The Best of Michael Jackson - Motown

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The title of 1975's Best of Michael Jackson seems something like an unfunny joke in the wake of the global success that the star found with Off the Wall and Thriller just a few years later. Best offers a handful of charted singles ranging from the incandescent "I Wanna Be Where You Are" and "Got to Be There" to the ephemeral "Rockin' Robin" and the tedious rat-love flick-theme "Ben." The rest is a mishmash of workaday sentiment ("With a Child's Heart," "Music and Me") and a few tracks of the proverbial pleasant-but-unexceptional work that the solo Jackson would soon transcend. –-Rickey Wright
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 "not the best" 2006-08-15
By Steve Urkel (Chicago, IL)
The Best of Michael Jackson is a compilation of Michael Jackson's greatest hits and was released in 1975 by his former record company Motown. It sold 2.2 million copies worldwide and peaked at number forty-four on the U.S. R&B album chart.

 "One Of Michael Jackson's Best" 2005-02-24
By Grace J. (Chicago)
If you are a fan of old school Michael Jackson, this album is a MUST have. I am not kidding you. I own every single Michael album (including quite a bit of J5 comps) and this collection is my favorite. His voice will melt you. It is a superb mix of the innocence that caused us to fall in love with him and the beats that you can't help but dance to. I would have to say that a large majority of the album is slower, emotional music, so if that is your liking, this is for you. If you prefer the musical stylings of his "Thriller" and "Bad" albums, HIStory would probably be a better choice. Quite a bit of this music is featured on his Moonwalker documentary video, which is where I first heard a lot of the songs and absolutly had to have them! A couple of songs are works with the Jackson Five, but most are Michael solo. Also features my ABSOLUTE Michael favorite - Music and Me.

 "EARLY MIKE" 2004-12-09
By Jon (San Diego, California)
This is a good collection of Mike's early work, though it can not compare to his later success. Neat to hear the changes in his voice from the first track to the two 1975 tracks. A personal favorite on here is MORNING GLOW, a sweet sad song (nowhere near as much as BEN is). Even if you're not a hardcore fan of Mike, this is a good enough collection to taste some of his solo Motown work.

 "THE GUY I FELL IN LOVE WITH!!!" 2003-08-10
By Aisha Abdullah (DC)
This had to be my favorite album!I really fell in love with Michael's voice at the tender age of 12(now I'm 16).The first song on the album "Got to be there" had to be my favorite,favorite song then.It made me feel magic,it had me mesmorized.I would just have this feeling come over me every time I would listen to it,like you wouldn't believe.The other songs I liked were "Ben","With a child's heart","I wanna be where you are","We're almost there" and "Music and me".I remember listening to that cassette alot when I was younger.I really enjoyed it.It brings back so many memories for me.If you want to listen to some nice (young) Michael Jackson songs (along with his brothers),get this album.It's nice!

 "A Young Michael" 2001-04-23
By Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA)
This is a collection of songs from Michael Jackson's solo work for Motown. The early hits like "Got To Be There", the brilliant "I Wanna Be Where You Are", "Rocking Robin" and his first solo number one "Ben" are variations of his work with The Jackson Five. They were produced by The Corporation and they are tremendous singles. Some of the later work like "Happy", "Just A Little Bit Of You" and "One Day In Your Life" are not up to high standards of the early work, but are still quite good. If you want to get an idea of what a young Michael Jackson sounded like, then this is a great place to start.


