Thriller (Japan)

~ Release by Michael Jackson (see all versions of this release, 84 available)

Annotation

discogs notes: "It is the original Japanese CD pressing of the album "Thriller". It contains a slightly alternate mix of "Billie Jean"."

Annotation last modified on 2012-05-16 06:27 UTC.

Tracklist

1▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
recording engineer and mixer:
Bruce Swedien
drum machine programming and co-producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
producer:
Quincy Jones
electric bass guitar:
Louis Johnson (bass, member of Brothers Johnson)
flugelhorn and trumpet:
Gary Grant (brass) and Jerry Hey
flute and saxophone:
Larry Williams (jazz keyboard, sax, flute & clarinet; producer, composer, arranger, and multi‐instrumentalist)
foot stomps [bathroom stomp board]:
Nelson Hayes, Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Steven Ray (80s US R&B producer/performer)
guitar:
David Williams (session guitarist and songwriter)
percussion:
Paulinho da Costa (Brazilian percussionist)
Rhodes piano and synthesizer:
Greg Phillinganes
synthesizer:
Michael Boddicker and Bill Wolfer (record producer, songwriter, musician and synthesizer programmer from USA)
trombone:
Bill Reichenbach, Jr. (jazz trombonist)
background vocals:
Bunny Hull, James Ingram (R&B singer), Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”), Becky Lopez, Julia Waters, Maxine Waters and Oren Waters
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
horn and percussion arranger:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
horn arranger:
Jerry Hey
percussion arranger:
Quincy Jones
wind instruments arranger:
Jerry Hey and Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1982)
recorded at:
Westlake Recording Studios (founded as Westlake Audio in the early 1970s) in West Hollywood, California, United States (in 1982)
samples:
Soul Makossa by Manu Dibango
recording of:
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ (from 1982-04 until 1982-10)
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Byefall Productions, Inc. and Sony/ATV Harmony
quotes lyrics from:
Soul Makossa
part of:
MJ: The Musical
part of:
MJ: The Musical
Michael Jackson3.96:04
2Baby Be Mine
recording engineer and mixer:
Bruce Swedien
synthesizer programming:
Brian Banks (American keyboardist), Anthony Marinelli (Soundtrack composer) and Steve Porcaro
producer:
Quincy Jones
drums (drum set):
Leon Ndugu Chancler
flugelhorn and trumpet:
Gary Grant (brass) and Jerry Hey
flute and saxophone:
Larry Williams (jazz keyboard, sax, flute & clarinet; producer, composer, arranger, and multi‐instrumentalist)
guitar:
David Williams (session guitarist and songwriter)
keyboard and synthesizer:
Greg Phillinganes
synthesizer:
Michael Boddicker and David Paich
trombone:
Bill Reichenbach, Jr. (jazz trombonist)
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
horn arranger and wind instruments arranger:
Jerry Hey
synthesizer arranger:
Rod Temperton
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1982)
recorded at:
Westlake Recording Studios (founded as Westlake Audio in the early 1970s) in West Hollywood, California, United States (in 1982)
recording of:
Baby Be Mine
lyricist and composer:
Rod Temperton
Michael Jackson3.654:21
3The Girl Is Mine
recording engineer and mixer:
Bruce Swedien
synthesizer programming:
Steve Porcaro
producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Quincy Jones
drums (drum set):
Jeff Porcaro (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16)
electric bass guitar:
Louis Johnson (bass, member of Brothers Johnson) (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16)
guitar:
Steve Lukather (guitarist, vocalist, composer, producer and arranger) (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16) and Dean Parks (American session guitarist) (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16)
piano:
David Paich (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16)
Rhodes piano:
Greg Phillinganes (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16)
synthesizer:
David Foster (Canadian music producer, arranger and composer) (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16)
violin:
Gerald Vinci (American violinist and strings conductor) (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16)
guest lead vocals:
Paul McCartney (The Beatles) (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16)
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16)
conductor:
Jerry Hey (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16)
percussion arranger:
David Paich
strings arranger:
Jerry Hey
synthesizer arranger:
David Foster (Canadian music producer, arranger and composer)
arranger:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Quincy Jones
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1982)
recorded at:
Cherokee Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16)
recording of:
The Girl Is Mine (from 1982-04-14 until 1982-04-16)
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)
Michael Jackson with Paul McCartney3.63:43
4Thriller
recording engineer and mixer:
Bruce Swedien
synthesizer programming:
Anthony Marinelli (Soundtrack composer)
producer:
Quincy Jones
drum machine [LinnDrum], background vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
flugelhorn and trumpet:
Gary Grant (brass) and Jerry Hey
flute and saxophone:
Larry Williams (jazz keyboard, sax, flute & clarinet; producer, composer, arranger, and multi‐instrumentalist)
guitar:
David Williams (session guitarist and songwriter)
synthesizer:
Brian Banks (American keyboardist), Greg Phillinganes and Rod Temperton
trombone:
Bill Reichenbach, Jr. (jazz trombonist)
spoken vocals:
Vincent Price (US horror film actor)
horn arranger and wind instruments arranger:
Jerry Hey
percussion arranger and synthesizer arranger:
Rod Temperton
sound effects:
Bruce Cannon and Bruce Swedien
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1982)
recorded at:
Westlake Recording Studios (founded as Westlake Audio in the early 1970s) in West Hollywood, California, United States (in 1982)
music videos:
Thriller by Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
part of:
Billboard Hot 100: 2025-11-15 (number: 10) and Billboard Hot 100: 2025-11-08 (number: 32)
recording of:
Thriller
lyricist and composer:
Rod Temperton
publisher:
Almo Music Corp. (USA, affiliated with ASCAP), Chrysalis Music Ltd. (music publisher, affiliated with PRS), Rodsongs (publisher), Rondor Music (London) Ltd., Universal Music Publishing France (not for release label use!) 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)
is based on:
Starlight
part of:
MJ: The Musical
Michael Jackson4.456:05
5Beat It
recording engineer:
Donn Landee and Bruce Swedien
synthesizer programming:
Steve Porcaro
co-producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
producer:
Quincy Jones
mixer:
Bruce Swedien
drums (drum set):
Jeff Porcaro
electric bass guitar and electric guitar:
Steve Lukather (guitarist, vocalist, composer, producer and arranger)
guitar:
Paul Jackson, Jr. (fusion/urban jazz composer, arranger, producer and guitarist)
keyboard:
Bill Wolfer (record producer, songwriter, musician and synthesizer programmer from USA)
percussion [drum case beater], background vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
Rhodes piano and synthesizer:
Greg Phillinganes
solo electric guitar:
Edward Van Halen
synclavier:
Tom Bahler
synthesizer:
Steve Porcaro
synthesizer [Synergy synthesizer]:
Greg Smith (Producer/Keyboards)
vibraslap:
Chris Shepard
percussion arranger:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) and Quincy Jones
arranger:
Rod Temperton
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1982)
recorded at:
Westlake Recording Studios (founded as Westlake Audio in the early 1970s) in West Hollywood, California, United States (in 1982)
samples:
Untitled (side A) by Denny Jaeger
music videos:
Beat It by Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
part of:
Rolling Stone: The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time (2026-05-04) (number: 12), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock, NME: 50 Greatest Guitar Riffs of All Time (2012-10-25) (number: 18), VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s (compiled in 2006) (number: 21), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-05-23 (number: 29), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-05-16 (number: 32), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-05-30 (number: 47), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 185), Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 209) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 337)
recording of:
Beat It
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)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
Michael Jackson4.34:19
6Billie Jean
recording engineer and mixer:
Bruce Swedien
synthesizer programming:
Bill Wolfer (record producer, songwriter, musician and synthesizer programmer from USA)
co-producer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
producer:
Quincy Jones
bass guitar:
Louis Johnson (bass, member of Brothers Johnson)
drums (drum set):
Leon Ndugu Chancler
guitar:
David Williams (session guitarist and songwriter)
Rhodes piano and synthesizer:
Greg Phillinganes
synthesizer:
Bill Wolfer (record producer, songwriter, musician and synthesizer programmer from USA)
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
conductor:
Jeremy Lubbock
percussion and synthesizer arranger and synthesizer arranger:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
strings arranger:
Jerry Hey
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1982)
recorded at:
Westlake Recording Studios (founded as Westlake Audio in the early 1970s) in West Hollywood, California, United States (in 1982)
edit of:
Billie Jean (long version) by Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
music videos:
Billie Jean by Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
part of:
VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s (compiled in 2006) (number: 4), Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 7), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-05-23 (number: 15), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock, Billboard Hot 100: 2026-05-16 (number: 17), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-06-20 (number: 18), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-06-06 (number: 19), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-06-13 (number: 19), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-05-30 (number: 32), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-05-09 (number: 38), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 44), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 58) and Billboard: Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Songs (number: 95)
recording of:
Billie Jean
lyricist and composer:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
publisher:
Mijac Music, Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label) and Warner/Chappell North America Limited (formerly incorporated as Marmalade Music Ltd., from 1968/09/19–1999/11/09)
sub-publisher:
Neue Welt Musikverlag GmbH & Co. KG (– 2017) 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)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
Michael Jackson4.14:57
7Human Nature
recording engineer and mixer:
Bruce Swedien
synthesizer programming:
Steve Porcaro
producer:
Quincy Jones
drums (drum set):
Jeff Porcaro
guitar:
Steve Lukather (guitarist, vocalist, composer, producer and arranger)
percussion:
Paulinho da Costa (Brazilian percussionist)
synthesizer:
David Paich and Steve Porcaro
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
arranger:
Steve Lukather (guitarist, vocalist, composer, producer and arranger), David Paich and Steve Porcaro
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1982)
recorded at:
Westlake Recording Studios (founded as Westlake Audio in the early 1970s) in West Hollywood, California, United States (in 1982)
part of:
Billboard Hot 100: 2026-05-23 (number: 21), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-05-16 (number: 29), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-06-06 (number: 31), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-06-13 (number: 31), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-06-20 (number: 37), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-05-30 (number: 44) and Billboard Hot 100: 2026-06-27 (number: 47)
recording of:
Human Nature
lyricist:
John Bettis
composer:
Steve Porcaro
publisher:
John Bettis Music and Mystical Light Music
sub-publisher:
Sony Music Publishing France, Warner Chappell Music France, 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), 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) (, from 2017-04-01 to present), ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division) and ヤマハミュージックパブリッシング (Yamaha Music Publishing) (until 2017-03-31)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
Michael Jackson3.654:06
8P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
recording engineer and mixer:
Bruce Swedien
synthesizer programming:
Greg Phillinganes
producer:
Quincy Jones
drums (drum set):
Leon Ndugu Chancler
electric bass guitar:
Louis Johnson (bass, member of Brothers Johnson)
guitar:
Paul Jackson, Jr. (fusion/urban jazz composer, arranger, producer and guitarist)
handclaps:
James Ingram (R&B singer), Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”), Greg Phillinganes and Steven Ray (80s US R&B producer/performer)
handclaps and keyboard and keyboard:
James Ingram (R&B singer)
handclaps and synthesizer and synthesizer:
Greg Phillinganes
vocoder:
Michael Boddicker
additional background vocals:
Howard Hewett and James Ingram (R&B singer)
background vocals [P.Y.T.'s]:
Bunny Hull, Janet Jackson, La Toya Jackson and Becky Lopez
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
arranger:
James Ingram (R&B singer) and Quincy Jones
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1982)
recorded at:
Westlake Recording Studios (founded as Westlake Audio in the early 1970s) in West Hollywood, California, United States (in 1982)
recording of:
P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
writer:
James Ingram (R&B singer) and Quincy Jones
publisher:
Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label), Yellowbrick Road Music, 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), ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division), フジパシフィック音楽出版 BMG事業部 (until 2014-12-31) and フジパシフィックミュージック BMG事業部 (Fujipacific Music Inc., BMG Division) (from 2015-01-01 to present)
Michael Jackson3.853:59
9The Lady in My Life
recording engineer and mixer:
Bruce Swedien
producer:
Quincy Jones
bass guitar:
Louis Johnson (bass, member of Brothers Johnson)
drums (drum set):
Jeff Porcaro
guitar:
Paul Jackson, Jr. (fusion/urban jazz composer, arranger, producer and guitarist)
Rhodes piano:
Greg Phillinganes
synthesizer:
David Paich and Steve Porcaro
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”)
arranger:
Rod Temperton
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MJJ Productions Inc. (rights holder, not an imprint) (in 1982)
recorded at:
Westlake Recording Studios (founded as Westlake Audio in the early 1970s) in West Hollywood, California, United States (in 1982)
recording of:
The Lady in My Life
lyricist and composer:
Rod Temperton
publisher:
Almo Music Corp. (USA, affiliated with ASCAP)
Michael Jackson3.255:01

