The Essential Michael Jackson

~ Release by Michael Jackson (see all versions of this release, 19 available)

Annotation

Copyright: ℗ 1972 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc., 1976, 1978, 1980 Sony Music Entertainment, 1979, 1982, 1987, 1991, 1995, 2001, 2005 MJJ Productions Inc.

Annotation last modified on 2026-07-08 00:02 UTC.

Tracklist

1▶Digital Media
2▼Digital Media
#TitleRatingLength
1Bad
recording engineer and mixer:
Bruce Swedien
drums (drum set) programming:
Douglas Getschal
co-producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
producer:
Quincy Jones
drums (drum set):
John “JR” Robinson (session drummer)
guitar:
David Williams (session guitarist and songwriter)
Hammond organ:
Jimmy Smith (US jazz organist)
percussion:
Paulinho da Costa (Brazilian percussionist) and How Now Brown Cow
saxophone:
Kim Hutchcroft and Larry Williams (jazz keyboard, sax, flute & clarinet; producer, composer, arranger, and multi‐instrumentalist)
synclavier:
Christopher Currell (arranger)
synthesizer:
John Barnes (US soul songwriter, keyboardist, synthesizer & pianist aka LA Jay), Michael Boddicker and Greg Phillinganes
trumpet:
Gary Grant (brass) and Jerry Hey
background vocals and lead vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
wind instruments arranger:
Jerry Hey
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1987)
recorded at and mixed at:
Westlake Audio (former name of Westlake Recording Studios) in Los Angeles, California, United States
recording of:
Bad
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Mijac Music and Warner-Tamerlane Publ. Co. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
4.254:08
2I Just Can’t Stop Loving You
recording engineer and mixer:
Bruce Swedien
synthesizer programming:
Steve Porcaro
co-producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
producer:
Quincy Jones
bass:
Nathan East
drums (drum set):
Ndugu Chancler
guitar:
Dann Huff
percussion:
Paulinho da Costa (Brazilian percussionist)
piano:
John Barnes (US soul songwriter, keyboardist, synthesizer & pianist aka LA Jay)
synclavier:
Christopher Currell (arranger)
synthesizer:
David Paich and Greg Phillinganes
background vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
guest lead vocals:
Siedah Garrett
other instruments [rhtyhm] arranger:
Quincy Jones
synthesizer arranger:
Quincy Jones and David Paich
vocals arranger:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1987)
edit of:
I Just Can’t Stop Loving You (album version) by Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
recording of:
I Just Can’t Stop Loving You
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Mijac Music and Warner-Tamerlane Publ. Co. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
3.354:12
3Leave Me Alone
recording engineer and mixer:
Bruce Swedien
drums (drum set) programming:
Larry Williams (jazz keyboard, sax, flute & clarinet; producer, composer, arranger, and multi‐instrumentalist)
synthesizer programming:
Casey Young
co-producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
producer:
Quincy Jones
guitar:
Paul Jackson, Jr. (fusion/urban jazz composer, arranger, producer and guitarist)
synclavier:
Casey Young
synthesizer:
Greg Phillinganes and Larry Williams (jazz keyboard, sax, flute & clarinet; producer, composer, arranger, and multi‐instrumentalist)
background vocals and lead vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1987)
recording of:
Leave Me Alone
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Mijac Music and Warner-Tamerlane Publ. Co. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
3.454:40
4The Way You Make Me Feel
co-producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
producer:
Quincy Jones
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
recording of:
The Way You Make Me Feel
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Mijac Music and Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
4.354:26
5Man in the Mirror
recording engineer and mixer:
Bruce Swedien
co-producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
producer:
Quincy Jones
guitar:
Dann Huff
keyboard:
Greg Phillinganes
synthesizer:
Glen Ballard and Randy Kerber
background vocals:
The Andraé Crouch Choir, Siedah Garrett and The Winans
background vocals and lead vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
synthesizer arranger:
Glen Ballard, Jerry Hey and Quincy Jones
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1987)
recording of:
Man in the Mirror
writer:
Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett
publisher:
Areostation Corporation, Arlovol Music, MCA Music Publishing (renamed since c. 1996 as Universal Music Publishing Group), Universal Music Corporation (France), Universal/MCA Music Publishing Pty Ltd, Warner Chappell Music (holding behind all publishing activities of Warner Music Group, 2019–) and Yellowbrick Road Music
sub-publisher:
シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント (Shinko Music Entertainment Co., Ltd.), 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 (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label), ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部 (Universal Music Publishing, Synch Division) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
3.955:19
6Dirty Diana
co-producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
producer:
Quincy Jones
guitar:
Paul Jackson, Jr. (fusion/urban jazz composer, arranger, producer and guitarist), Steve Stevens (US guitarist and songwriter) and David Williams (UK reggae/drum & bass/ragga emcee; David Boomah)
synclavier:
Christopher Currell (arranger)
synthesizer:
John Barnes (US soul songwriter, keyboardist, synthesizer & pianist aka LA Jay), Michael Boddicker and Randy Waldman
background vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
other instruments [rhythm] arranger:
John Barnes (US soul songwriter, keyboardist, synthesizer & pianist aka LA Jay), Jerry Hey and Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
strings arranger:
John Barnes (English jazz saxophonist & clarinetist)
synthesizer arranger:
John Barnes (US soul songwriter, keyboardist, synthesizer & pianist aka LA Jay), Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Quincy Jones
vocals arranger:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1987)
part of:
Billboard Hot 100: 2026-05-23 (number: 44)
recording of:
Dirty Diana
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Mijac Music and Warner-Tamerlane Publ. Co. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
3.654:41
7Another Part of Me
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
recording of:
Another Part of Me
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Mijac Music and Warner-Tamerlane Publ. Co. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
53:47
8Smooth Criminal
recording engineer and mixer:
Bruce Swedien
co-producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
producer:
Quincy Jones
drums (drum set):
Bill Bottrell, John “JR” Robinson (session drummer) and Bruce Swedien
guitar:
David Williams (session guitarist and songwriter)
piano:
Kevin Maloney
saxophone:
Kim Hutchcroft and Larry Williams (jazz keyboard, sax, flute & clarinet; producer, composer, arranger, and multi‐instrumentalist)
synclavier:
Christopher Currell (arranger)
synthesizer:
John Barnes (US soul songwriter, keyboardist, synthesizer & pianist aka LA Jay) and Michael Boddicker
trumpet:
Gary Grant (brass) and Jerry Hey
background vocals and lead vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
wind instruments arranger:
Jerry Hey
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1987)
recording of:
Smooth Criminal
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Mijac Music and Warner-Tamerlane Publ. Co. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
4.454:17
9Black or White
producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and R. Kelly
guitar:
Slash (Guns N’ Roses guitarist)
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1991)
recording of:
Black or White (in 1991)
additional lyricist:
Bill Bottrell
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
3.753:23
10Heal the World
recording engineer and mixer:
Matt Forger and Bruce Swedien
co-producer:
Bruce Swedien
producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
drums (drum set):
Jeff Porcaro
keyboard:
Brad Buxer
keyboard and synthesizer:
David Paich
percussion:
Bryan Loren (producer, songwriter, vocalist/singer, musician/multi-instrumentalist)
synthesizer:
Michael Boddicker and Steve Porcaro
additional lead vocals:
Christa Larson
background vocals and lead vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
guest choir vocals:
The John Bahler Singers
other vocals:
Ashley Farell
conductor:
Marty Paich
additional arranger:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Marty Paich
vocals arranger:
John Bahler and Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
recording of:
Heal the World
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Mijac Music and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., A Division)
3.36:25
11Remember the Time
recording engineer and mixer:
Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer), Bruce Swedien and Dave Way
programming:
Wayne Cobham (US engineer)
co-producer:
Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
keyboard and synthesizer:
Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
background vocals and lead vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
synthesizer arranger and additional arranger:
Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
vocals arranger:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
recording of:
Remember the Time (in 1991)
writer:
Bernard Belle, Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
publisher:
BMG Rights Management (US) LLC (file releases under its imprint “BMG (2008–present)” if the release has an imprint), Sony/ATV Tunes LLC (ASCAP), Universal Music–Z Tunes LLC and Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
3.854:00
12In the Closet
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
vocals:
Mystery Girl
recording of:
In the Closet
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
44:49
13Who Is It
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
recording of:
Who Is It
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
54:00
14Will You Be There
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
recording of:
Will You Be There
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
53:40
15Dangerous
recording engineer:
Jean‐Marie Horvat, Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer), Thom Russo and Bruce Swedien
producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
mixer:
Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer) and Bruce Swedien
synthesizer:
Brad Buxer, Rhett Lawrence and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
background vocals and lead vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
synthesizer arranger and additional arranger:
Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
vocals arranger:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
recording of:
Dangerous (in 1991)
lyricist and composer:
Bill Bottrell, Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Teddy Riley (US R&B singer & producer)
3.857:00
16You Are Not Alone
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
recording of:
You Are Not Alone
lyricist and composer:
R. Kelly
publisher:
R. Kelly Publishing, Inc. and Universal Music–Z Songs
54:56
17You Rock My World
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
edit of:
You Rock My World (with intro) by Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
recording of:
You Rock My World
writer:
LaShawn Daniels (US contemporary R&B songwriter), Fred Jerkins III, Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”), Rodney Jerkins and Nora Payne
publisher:
Ensign Music Corporation (ended), LaShawn Daniels Productions Inc. (ended), Rodney Jerkins Productions Inc. (BMI) (ended), Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label) (ended), EMI April Music Inc., EMI Blackwood Music Inc., Fred Jerkins Publishing, Generations Third Music Publishing, Mijac Music and Sony/ATV Melody
4.655:08