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King of Pop-UK Edition

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Exclusive UK tracklisting. Limited three CD digipak pressing. Michael Jackson turned 50 on August 29th 2008 and Sony/BMG Music Entertainment are giving his fans across the world a chance to select a unique track listing for their local market. This version does just that. The set will include rare tracks, a previously unreleased track along with a new megamix from Jason Nevins.The exclusive third CD features a swell of rare tracks; 'Can't Get Outta The Rain' (Single Version), 'On The Line', 'Someone Put Your Hand Out'; 'Is It Scary' (Single Radio Edit), 'Smile' (Short Version), 'Billie Jean' (Original 12' Version), 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'' (Extended 12" Mix), 'Bad' (Dance Extended Mix Includes 'False Fade'), 'The Way You Make Me Feel' (Dance Extended Mix), 'Another Part Of Me' (Extended Dance Mix), 'Smooth Criminal' (Extended Dance Mix), 'Black Or White' (The C&C House/Club Mix) and 'Thriller Megamix' (Radio Edit). Sony/BMG. 2008.
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Ghosts (PAL Format Video Box Set) [IMPORT]

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Deluxe Collector's Box Set - Limited Edition.(Pal Not Compatable with USA Vcr's)
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 "FOR THE FANS" 2006-04-14
By spaghetti (Christchurch New Zealand)
I have to say I feel sorry for people who think this slick production is on a par with Michaels golden period of 1979 to 1992. This video is fun and interesting but lacks the essential magic that drove the world crazy with things like Moonwalker and The Bad Tour. Its all too slick and all too perfect. It has its good moments but really is only considered great by those kind of fans who have missed out on all the good old days hype. Ghosts is not something to make you jump for joy and the special gold CD single is good for 'On The Line" but the other cuts just suck. A must have for any real fan but I'd rather watch that Bad Tour Documentary anyday, if only I still had it. I gave my Ghosts box set away, I kind of want it back but not much.

 "one of his best ever!!!" 2003-06-19
By knight (Los Angeles, CA USA)
this is right in the alley way of a music video masterpeice! it had its little kinks that stray it from perfection but what is perfect? this video had me second guessing which music video of his was my favorite. smooth criminal will remain as my all time favorite but ghosts falls right into second place. i do think that the crowd couldve had more interaction with the plot but like i said before what is perfect?

 "Love it" 2002-01-19
By Tanika L. Carroll (McDonough, GA)
I actually got "Ghosts" off of Ebay two years ago, I got it in the VHS format. I love it. Although I must admit, if I would have known that it was going to come on VH1, MTV, and MuchMusic nowadays, I'd have waited and taped it off of the television. But that's ok. Nothing like having your own real copy of a movie that you love. I'm hoping and praying that Mike will come out with a new one. Cause I'm just a big big big MJJ fan.

 "Must have for diehard Michael fans!" 2001-07-13
By Erik (Netherlands)
For all of you hardcore Michael-fans, this is absolutely a must have. Originally Sony intended to bring out singles like Is it Scary & Smile. However, ...this wonderful box set was released. It continues the following items:

- The Ghost Video (approx. 35 minutes) - The Ghost Program Book (as given to the visitors in Cannes) - The cd Blood on the dancefloor/HIStory in the mix - A limited edition cd-single with the following songs:

1) On the line 2) Ghost (Mousse T's sing a long mix) 3) Is it scary (DJ Greek's scary mix)

1 = a previously unreleased song by Michael that was intended for Spike Lee's movie Get on the bus. Beautiful ballad, produced by hitwonder Babyface 2 & 3 are also unreleased mixes. 2 = nothing more than a instrumental version, very boring. 3 makes you wanna turn off the music ....

The glossy ghost program is a pure collectors item, only a few thousand copies are being made, most of them were hand over to the celebrities who attended the premiere at the Cannes filmfestival. And the longform ghost video is a must have.

Also blood on the dancefloor, wonderful album. A few mid-quality mixes, but the 'new songs' blood on the dancefloor, morphine, superfly sister, ghosts & is it scary are obligatory food for every michael-adorer. So, give it a try, you won't be dissapointed.

 "MICHAEL JACKSON'S 'GHOSTS'" 2001-05-13
By David M. Sulkers (Winnipeg, MB Canada)
This man is the killer entertainer of our time. Nothing else can be said except that he IS what entertainemnt is about.

And this Box Set proves that fact.

