Thriller (album)
Best-selling album of all time, breaking racial barriers in music.
Thriller is the sixth studio album by American singer and songwriter Michael Jackson, released on November 29, 1982, through Epic Records. Produced by Quincy Jones, the album marked a transition from disco to post-disco and synth-pop, incorporating funk, rock, and themes of paranoia, romance, and social consciousness. It became the best-selling album of all time, with estimated sales of 70 million copies worldwide, and is credited with breaking racial barriers in popular music and transforming music videos into a serious art form.
Last updated 2026-10-02 from the source article.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Michael Jackson
- Released
- November 29, 1982
- Label
- Epic Records
- Producer
- Quincy Jones
- Genre
- Post-disco
- synth-pop
- funk
- rock
- Certification
- 34× platinum in the US
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Jackson's previous album Off the Wall (1979) sold 7 million copies, but Jackson felt it underperformed and was upset it did not win Album of the Year at the Grammys. For Thriller, he wanted every song to be a hit. Recording took place from April to November 1982 at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles with a budget of $750,000. Jackson wrote four songs: "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", "The Girl Is Mine", "Beat It", and "Billie Jean". Paul McCartney appeared as the first credited featured artist on a Jackson album. The relationship between Jackson and Jones became strained during recording; both were initially unhappy with the result and remixed every song, spending a week on each. "Beat It" features a guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen. The title track "Thriller" includes a spoken portion by actor Vincent Price, written by Rod Temperton in a taxi on the way to the studio.
Reader's Guide
Thriller had an enormous impact on the music industry. It was Jackson's first number-one album on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart, staying atop for a record 37 non-consecutive weeks. The album produced a record seven Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including number-one singles "Billie Jean" and "Beat It". Sales surged after Jackson debuted the moonwalk on Motown 25 and the "Thriller" music video premiered on MTV. By early 1984, it had become the best-selling album of all time with over 30 million copies sold. It won a record-breaking eight Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and eight American Music Awards. The album is certified 34× platinum in the US, making it the second best-selling album in the US. In 2008, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress. The success gave Jackson an unprecedented level of cultural significance for a black American, breaking racial barriers and causing an intense fan frenzy dubbed "Michaelmania". It is frequently recognized as one of the greatest and most influential albums of all time.
Track listing
Side one
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wanna Be Startin' Somethin | Michael Jackson | 6:03 |
| 2 | Baby Be Mine | Rod Temperton | 4:20 |
| 3 | The Girl Is Mine (with Paul McCartney) | Jackson | 3:42 |
| 4 | Thriller | Temperton | 5:58 |
| Total length | 20:03 | ||
Side two
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beat It | Jackson | 4:17 |
| 2 | Billie Jean | Jackson | 4:57 |
| 3 | Human Nature | Steve Porcaro, John Bettis | 4:06 |
| 4 | P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) | James Ingram, Quincy Jones | 3:58 |
| 5 | The Lady in My Life | Temperton | 5:00 |
Track listing from the source article.
Music and lyrics
Thriller is primarily a pop album with post-disco and synth-pop styles, incorporating funk, rock, adult contemporary, easy listening, hard rock, R&B, and soul. Compared to Off the Wall, the dance and rock tracks are more aggressive, while pop tunes and ballads are softer. The album includes ballads like "Human Nature," funk tracks such as "Billie Jean," and disco songs like "Baby Be Mine." "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" features an African-inspired chant based on Duala syllables. "The Girl Is Mine" depicts two friends arguing over a woman. Tempos range from 80 beats per minute on "The Girl Is Mine" to 138 on "Beat It." Jackson introduces themes of paranoia and darker imagery, seen in "Billie Jean" about an obsessive fan, and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" against gossip. "Beat It" addresses anti-gang-violence, inspired by West Side Story. "Human Nature" is moody and introspective. Jackson's vocals range from low C to falsetto, described as a fully adult voice tinged with sadness. "P.Y.T." and "The Lady in My Life" give the album a stronger R&B direction.
Singles
Seven singles were released from Thriller. The first, "The Girl Is Mine," was criticized as a poor choice but topped the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart and reached number two on the Hot 100. "Billie Jean" reached number one on the Hot 100 for seven weeks and topped charts in nine countries, becoming one of the best-selling singles of 1983. "Beat It" also reached number one on the Black Singles chart and number five for 1983. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" peaked at number five on the Hot 100. "Human Nature" reached number seven on the Hot 100 and number two on the Adult Contemporary chart. "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" charted at number ten. "Thriller" was released in November 1983 after Jackson convinced Epic, reaching number four on the Hot 100. The "Billie Jean" music video debuted on MTV on March 10, 1983, bringing the channel mainstream attention and being one of the first videos by a black artist aired regularly. The "Beat It" video featured real gang members from the Crips and Bloods. The "Thriller" video premiered on December 2, 1983, showing Jackson and his girlfriend confronted by zombies.
More in Band Members & Collaborators
Elsewhere in Michael Jackson
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced