Thriller 40

2022 studio album (reissue) by Michael Jackson

For the documentary film, see Thriller 40 (film).

Thriller 40

Studio album (reissue) by

Michael Jackson

Released| November 18, 2022 (2022-11-18)
Recorded| 1979–1982
Studio| Westlake (Los Angeles)
Genre|

* Pop
* post-disco
* R&B
* rock
* funk

Length|

* 42:16 (disc 1)
* 42:53 (disc 2)

Label|

* Epic
* Legacy
* MJJ

Producer|

* Quincy Jones
* Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson chronology
| Scream
(2017)  | Thriller 40
(2022)  |

|
|

Thriller 40 is the 40th-anniversary edition reissue of Thriller (1982), the sixth album by the American singer Michael Jackson. It was released on November 18, 2022, by Epic, Legacy Recordings and MJJ Productions. Thriller 40 is the third reissue of Thriller, following the 2001 special edition and Thriller 25 (2008).[1]

## Background

[edit]

Jackson released his sixth studio album, Thriller, on November 30, 1982. With sales estimated to be over 70 million copies worldwide,[nb 1][7][8][9] Thriller became the world's best-selling album of all time; the album was the first in history to yield seven top-ten singles. The success of Thriller put Jackson into the dominating position of pop music, becoming an international pop-cultural icon.[10]

## Marketing and promotion

[edit]

Promotion in Düsseldorf, Germany

The American singer Maxwell performed "The Lady in My Life" at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards.[11] He said, "I'm feeling honored to be here, honored to be able to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Thriller. I've been up since six in the morning trying to get everything together and, you know, just want to do right — it's Michael Jackson. There's nobody better, nobody greater, so I just want to do it well."[12]

Several other activities were planned before the release of Thriller 40.[13] On October 4, music journalist and filmmaker Nelson George announced he was directing a documentary on the making of Thriller, which will include never-before-seen footage.[14]

On November 1, the Michael Jackson Estate and Sony Music launched a worldwide campaign to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the album Thriller, featuring Fan Event Parties, Immersive Experience to be held in two countries: Düsseldorf, Germany on November 10–13 and New York on November 18–20 and there will be an event filming that will be part of Thriller 40 documentary on November 30.[15]

On November 14, Sony Music released the 4K version of Jackson's "Beat It" music video on YouTube.[16] A 4K remaster of the "Thriller" short film also appeared on iTunes and Tidal, though it was removed shortly after. On November 17, the 4K remastered "Thriller" short film was released on YouTube.

## Bonus material

[edit]

Thriller 40 includes the original demo for Jackson's song "Behind the Mask" (which was previously reworked for the 2010 posthumous album Michael),[17] the original demo for "Thriller" ("Starlight"); a demo of "Best of Joy" (released on the Michael album) titled "The Toy" (intended for the 1982 Richard Pryor film of the same name); the previously unreleased songs "She's Trouble", "What a Lovely Way to Go" and "Who Do You Know", and the tracks "Got the Hots" (first released as a bonus track on the Japanese edition of Thriller 25 and several editions of King of Pop), "Carousel" (a shorter version was included on the 2001 special edition), "Can't Get Outta the Rain" (released in 2008 as part of the 3-CD edition of The Essential Michael Jackson) and "Sunset Driver" (released in 2004 on The Ultimate Collection).[citation needed]

## Release

[edit]

Announced on May 16, 2022, by the Estate of Michael Jackson, Thriller 40 is the twelfth release by Sony and/or Motown since the death of Jackson in 2009. The company also announced additional releases of the original album by audiophile reissue label Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab on both stereo Super Audio CD and LP, limited to 40,000 numbered copies.[18][19] The latter portion of the announcement was later credited by The Washington Post journalist Geoff Edgers with fueling public skepticism towards Mobile Fidelity that culminated in a subsequent controversy over them using Direct Stream Digital files in vinyl releases that were marketed as coming directly from analog master tapes.[20] The company also surprise released 360 Reality Audio and Dolby Atmos versions of the original album on Amazon Music and Apple Music respectively on the same day as Thriller 40.[21]

