Michael Jackson The Essential MJ

I agree with an above poster. I didn't buy this album to "drool" over. I wanted to listen and enjoy his music not analyze his life or even think about his passing. Just enjoy the tracks on this record. 2 songs I liked weren't included they were , The Jacksons "Torture" and MJ's 2001 song "2000 Watts". But I got most of those from the net. I liked some of MJ's songs but only knew the most popular ones prior to his passing. Since his passing and thanks to a tribute of MJ songs played on XM Satellite Radio. I now enjoy more songs than ever before. I know most think that people like me ONLY bought this record because of the hype. That isn't true if you never liked MJ's music than regardless of the hype you won't all of the sudden like his music. You have to be a fan of some sort prior to his passing. Sad that it takes MJ passing for fans bring his music to a level that he never saw when he was alive. I like most (if you never owned a MJ album) wanted to have at lease one ACTUAL record of MJ's to remember the good music he did. I'll add that listening to "You are not alone" is very hard now knowing that MJ is gone. Knowing that he meant so much to so many! It was like his way of leaving a final message! RIP MJ

Great hits. All his best. Like this a lot

Got it for my 70 year old mom, she loved it

+++ Excellent item, Good Price and in Perfect condition +++

Love MJ. Life lost too soon.

This CD is pretty darn good if you want a buffet of most of Michael Jackson's best work and aren't bothered that some of the songs aren't the original length. Starting with some great Jackson 5 songs like "I Want You Back", "ABC" and "Rockin Robin", you are in awe at how talented little Michael is with that huge voice as a child. You wish you were around when he was singing with the Jackson 5! After the Jackson 5 songs, you get a very good taste of some great work at the beginning of Michael's solo career like "Ben" and a couple from The Jacksons. Several great songs that never got alot of airplay but are just as fabulous are "Off the Wall" and "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground). Of course who can not like some of his Thriller Hits, "Human Nature", "Billie Jean", "Beat It", we've all heard these songs a hundred times before. The version of "Wanna Be Starting Something" is short-barely 4 minutes when the orginal is six minutes...so that irritated me. Another song that is great but never made it to number one is "Another Part of Me" also used in the Captain EO film at Disneyland, which we have all seen as kids. Two songs I have never really liked are "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" and "Leave Me Alone" are both on here and on the sleeve there is a mistake-they were not recorded in 1982. "Smooth Criminal" is the same as the version on "Number Ones",, the radio edit. However, songs from one of my favorite albums, "Dangerous" make this album even better. The sexy "Dangerous" is in full-form, beautiful "Heal the World", "Remember the Time" and "Will You Be There" are more examples of Michael's great and diverse work.Unfortunately, "Jam" and "Earth song" (also from "Dangerous") are missing along with a couple of his better songs off of his last solo release, "Invincible", with the exception of "You Rock My World." All in all, this CD is better than "Number Ones" because it has alot of less-known great songs from both MJ and the Jacksons, and also several of the ones that went to Number One. Good stuff and MJ will be missed greatly.

When my copy of MJ's Number Ones got scratched last summer, I almost bought a new copy. But then a friend of mine suggested I get the Essential MJ instead. I'm glad I listened to her. Both collections are great, but the Essential MJ is MUCH more complete. Unlike the Number Ones collection, the Essential MJ includes several hits from the Jackson 5/Jacksons as well as MJ's early solo hits Ben, Rockin Robin, and Gotta Be There. It also includes all the top 10 charting songs from Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad.My friend was lucky and somehow got a 3-disc version of the Essential MJ, with the 3rd disc including Scream and Say Say Say. I ordered the 2-disc version from Amazon and then downloaded several other MJ songs ("I'll be There," "Never Can Say Good-Bye," "Who's Loving You?" "I Wanna Be Where you Are," and "Dancin' Machine" from his early work, and "Workin Day and Night," "Say, Say, Say," "Scream," and "The Earth Song" from his work as an adult solo artist). Now I have three great disks with everything on them. My two daughters (ages 8 and 11) won't let me play anything else in the car!!

Excellent collection.