Thriller [Remaster] - Jackson, Michael (CD 2001)

I remember when Thriller was released. I was so excited and really, really, really wanted the album. I kept dropping hints left and right hoping someone would finally give in (or just get annoyed with me - whichever came first) and get me the album. You can only imagine my joy when my mom came home from work one day with a rectangular paper bag and handed it to me. Not only was it the Thriller album, but my mom put my name on the breast pocket of MJ's jacket on the front cover. I felt so special because this meant this album was mine, mine, MINE (and no one else's!!!!!!!)

After the drooling died down, I opened the album to find a centerfold of MJ with he tiger cub and the salivating commenced for another day or so. Finally after coming back to Earth, I found the energy to play the album. I gave the album a full inspection - I checked it out from all angles. It came with lyrics (a plus for me) and some interesting artwork done by MJ himself. On one side was an image of MJ and Paul tugging on this little thing of a woman and I thought to myself, "Is this what they're fighting over? Put some meat on that woman." The other artwork, which I thought captured the essence of the song, Thriller, was MJ with his date watching a horror flick. There are ghosts and arms coming out of the TV and she is scared out of her mind, while MJ looks over at her. I put that sleeve through a lot of wear and tear to the point where I had to scotch tape the edges to keep the album from falling out of the sleeve.

The album is back home with the family in New York, so after finding the CD version of Off The Wall, I figured Thriller would be available as well. Luck would have it that I was able to nab the last copy (for that week at least) from Wal-Mart. I was that happy little girl all over again.

The Playlist

Here are the songs and bonus features that you will find on the Thriller Remaster CD:

1. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' - 6:02
2. Baby Be Mine - 4:20
3. The Girl Is Mine (with Paul McCartney) - 3:42
4. Thriller - 5:57
5. Beat It - 4:17
6. Billie Jean - 4:53
7. Human Nature - 4:05
8. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) - 3:58
9. The Lady In My Life - 4:59
10. Quincy Jones Commentary - 2:19
11. Someone In The Dark (bonus track) - 4:47
12. Quincy Jones Commentary - 2:04
13. Billie Jean (previously unreleased, 1981 demo) - 2:20
14. Quincy Jones Commentary - 3:10
15. Rod Temperton Commentary - 4:03
16. Quincy Jones Commentary - 1:32
17. Voice-Over Session From "Thriller" - 2:52
18. Rod Temperton Commentary - 1:56
19. Quincy Jones Commentary - 2:01
20. Carousel (previously unreleased) - 1:49
21. Quincy Jones Commentary - 1:17

Total Playing Time: 1:12:32

More Childhood Memories

With Off The Wall, that album belonged to my parents, so I'd have to ask permission for the most part to play that album. But, seeing that Thriller had my name on it, the only rule was my hands were the only hands allowed to touch that album and so help anyone if I found out they touched it without my permission. There were only 9 songs on the album and I always wondered why he couldn't include just one more song to make it an even ten, but, it still made for great listening.

Instead of just going down the list and discussing the tracks in order, I've decided to shake things up a bit, just to see what happens.

I'm just gonna jump right into Thriller because in my opinion everything about this song sealed MJ's title as King of Pop. The first time I heard this song, I was scared out of my wits. The creaking doors, the howling, the rap by Vincent Price made this the song of the century. I remember when the video/short movie premiered. There was nothing that was going to prevent me from watching this video. The opening scared me so much that I was clinging to my mom's arms for dear life. Then ghosts and zombies started coming out of the earth and the blood and guts - this was done so well.

The best part of the video was the dance number. I don't think there's anyone out there who hasn't made the attempt to do the dance, even a small part of it. This song, the video, everything about it was a masterpiece. I love everything about Thriller - it's in a class by itself.