## Documentary film

[edit]

Main article: Thriller 40 (film)

A 90-minute documentary film titled Thriller 40 directed by Nelson George celebrating the 40th anniversary of Thriller was released in the United States on December 2, 2023, airing on Showtime and later appeared on Paramount+ only for Showtime subscribers. Internationally it debuted the same day in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Latin America and South Korea.[22][23] On October 27, 2023, the Michael Jackson estate released a trailer for the Thriller 40 documentary film.[22]

## Commercial performance

[edit]

In the United States, as per Billboard's rule, Thriller 40 is regarded as the same album as Thriller and re-entered the Billboard 200 albums chart at number seven. The album sold a combined total of about 37,000 copies in the first week in the US.[24] The album charted at number 16 in its second week of the release, selling 18,000 (down 35%).[25]

## Track listing

[edit]

Disc 1: ThrillerNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Producer(s)| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"| Michael Jackson|

* Quincy Jones
* Jackson[a]

| 6:02
2.| "Baby Be Mine"| Rod Temperton| Jones| 4:20
3.| "The Girl Is Mine" (with Paul McCartney)| Jackson|

* Jones
* Jackson[a]

| 3:42
4.| "Thriller"| Temperton| Jones| 5:57
5.| "Beat It"| Jackson|

* Jones
* Jackson[a]

| 4:18
6.| "Billie Jean"| Jackson|

* Jones
* Jackson[a]

| 4:54
7.| "Human Nature"|

* Steve Porcaro
* John Bettis

| Jones| 4:06
8.| "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"|

* James Ingram
* Jones

| Jones| 3:59
9.| "The Lady in My Life"| Temperton| Jones| 4:59
Total length:| 42:16

Disc 2: Bonus materialNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Producer(s)| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Starlight"| Temperton| Jones| 5:04
2.| "Got the Hots" (Demo)| Temperton| Jones| 4:25
3.| "Who Do You Know" (Demo)| Jackson| Jackson| 5:23
4.| "Carousel" (Full Version)|

* Michael Sembello
* Don Freeman

| Jones| 3:39
5.| "Behind the Mask" (Mike's Mix, Demo)|

* Jackson
* Ryuichi Sakamoto
* Chris Mosdell

| Jackson| 5:01
6.| "Can't Get Outta the Rain"|

* Jackson
* Jones

* Jackson
* Jones

| 4:06
7.| "The Toy" (Demo)| Jackson| Jackson| 3:04
8.| "Sunset Driver" (Demo)| Jackson| Jackson| 4:03
9.| "What a Lovely Way to Go" (Demo)| Jackson| Jackson| 3:55
10.| "She's Trouble" (Demo)|

* Billy Livsey
* Terry Britten
* Sue Shifrin

| Jones| 4:13
Total length:| 42:53

Deluxe edition bonus tracks (digital only)No.| Title| Writer(s)| Producer(s)| Length

|
|
|
|

20.| "Billie Jean" (Home Demo from 1981)| Jackson| Jackson| 2:20
21.| "Billie Jean" (Long Version)| Jackson|

* Jones
* Jackson[a]

| 6:20
22.| "Billie Jean 2008" (Kanye West mix)| Jackson|

* Jackson
* West
* Anthony Kilhoffer

| 4:35
23.| "Beat It" (Demo)| Jackson| Jackson| 2:03
24.| "Beat It 2008" (with Fergie)| Jackson|

* Jackson
* will.i.am

| 4:11
25.| "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (Demo)| Jackson| Jackson| 5:43
26.| "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (Tommy D's Main Mix)| Jackson|

* Jackson
* Jones
* Tommy D

| 7:40
27.| "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" (with Akon)|

* Jackson
* Aliaune Thiam
* Giorgio Tuinfort

* Jackson
* Akon
* Tuinfort

| 4:14
28.| "Human Nature" (7" Remix)|

* Porcaro
* Bettis

| Jones| 3:45
29.| "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" (Demo Version)|

* Jackson
* Greg Phillinganes

| Jackson| 3:46
30.| "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) 2008" (with will.i.am)|

* Jackson
* William Adams
* Keith Harris

* Jackson
* will.i.am

| 4:21
31.| "The Girl Is Mine 2008" (with will.i.am)|

* Jackson
* Adams
* Harris

* Jackson
* will.i.am

| 3:10
32.| "Thriller" (7" Special Edit)| Temperton| Jones| 4:37
33.| "Thriller" (Def Thriller Mix)| Temperton|

* Jones
* David Morales
* Frankie Knuckles

| 7:22
34.| "Thriller Megamix"|

* Jackson
* Temperton
* Jones
* Ingram

* Jackson
* Jones
* Jason Nevins

| 9:14
Total length:| 73:21

Total duration: 158:30

Notes

* ^[a] signifies a co-producer

## Charts

[edit]

Chart performance for Thriller 40 Chart (2022)  | Peak
position

|

Italian Albums (FIMI)[26] | 7
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[27] | 6
French Albums (SNEP)[28] | 5
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[29] | 22
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[30] | 10
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[31] | 38

## Release history

[edit]

List of release dates, showing country or region, record label, and format  Region  | Date  | Label  | Format

|
|
|

Various  | November 18, 2022  |

* Epic
* Legacy
* MJJ

* CD
* LP
* digital download

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Representatives for Sony and Jackson's estate say that Thriller has sold 105 million copies globally.[2] Although sales estimates for Thriller have been as high as 110 million copies,[3] these sales figures are unreliable according to various music specialists.[4][5][6]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Gail Mitchell (May 16, 2022). "Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Celebrates 40th Anniversary With Double-CD Set". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
2. ^ Caulfield, Keith (February 16, 2017). "Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Extends Reign as Highest Certified Album in U.S. History". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
3. ^ Durchholz, Daniel (November 30, 2012). "Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' At 30: Classic Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
4. ^ Wyman, Bill (January 4, 2013). "Did "Thriller" Really Sell a Hundred Million Copies?". The New Yorker. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
5. ^ Bialik, Carl (July 14, 2009). "How Many Albums Did Michael Jackson Sell?". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
6. ^ Lara, David (May 12, 2012). "Michael Jackson's 'Bad' Gets a Revamp and More Inflated Sales!". Impre. ImpreMedia. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
7. ^ "Best-selling album". Guinness World Records. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
8. ^ "Adele's 21 overtakes sales of Thriller in UK album list". BBC. May 4, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
9. ^ Asian News International (ANI) (September 26, 2020). "MJ nearly scrapped 'Thriller' release". Zee News. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
10. ^ Adams, Anne-Taylor (April 11, 2008). "'XM THRILLER: The Music of Michael Jackson' to Launch March 1 on XM". PRNewswire. Reuters. Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved April 14, 2008.
11. ^ "Watch Maxwell Cover Michael Jackson's "The Lady in My Life" at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards". Pitchfork. May 16, 2022.
12. ^ Juneau, Jen; Irvin, Jack (May 15, 2022). "Maxwell Performs Anniversary Tribute to Michael Jackson's Thriller at 2022 Billboard Music Awards". PEOPLE.
13. ^ Aswad, Jem (May 16, 2022). "Michael Jackson's 'Thriller 40' Anniversary Edition Due in the Fall: Unreleased Tracks, Other 'Surprises'". Variety.
14. ^ Carey, Matthew (October 4, 2022). "Documentary On Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' In The Works, From Jackson Estate And Sony Music Entertainment". Deadline.
15. ^ "Upcoming Thriller 40 Events". Michael Jackson Official Site. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
16. ^ "'Beat It' 4K Added To YouTube". November 14, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
17. ^ "Michael Jackson on Instagram: "After hearing the original instrumental recording of this song by the group Yellow Magic Orchestra, Michael reached out to them to ask if he could create a version of the song with lyrics. They readily agreed and Michael wrote the lyrics and recorded the demo which he played at a listening session at his home studio attended by Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton and Greg Phillinganes at which Michael also played the demos for "Billie Jean", "Beat It" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'". Unfortunately, "Behind the Mask" didn't make the cut for the Thriller album and, although Michael worked on the track over the years, a finished version wasn't released until the Michael album. But this original demo by Michael has never been released. Link in story."". Instagram. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
18. ^ Brown, Preezy (May 16, 2022). "Michael Jackson 'Thriller' 40th Anniversary Album To Include Unreleased Music".
19. ^ Osbourne, Aussie. "TO BE RELEASED: THRILLER 40 – A DOUBLE CD SET OF MICHAEL'S ORIGINAL MASTERPIECE THRILLER & BONUS DISC". Aussie Osbourne. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
20. ^ Geoff Edgers (August 5, 2022). "How a Phoenix record store owner set the audiophile world on fire". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.
21. ^ "Thriller 40 – A Double CD Set Of Michael Jackson's Original Masterpiece Thriller & Bonus Disc Out Now". Legacy Recordings. November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022. "Immersive audio mixes of Thriller are now available at various DSPs, including 360 Reality Audio on Amazon, Spatial Audio on Apple Music, mixed by Şerban Ghenea from the original masters for immersive audio, with the immersive mixes by John Hanes."
22. ^ a b Atkinson, Katie (October 27, 2023). "Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Hailed by Usher, Mary J. Blige, Mark Ronson & More in 40th-Anniversary Doc: Trailer Premiere 40". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
23. ^ "Michael Jackson: Thriller 40". BBFC. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
24. ^ "Taylor Swift's 'Midnights' Remains at No. 1 on Billboard 200 for Fourth Nonconsecutive Week". Complex Networks.
25. ^ "Tom Petty's 'Live at the Fillmore' Lights up Billboard Charts, Debuts in Top 10 on Album Sales". Billboard.
26. ^ "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 47 (dal 18.11.2022 al 24.11.2022)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
27. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2022-11-28" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
28. ^ "Lescharts.com – Michael Jackson – Thriller [202240th Anniversary Edition]". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
29. ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. November 28, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
30. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Michael Jackson – Thriller [202240th Anniversary Edition]". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
31. ^ "Veckolista Album, vecka 47". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved November 26, 2022.

* v
* t
* e

Michael Jackson: Thriller

Side one|

* "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"
* "Baby Be Mine"
* "The Girl Is Mine"
* "Thriller"

Side two|

* "Beat It"
* "Billie Jean"
* "Human Nature"
* "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
* "The Lady in My Life"

Related articles|

* E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (audiobook)
* Farewell My Summer Love
* Victory
* Victory Tour
* Michael Jackson's Thriller
* Thriller jacket
* Thriller 25
* Thriller 40
* Thriller 40 (film)
* Thrill the World
* Thriller viral video
* Donga
* Thriller – Live
* Michael Jackson albums discography

* v
* t
* e

Michael Jackson

* Albums
* Singles
* Songs
* Videography
* Unreleased songs
* Awards
* Records and achievements
* Cultural impact

Studio albums|

* Got to Be There
* Ben
* Music & Me
* Forever, Michael
* Off the Wall
* Thriller
* Bad
* Dangerous
* HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
* Invincible

Posthumous albums|

* Michael
* Xscape

Anniversary reissues|

* Thriller 25
* Bad 25
* Thriller 40

Remix albums|

* The Original Soul of Michael Jackson
* Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix
* The Stripped Mixes
* The Remix Suite

Soundtracks|

* The Wiz
* E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
* Michael Jackson's This Is It
* Immortal

Compilations|

* The Best of Michael Jackson
* One Day in Your Life
* 18 Greatest Hits
* Farewell My Summer Love
* Looking Back to Yesterday
* The Michael Jackson Mix
* 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Michael Jackson
* Love Songs
* Number Ones
* The Essential Michael Jackson
* King of Pop
* The Definitive Collection
* Icon
* Scream

Box sets|

* Anthology
* The Ultimate Collection
* Visionary: The Video Singles
* The Motown Years
* The Collection
* Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection

Concert tours|

* Bad World Tour
* Dangerous World Tour
* HIStory World Tour
* This Is It (canceled)

Specials|

* Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
* Super Bowl XXVII halftime show
* MJ & Friends
* 30th Anniversary Celebration
* United We Stand: What More Can I Give
* Live at the Apollo

Video albums|

* Dangerous: The Short Films
* Video Greatest Hits – HIStory
* HIStory on Film, Volume II
* Number Ones
* The One
* Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour
* Michael Jackson's Vision
* Live at Wembley July 16, 1988

Films|

* The Wiz
* Michael Jackson's Thriller
* Captain EO
* Moonwalker
* Michael Jackson's Ghosts
* Michael Jackson's Private Home Movies
* Michael Jackson's This Is It

Television|

* Free to Be... You and Me
* The Jacksons
* "Stark Raving Dad" (The Simpsons)
* Michael Jackson Talks ... to Oprah
* Move Like Michael Jackson
* Living with Michael Jackson
* The Michael Jackson Interview: The Footage You Were Never Meant To See
* "The Jeffersons" (South Park)
* "Michael" (Glee)
* Michael Jackson's Halloween

Video games|

* Michael Jackson's Moonwalker
* The Experience
* Planet Michael
* Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2
* Sonic the Hedgehog 3
* Space Channel 5
* Space Channel 5: Part 2
* Dreamcast Collection

Books|

* Moonwalk
* Dancing the Dream

Documentaries|

* The Life of an Icon
* Bad 25
* The Last Photo Shoots
* Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall
* Square One: Michael Jackson
* Killing Michael Jackson
* Thriller 40

Biographical films|

| Theatrical films|

* Michael

|

Television films|

* The Jacksons: An American Dream (miniseries)
* Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story
* Searching for Neverland

Stage shows|

* Thriller – Live
* Michael Forever – The Tribute Concert
* The Immortal World Tour
* Motown: The Musical
* One
* MJ the Musical

Personal life|

* Health and appearance
* Personal relationships
* Jackson family
* Paris Jackson
* Lisa Marie Presley
* Debbie Rowe

Abuse allegations|

* 1993 allegations
* 2005 trial
* Posthumous allegations
* FBI files

Death|

* Memorial service
* Conrad Murray
* trial

Influence|

* Moonwalk
* Robot
* Philanthropy
* Cover versions
* Monuments, memorials and namesakes
* Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award
* Mesoparapylocheles michaeljacksoni
* Thrill the World
* Thriller viral video
* World Vitiligo Day
* Sonic the Hedgehog
* Ulala
* Impersonators
* Michael Jackson fandom
* On the Wall
* Heal the World Foundation

Related|

* The Jackson 5
* The Jackson 5 discography
* The Jackson 5ive
* Estate of Michael Jackson
* Thriller jacket
* Fulham F.C. statue
* The Magic and the Madness
* Michael Jackson and Bubbles
* MJ Gallery at Ponte 16
* Behind the Mask
* "We Had Him"
* You Are Not Alone
* Michael Jackson, Inc.
* Hayvenhurst
* Neverland Ranch
* Thriller Villa
* The MJCast
* Northern Songs
* Sony/ATV Music Publishing
* Bubbles
* Peter Pan syndrome
* Mister Lonely
* We Are the World
* Mind Is the Magic: Anthem for the Las Vegas Show
* Never Can Say Goodbye: The Music of Michael Jackson
* Rava on the Dance Floor
* Unity: The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson
* "Better on the Other Side"
* "Home"
* "Eat It"
* "Fat"
* Return of the Moonwalker
* Sheikh Jackson
* The Last Days of Michael Jackson
* Neverland Firsthand: Investigating the Michael Jackson Documentary
* Michael Jackson: Chase the Truth
* MJ (album)

* Category

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