Michael Jackson's 'Ghosts' video is the best music long form video I have ever seen. He is an incredible dancer, and even better singer and a superb songwriter.

What do you get in this Box Set?

Ghosts - The Home Video

The video itself! Which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 1996. This video is his best effort since either 'Thriller', or 'Smooth Criminal.' The visual effects are amazing, the dancing is incredible and the story-line is solid. Check out the makeup in this video. Wicked!

Blood On The Dance Floor - The Album

The first five songs of this disc, 'Blood O The Dance Floor', 'Morphine', 'Superfly Sister', 'Ghost', and 'Is It Scarey' are masterpieces. The other 8 songs are remixes from Michael's 1995 opus, 'HIStory: Past, Present and Future: Book 1' which was one of Michael's best albums to date. Read my review of 'Blood On The Dance Floor - The Album' for further reading.

Ghosts - The Program

An excellent addition to this Box Set. The actual program that was handed out at the Cannes Film Festival! The pictures are printed on beautiful glossy paper and their are many unreleased photos from the film!

Ghosts - The Minimax CD Single

A must have for any fan, young or old! Includes the never before realeased songs:

On The Line - A classic Michael Jackson ballad! Produced and written by Babyface, it shows Michael's voice is better than ever! Another great reason to buy this Box Set!

Ghosts "Mousse T's Radio Rock Singalong Version" - A great remix of the song which this whole Box Set is based on! Great production, killer remix.

Is It Scary "DJ Greek's Scary Mix" - Is by far one of the best Michael Jackson remixes I have ever heard. And that is no lie! This thing is pounding, I love this remix. I would buy this Box Set strickly for this song! I'm serious!

This Box Set is deffinatly worth the money! When this comes back on themarket, you have to get this! It's amazing!

Five Out Of Five


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HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I

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Japanese only paper sleeve pressing features all new 2009 remastering. Sony.
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 "Artist of All Time!" 2009-06-30
By J. Lewis (Brandywine, MD)
This has to be one of my "all-time" favorite CDs. It's definitely a must have to your collection.

 "Definitely Makes History" 2007-01-15
By
The title of the album is very appropriate. With the first CD giving us a blast from the past of amazing songs, and the second disk pulling us into the future. Many people have complained about the second disk, but I find that the songs on it are quite brilliant. The first song, Scream, is one of the most original songs of the nineties. It has a sound you won't find anywhere else, and the brother/sister duo mix their vocals extremely well. The second track, They Dont Really Care About Us, is so passionate and stimulating. You almost can't help turning up the volume. Stranger in Moscow is one of the most beautiful songs MJ's written, and its production is top notch. Earth Song is THE most beautiful song he's done, and it has a feel that gives you goosebumps. Overall, the album is one of the best I've heard. Some people critisize it for being too angry, but the anger gives the songs a passion and a depth that other artists lack. Its definitely worth the money for this deep and interesting work of art.

 "YUCK" 2006-04-13
By spaghetti (Christchurch New Zealand)
I will ignore the first disc because any real fan will have all these old hit on MJs first four Epic albums. Missing on disc one are many gems like Girlfriend and Baby be Mine which is why all true fans listen to the original album, not hits packages. There are some tracks on disc 2 that are good- three of them to be exact ( the first 3 tracks Scream, They dont Care, Stranger in Moscow), Earth Song is pure Megalomania but tolerable. The rest of the album will leave you feeling like a washed out morphine addict which is apparently what MJ was when he recorded the Album. This album was supported by the very successful but truly disappointing History Tour. Michael treats his fans like enemies in this album, it is a statement to his detractors not a party album for his followers. This is where The Legend Discontinues...

 "A Timeless Collection but one for a long time to come!!!" 2005-06-01
By jAmEs FeRnAnDiS (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
I have to GOLD edition of this 2xCD album and it rocks. The first CD is imbued with his past works that sound just as fresh today as when they were first released. Need I say more? The second CD gives us an insight of what is present state was like back then in '95. The album is good on a whole. But onyl a handful of tracks are worth having a rewind through. Some of the songs of this album are somewhat sorrowful but beautiful in their own sense of style. But this album is unique in a sense that, until today many artists cannot campare to even anything they've done, to him. He has already made his mark on the world. So please do not forget him. Just listen to this album. Because many of songs give a transparent view of his life. They are very inspirational. To date he is still "King Of Pop!". Keep FIGHTING MJ your fans still do!!!!!

 "Scrappy Album Attached With Greatest Hits!?" 2005-05-29
By Martin A Hogan (San Francisco, CA. (Hercules))
After "Off The Wall", "Thriller" and "Bad", there weren't too many places for Michael Jackson to go. He had survived his 1993 criminal allegations, but his music was faltering. "HIStory" contains fifteen big hits on the first disc and fifteen other songs on the second. It could have barely survived with the latter disc as a new album. There are some upbeat funk-rock numbers like, "This Time Around", "D.S." and "2 Bad", but the rest seem to flounder. "Scream" (a duet with sister Janet) is an incomprehensive mess and "HIStory" is six and a half minutes of sound bytes! The ballads, "Stranger In Moscow", Earth Songs" (particularly pretty) and "Childhood" fare well enough, however. The trouble with this set is that the first CD seems to say, "This is what I gave you" and the second says, "This is what I got". The second CD is nearly biographical in its lyric and it's not pleasant. Ending with "Smile" is as pure narcissism as one can get. Sure Jackson had some bad breaks, but he sure had some damn fantastic ones too. Half of the songs on the new CD should have been shelved, but that wouldn't have bided well with sales. As honest as Michael Jackson might be, he is still selling Michael Jackson.


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Cry

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The second single off the 2001 album, 'Invincible'. Tracks, 'Cry' (Album Version) and three non-LP tracks 'Streetwalker', 'Shout' & 'Cry' (short film).
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 "Amazing single Cd" 2003-10-02
By Ricardo (Balneário Camboriú, SC Brazil)
This is an amazing single of Invincible album, just as good as the You Rock My World. It contains the unreleased song of Shout and the greatest Streetwalker. With this songs Michael keeps being the king of pop!

 "Worth your money!" 2002-03-24
By (Florida, USA)
That's something MJ always wanted. Everyone to get their money's worth. Not only do you get a glimps of 'Invincible' on here, but you also hear a song which didn't make the cut for the 'Bad' album back in '87, which is a wonderful song by the way, and you get to hear a song that didn't make the 'Invincible' cut, called "Shout", which is MJ rapping!! It's off the wall, totally.

This single CD is brilliant. Go out and buy it. YOu can also see the video for CRY.

 "Good Overall" 2002-03-13
By mistermaxxx@yahoo.com (usa)
Cry was a Decent song not the Greatest not the worst.StreetWalker is a Throwaway track to Me.The Video is Alright.You Rock My World Hit&Miss Overall.but Shout is the Cut.the lyrics are strong&Make this Set worth peeping out alone.it's a Shame that MJ isn't getting any Push from Sony.

 "The Second Single" 2002-01-20
By Bruce Aguilar (Hollywood, CA)
It doesn't look like this is going to get a release in America, so if you want it, you'll have to get the import. It's a solid buy too, what with the strong and moving, 'Cry', it's video and the non album tracks ('Shout' and 'Streetwalker').

I haven't seen the 'Cry' video on American TV and don't think it's being released here. So this in your only chance to see it. It's not the most interesting of videos as it just features different people holding hands across various landscapes and finally joining in singing to the song at the end. I must admit though, to getting goosebumps when that ending came. All the different nationalities joining together for peace and unity was inspiring. But don't look for MJ, as he doesn't make an appearance.

'Shout' will take some getting used to for me. It seems much more in line with the music from HIStory than Invincible as it has a hard/angry edge. 'Streetwalker' (from the Bad special edition) is a really stong song and shouldn't be missed. Lots of street sounds (hrons honking, shoes on pavement and the like) make this a song to be listened to again and again to see what else you can hear in it.

If you're looking for rare and unavailabe MJ product (at least in America) then this CD is for you.

 "Cry CD Single" 2001-12-16
By Seanna
"Cry" is the second commercial single from the Invincible album. The CD maxi-single edition of "Cry" features exclusive bonus material, including a CD-Extra section with free multimedia. Here is the detailed content of the CD maxi-single:

1- "Cry" 5:00 (Album Version)
2- "Shout" 4:17 (never-before-released track)
3- "Streetwalker" 5:49 (taken from "Bad - Special Edition")
4- "Cry" - Short Film (CD-Extra multimedia portion)

This CD is well worth the buy. The main track "Cry" is a very passionate & beautiful song and it's a surefire hit. You also get the added bonus of "Shout" which was originally scheduled to be on Michael's new album "Invincible" but didn't make the cut. There's also "Streetwalker" which was also meant originally to be on his album "Bad" and which he has now been included in the special addition of that album. To top all this you get the video for "Cry". You can't do better than this.

(...)


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Blood on the Dance Floor: History in the Mix

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 "Read the lyrics and you'll know why MJ died" 2009-07-20
By L. Gagnon
Absolutely incredible that nobody notice how dangerously in pain Michael was. Yeah, it's hard to understand his words when he sings but now that I've been reading many of his lyrics it was crystal clear that he needed big time help. Morphine, They don't care about us, Ghost, Privacy, just to name a few.

UNIQUE talent. Michael, I love you more.

MANY have your blood on their hands.

 "blood on dance floor(history in mix)" 2008-03-06
By P. moan (USA, MA)
Majority of the songs on that album is really good but 2 bad and money is ok although....not bad for songs but not my all time favorite.





I'd say that this is the 2nd best album that I like to listen too other than my 2 all time favorites, THILLER and OFF THE WALL



I pretty much like all the albums that MJ made, even the one called invincable that came out 2001.





Also on this album...at some remix songs like it sounds like Michael singing with techno music playing on the background....but then again some others songs a little like rap music too.

 "Best Selling Remix Album Ever! And I Can See Why" 2008-02-27
By Music (Lafayette, Louisiana)
Michael Jackson's "Blood On The Dance Floor" album was released back in 1997 and contained 5 new songs and 8 remixes of songs from the "History" album. The 5 new songs on this album are fantastic. The first single "Blood On The Dance Floor" is fantastic! With having zero promotion it managed to hit #1 in the UK and #42 in the US. The songs "Ghosts" and "Is It Scary" are very similar to each other but are very good. The video for "Ghosts" is one the best videos I have ever seen before. The other two songs "Morphine" and "Superfly Sister" are amazing. I also do like some of the remixes on the album, the History remix is amazing and as well as the Stranger In Moscow remix. The "Blood On The Dance Floor" album became the best selling remix ever without having any promotion. The album has sold over 6 million copies worldwide and 1.2 million copies in the US. I would recommend this to you, even if your not into remixes, the 5 new songs on this album are well worth the purchase.

 "Music's In The Blood On The Dance Floor" 2007-11-08
By Kathryn L. Sugg
The should-have-been title song "Ghosts" is exactly like how it sounds in the music video, "2 Bad"---not so much. But at least it's all enjoyable.

 "Stunning album that was seriously underrated. " 2007-05-24
By J. Coyle (Lancaster, UK)
A cracking album that shot straight to No 1 in the UK and bursts with Michael's anger and vitriol. His voice is just amazing. Check out Ghosts/Is it Scary, This Time Around and the remixed Scream and see what I mean. Powerful stuff that's also incredibly energising. While I was formerly not a big fan of dance music the reworked tracks are treated in such a brilliant way that I am coverted.Pulsating. Recommended.




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Off The Wall - Special Edition

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 "MJ OFF the Wall CD" 2009-07-30
By Robert K. Rogers (Ivy, Va)
for my money, this was MJ's BEST ALBUM EVER....seemed to me after THRILLER, he lost his perspective of what normal behaviour is and isn't.



This purchase was a replacement CD, and this CD was also from my college years at the BYU in Utah.

 "Michael Jackson; Never Will Say Goodbye!" 2009-07-30
By A. M. Wallace (New York, New York)
Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall" album is as iconic as his masterpiece "Thriller." I was so happy to be able to replace my album, (yes I said ALBUM) with this digitially re-mastered updated disc with added demos and interviews. I cherish this music as I do all of the Jackson 5, The Jacksons and Michael's music! The King of Pop will live on forever and for anyone who doesn't have "Off The Wall" in your collection, it's a MUST HAVE. Early solo Michael at his best!

 "I LOVE THIS ALBUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!" 2009-07-29
By KEKE (South Orange, NJ)
I have been a MJ fan since I was a kid, I'm now in my early thirties so that speaks volumes I remember staying up to see the Thriller all night and when he got in the Pepsi accident I cried myself to sleep and never drank a pepsi in my life lol!!! anyway I say all of that to comeback to the original topic OFF THE WALL I discovered this wonderful album in my case cassette tape when I was in the 4th grade we had something called mini-society and everyone brought things to sell so I purchased the tape because it said Michael Jackson, and I remember being mesmerized by the sound I heard come out of my Sony walkman. the only thing I knew Michael for at that point was The E.T. Storybook , Thriller and We are the World. It was just a beautiful discovery and an introduction to my appreciation for Jazz. I cried like a baby the first time I heard She's out of my life. as the years passed by I replaced that old tape for the CD several times because It stays in heavy rotation.. every song is magical and dare I say a better concept album than Thriller. I love it!!!!!!!!!! I love everything he did!!!

 "King of pop" 2009-07-28
By RockinRobin411
First, I don't have this specific edition of the album with the bonus tracks, so this review is on specifically just the album. It's pretty much a disco album, but there's nothing wrong with that. It's mainly a pop album. The big hits from the album, "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough," "Rock With You," and "She's Out of My Life" are all great tracks, but tracks like "Working Day and Night," "Girlfriend," and "It's the Falling in Love" are also great, along with the other tracks from the album. Although his later albums had more variety in genres with tracks, this album is a good pop album, and the songs here are great pop songs.



Michael Jackson never did anything super-epic musically (he did a lot of that with the music videos, but not with the music). There isn't any twenty-minute suite, and there aren't any instrumental compositions that change time signatures. This is pop, which is basically short, catchy, polished, accessible songs.

 "Definitely a must have if you love great MJ music" 2009-07-21
By MJlover (Orlando)
Some of us are old enough to have the original LP or cassette recordings. Regardless, buying the CD version with the bonus tracks is totally worthwhile. I would recommend it to any MJ fan or beginner. I evidently enjoyed the insanely groovy music but also the demos which highlight Michael's endless talent. The interviews providing a little history on how the songs were compiled are also a definite plus. Loved it!!!!!


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The Best of Michael Jackson: 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection

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 "It is Good" 2005-03-15
By Jimbo G.
You need to be sort of sappy to like this CD. I had the LP years ago (One Day in Your Life) & enjoy the music a great deal. You hear so much crap out there these days- what is wrong with some songs about feelings. One Day in Your Life is the kind of song that everybody feels sometime.

 "Don't buy this one" 2004-10-08
By blstheone (Los Angeles, CA United States)
Like an earlier reviewer said, the "Millennium" edition of this c.d., as well as others are total rip-offs. If you really want a good collection of Michael's solo recordings from when he started back in 1971, buy the Michael Jackson "Anthology" collection - it's much better than this millennium spoof, and offers way more tracks than this few.

