"The Essential Michael Jackson" is a compilation album by Michael Jackson that was released on July 19, 2005 by Sony Music's catalog division Legacy Recordings. It contains songs he recorded from 1969 to the late 1990s, during his tenure at Epic Records.
The compilation is a comprehensive representation of his career, featuring tracks from his early days at Motown with The Jackson 5, to his solo success in the 80s with albums like "Thriller" and "Bad," as well as his late career hits. The double disc album includes iconic songs like "Billie Jean," "Beat It," "Thriller," "Black or White," and "You Are Not Alone."
Upon its release, the album received positive reviews. Commercially, "The Essential Michael Jackson" was a success, charting in numerous countries and receiving multiple certified awards. It charted at number 2 in the UK Albums Chart and remained in the charts for an incredible 424 weeks. In the US, the album peaked at number 5 on the Billboard 200 and was certified 3x Platinum by the RIAA.
In terms of its selection of songs, "The Essential Michael Jackson" provides a deep dive into the breadth of Michael Jackson's work, showcasing his evolution as an artist and his extraordinary talent as a songwriter, singer, and performer.
