million records globally, with 90 million certified units in the United States alone.
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