 "The Millenium Criminals Strike Again!" 2004-09-26
By Michael Kydonieus (San Francisco, CA United States)
It seems like the Millenium brand exists to rip off consumers and trivialize the legacy of major recording artists. First of all, how can you justify putting out an 11-track cd of songs which are usually 3 minutes long or less? Even more so when the artist in question was a legend even BEFORE he went solo? Surely Michael Jackson deserves at least 24 tracks. Millenium has done similar hatchet jobs on the Spinners, the Four Tops and Sublime. If ever a company's product was ALL about the money, this is it! Put these turkeys out of business--don't buy this compilation!

 "From the perspective of a 24 year-old aspiring music critic" 2001-06-05
By Knyte (New York, NY)
For me, listening to any music created before 1985 feels like an expedition through time in search of hidden musical treasures; I really didn't start paying serious attention to the music industry until the summer of 1989 - the summer between my 6th and 7th grades.

So did I find any sonic gems on this album? You better believe it. I was already familiar with "Got To Be There"; it's one of my favorite Michael Jackson slow songs of all time. For those who haven't heard it, I would just describe it as an innocent and passionate declaration of love.

We continue with urgently pleading "I Wanna Be Where You Are", a song I'd heard sampled in 1991 by rapper MC Lyte in her song "Georgie Porgie"; this song is great. "Rockin Robin" is a fun remake - you can almost picture a cartoon video in your head while you listen; the song is colorful and playful.

"People Make The World Go Round" was another surprise for me. I like it, but the reason it surprised me was because in 1996, the group Westside Connection used this song as the basis for their hit, "Gangstas Make The World Go Round"...at any rate, I felt educated when I heard the original, which is wonderful. I always appreciate learning something new (or old, depending on your perspective, of course).

"With A Child's Heart", and "Happy" are both great ballads firmly rooted in the pop tradition; benign, tender and sugary. "Ben", on the other hand is young MJ's eerily beautiful masterpiece. From what I understand, the song was used for a horror movie called "Willard"; the movie was about a boy and his homicidal pet rat...

The next two tracks don't really fit Michael Jackson's voice in my opinion; they were produced with a philly-soul sound that was more rugged than Michael's signature pop/R&B. Eventually, we make our way to track #10, the ultra-somber "One Day In Your Life" - my favorite song on the album. Here are some of the lyrics:

One Day In Your Life

You'll Remember The Love You Found Here

You'll Remember Me Somehow

Though You Don't Need Me Now,

I Will Stay In Your Heart

And When Things Fall Apart,

You'll Remember One Day...

I think this song is very sad and moving. I admit that it may strike some as ridiculously corny, but it worked for me. The sound and feeling behind this song bring to mind the melancholy that fueled Gloria Estefan's 1987 ballad "Anything For You"...

We close this collection with a ballad called "Music and Me" that ends the album perfectly. On this CD you're getting both versions of Michael - the child, and the adolescent. It's a great buy...

Thanks for reading

C.H.R.

 "Good Only If You Entertain Sentimental Memories...." 2001-04-19
By yygsgsdrassil (Crossroads America)
....I like a good tune as well as anyone. And like many folks I was so glad to see MJ perform as a kid, I wanted to be like him. Hell, a lot of us wanted to be HIM. I, for one, had grown out of that, long, long ago....I've become fixated on my own wife and kids. I can be sentimental about them.

But, the issue at hand is what I feel about this MJ CD.

Michael's Motown cuts here are just "alright". Nothing good, nothing bad. "Got to Be There" and "Ben" in particular are good tunes. But until someone makes an all encompassing anthology which includes MJ's solo Motown and Epic years, this will probably only whet your MJ jones. It ain't--noways, nohows--the best thing smokin' though. Unless you take the view that when certain artists sneeze, it should be considered a masterpiece. I say, "Let the buyer beware" on this one...


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