Essential Compilation - Disc 1

Essential Compilation is a Michael Jackson Greatest Hits album compiled by C.Syde65. It is not an official Michael Jackson album and thus can not be bought.

This 2-disc greatest hits album includes many of Michael Jackson's greatest hits with Epic Records, though it also includes a couple of songs from Michael Jackson's early years with Motown Records.

Most of these songs are considered to be hits, though a few of them were included as part of this compilation simply because they were on my personal Michael Jackson favourites list.

While most of these songs were released under Michael Jackson's name, a couple of songs with The Jackson 5/The Jacksons also found there way into this compilation.

The album includes a total of 22 tracks that were recorded between 1970 - January 1997. Here is the track listing for the first of the two discs. The track listing for the second disc can be found here.

Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'

 * Artist: Michael Jackson
 * Released: 30th November 1982
 * Recorded: 14th April - 8th November 1982, Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California
 * Duration: 0:06:02
 * Genre: Funk Music, Post-Disco
 * Label: Columbia Records, Epic Records
 * Author: Michael Jackson
 * Producer: Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones

The Girl is Mine

 * Artist: Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney
 * Released: 18th October 1982
 * Recorded: 14th - 16th April 1982, Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California
 * Duration: 0:03:41
 * Genre: Pop Music
 * Label: Columbia Records, Epic Records
 * Author: Michael Jackson
 * Producer: Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones

Thriller

 * Artist: Michael Jackson
 * Released: 30th November 1982
 * Recorded: 14th April - 8th November 1982, Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California
 * Duration: 0:05:57
 * Genre: Disco Music, Funk Music
 * Label: Columbia Records, Epic Records
 * Author: Rod Temperton
 * Producer: Quincy Jones

Beat It

 * Artist: Michael Jackson
 * Released: 30th November 1982
 * Recorded: 14th April - 8th November 1982, Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California
 * Duration: 0:04:18
 * Genre: Dance-Rock
 * Label: Columbia Records, Epic Records
 * Author: Michael Jackson
 * Producer: Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones

Billie Jean

 * Artist: Michael Jackson
 * Released: 30th November 1982
 * Recorded: 14th April - 8th November 1982, Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California
 * Duration: 0:04:53
 * Genre: Dance-Pop, Funk Music, Post-Disco, Rhythm and Blues
 * Label: Columbia Records, Epic Records
 * Author: Michael Jackson
 * Producer: Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones

Bad

 * Artist: Michael Jackson
 * Released: 31st August 1987
 * Recorded: October - December 1986, Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California
 * Duration: 0:04:08
 * Genre: Dance-Pop, Funk Music, Rhythm and Blues
 * Label: Columbia Records, Epic Records
 * Author: Michael Jackson
 * Producer: Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones

Smooth Criminal

 * Artist: Michael Jackson
 * Released: 31st August 1987
 * Recorded: November 1986 - April 1987, Westlake Recording Studios (Studio D), Los Angeles, California
 * Duration: 0:04:20
 * Genre: Funk Music, Pop Music, Rhythm and Blues
 * Label: Columbia Records, Epic Records
 * Author: Michael Jackson
 * Producer: Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones

Man in the Mirror

 * Artist: Michael Jackson
 * Released: 31st August 1987
 * Recorded: May 1987, Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California
 * Duration: 0:05:21
 * Genre: Gospel Music, Rhythm and Blues
 * Label: Columbia Records, Epic Records
 * Author: Glen Ballard, Siedah Garrett
 * Producer: Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones

The Way You Make Me Feel

 * Artist: Michael Jackson
 * Released: 31st August 1987
 * Recorded: 1987, Westlake Recording Studios (Studio D), Los Angeles, California
 * Duration: 0:04:59
 * Genre: Pop Music, Rhythm and Blues
 * Label: Columbia Records, Epic Records
 * Author: Michael Jackson
 * Producer: Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones

Black or White

 * Artist: Michael Jackson, L.T.B.
 * Released: 11th November 1991
 * Recorded: 1990, Ocean Way Studios, Record One Studios, Westlake Recording Studios, Larrabee Sound Studios
 * Duration: 0:03:21
 * Genre: New Jack Swing, Pop Rock, Rhythm and Blues
 * Label: Epic Records
 * Author: Bill Bottrell, Michael Jackson
 * Producer: Bill Bottrell, Michael Jackson

Dangerous

 * Artist: Michael Jackson
 * Released: 26th November 1991
 * Recorded: September 1990 - February 1991, 22nd August and 29th October 1991, Ocean Way Studios, Record One Studios, Westlake Recording Studios, Larrabee Sound Studios
 * Duration: 0:06:57
 * Genre: Industrial Music, New Jack Swing
 * Label: Epic Records
 * Author: Bill Bottrell, Michael Jackson, Teddy Riley
 * Producer: Michael Jackson, Teddy Riley