When I first heard Beat It I thought it was edgy, it had that element of coolness. The opening bars played by the guitar were something different from what MJ already performed. I thought it was cool. Then I saw the video and I thought to myself, "I wanna be that girl with the long hair." The video definitely captured the essence of the song. From what I remember, these were actual gangs that were in the video, and a cameo appearance from actor Michael DeLorenzo. After watching the video about 20 million times, I had the dance moves down to a science and would dance along with the video as well as mimic MJ's moves throughout the video. I'm not sure what it is, but every time I hear this song, it's as if I'm transported to another place.

Here's some trivia about Beat It - apparently Eddie Van Halen, who was the solo guitarist in this song, didn't want to appear in the video because he didn't think the song would take off. I bet he's been kicking himself ever since then.

I remember wanting to be Billie Jean the first time I heard this song. I'm not sure why, but she had to have been somebody special. This is another song that when you hear the first few beats, you know you're gonna be in for a treat. It has a great combination of funk, soul, a little jazz and a sense of sophistication. When I saw the video for the first time and each step MJ made would light up the sidewalk, I thought he had special powers. I'd be glued to the TV set and was just mesmerized by the dance moves. He did things that put you in a trance.

Flashback to Motown 25. I remember that day like it was yesterday. My mom was braiding my hair and MJ took the stage and performed Billie Jean. He looked so yummy in that suit with sparkles and the glove on the hand and he performed so well. The drooling commenced once again. Then he did it - the moonwalk. My mom and I were frozen in our tracks. It was unlike anything anyone had ever seen before. I remember thinking, "He's, he's he's floating." The song is a masterpiece.

Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' is a great way to start the album. It has a great opening beat and gets you out of your seat from the word go. It has so many different layers to it and each time I listen to it, I hear something new. I think my favorite part of this song is the last verse:
Lift your head up high
And scream out to the world
I know I am someone
And let the truth unfurl
No one can hurt you now
Because you know what's true
Yes, I believe in me
So you believe in you
Help me sing it,
Ma ma se,
Ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa
Ma ma se, ma ma sa
Ma ma coo sa

The ma ma se melody sounds like an African beat and I go into dance mode and start doing African dances every time I hear it. It's a good beat that allows you to act a little crazy (at least by yourself.) Here's a little more trivia (in case you are ever on Jeopardy.) This song was used in a LA Gear commercial in the late 80s (remember those sneakers) and Vivica A. Fox was one of the actresses in that commercial with this song playing in the background.

The Lady in My Life is the only love ballad on the album and what a ballad it is. It's sensual, it's sexy, and it s almost as if MJ is singing to you. And baby through the years/even when we're old and gray/I will love you more each day/'Cause you will always be the lady in my life. I never get tired of hearing this song. When I'm playing the CD, I'll repeat it at least 4 times.

As a kid, when I heard P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing), I wanted to be a P.Y.T. so badly, I would have done anything. I love the upbeat tempo and the playfulness of this song.

Bonus Features

The bonus tracks found on the Remaster CD are a nice treat. The only thing that I want to really talk about is the Thriller voice-over session. I found it kind of funny listening to how MJ and Vincent Price interact with each other. They were so mellow and laid back as they were getting ready to record their parts for the song. What's an added treat is that there's an added verse to Price's rap. I sat and listened to this rap over and over to get it right and here it is (it goes in between the 1st and last verse that we usually hear):

The demons squeal in sheer delight
It s you they spy, so plum, so right
For though the groove is hard to beat
It s still you stand with frozen feet
You try to run, you try to scream
But no more sun you ll ever see
For evil reaches from the crypt
To crush you in it s icy grip

At the end, right before Price goes into his haunting laugh, he says, Can you dig it? I didn't really think that part went with the song, and evidently, they didn't think so either. This was a nice treat because when it's all done, Price is pretty happy with what he did. He says something to the effect of, "That was fun."

Final Thoughts

If you haven't already figured it out, I love Thriller. As I got older and came understand music a little better, I realized that MJ was ahead of his time with this album. It won, I believe 8 Grammy s and is still the overall best selling album. He had a great formula for this album and worked with some great producers and artists. This is on of MJ's better albums because you can find at least 3 songs to listen to over and over again. The man is a genius.

Take care and thanks for reading.