Credits

Release group

associated singles/EPs:Beat It
Billie Jean
Human Nature
P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
The Girl Is Mine by Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) & Paul McCartney (The Beatles)
Thriller
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ / Beat It
covers:Easy Star’s Thrillah by Easy Star All-Stars
Thriller Recovered by Various Artists (add compilations to this artist)
part of:Billboard Decade End Chart: Billboard 200 (1980s) (number: 1) (order: 1)
Music Canada Certified Double Diamond Albums (number: 1984-04-01) (order: 1)
Apple Music: 100 Best Albums (number: 2) (order: 2)
Pitchfork: The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s (number: 2) (order: 2)
Brit Award for British Album of the Year (winners) (number: 1984) (order: 4)
Rolling Stone: 100 Best Albums of the Eighties (published November 16, 1989) (number: 7) (order: 7)
Z-Trip’s Top Nine 80s Records (number: Honorable Mention) (order: 10)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2020 edition (number: 12) (order: 12)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2023 edition (number: 12) (order: 12)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2003 edition (number: 20) (order: 20)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2012 edition (number: 20) (order: 20)
Grammy Award: Album of the Year nominees (number: 1984 winner) (order: 109)
Discothèque Idéale Qobuz / Qobuz Ideal Discography (order: 131)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (2005 edition) (number: 506) (order: 507)
Wikipedia:en: Thriller 25 [info]
en: Thriller 40 [info]
Discogs:https://www.discogs.com/master/8883 [info]
lyrics page:https://genius.com/albums/Michael-jackson/Thriller [info]
reviews:https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/649p [info]
https://www.rollingstone.de/reviews/michael-jackson-thriller/ [info]
other databases:https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/michael_jackson/thriller/ [info]
https://www.musik-sammler.de/album/23365/ [info]
https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-details-12 [info]
Allmusic:https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000056882 [info]
Wikidata:Q44320 [info]
discography entry:https://www.last.fm/music/Michael+Jackson/Thriller [info]