Customer Reviews

Thriller 25 Deluxe Edition

5 star:		(69)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Michael Jackson 25th Anniversary of Thriller(Deluxe Casebook Edition)

The 25th Anniversary edition of Thriller is an awesome release and a must have for serious fans and new inductees. This deluxe casebook edition also includes a fold out collectable book with bonus pictures, background information, album art and the original liner jacket with all the lyrics. There's also more basic editions going for about $12 that don't include the casebook. Michael Jackson 25th Anniversary of Thriller No matter how you slice it, this 25th Anniversary edition belongs in your collection.

There are many reasons to buy this album, even if you already own it. First of all, this album came out at the height of vinyl and cassette tapes, so there are a lot of people who don't own the album on CD. Granted many people bought the previous re-releases on CD, but if you haven't now's your chance.

Younger music fans who love will.i.am Songs About Girls, Kanye West Graduation, Fergie The Dutchessand Akon Konvicted will be attracted by the remade versions, even if hard-core Michael Jackson fans don't like them as much.

Old school fans will be seduced by the awesome holographic CD dust jacket, sharper re-mastered original tracks and included bonus DVD videos. It was a long time since I heard the original album in total, tracks 1-10 on this CD. When you listen to it again, it's impossible not to realize how amazing of a production this truly was and still is, even now 25 years later. Every single song is a hit, and Michael moves through genres including pop, rock and R&B with ease, nailing each one.

It's clear to anybody who follows R&B that so many artists over the past 10 years have made careers essentially emulating Michael's singing style and dance moves. You can include on that list:
- Justin Timberlake - FutureSex / LoveSounds
- Chris Brown - Chris Brown
- Usher - My Way
- Omarion - O

Record labels have an army of executives that realize the marketing potential of putting some top stars together to add remakes to this re-release. The remakes can't possibly match Michael's original accomplishment. Yet they are not as bad as many say. I actually like the Akon version of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin." And Kanye West's "Billie Jean" mix really highlights his abilities as a producer.

The included DVD includes the short film music video versions of "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and "Thriller." These videos are historic in their own right, each one a high budget production better than a lot of the movies made in 1982.

There's also the Motown 25 performance of "Billie Jean." For those that don't remember this performance, it's the one where Michael first does the moonwalk on stage. Let me tell you, it takes quite a performer to pull off a rhinestone shirt, rhinestone socks, sparkly jacket, high-waters and one white glove!

It's amazing to note that Michael Jackson actually wrote most of the biggest hits on this album, something today's R&B artists rarely do. Most of the biggest hits from the album are his original works, including "Wanna Be Startin' Something," "The Girl Is Mine," "Beat It," and "Billie Jean."

"Baby Be Mine," "Thriller," and "The Lady In My Life" were written and composed by Rod Temperton. "PYT" was the work of the legendary James Ingram and Quincy Jones. And Steve Porcato wrote both "Human Nature" (with John Bettis) and the newly released "For All Time" (with Michael Sherwood), number 16 on this edition. I really liked this previously unreleased track, and it definitely has a sound akin to Human Nature. I can only speculate that that similarity is what kept it off of the original release.

Still, there are many other B-side tracks and unreleased songs that could have also been included. I can only guess they are saving those up for a forthcoming box set to further extract cash from die hard fans.

It's amazing to think this album won 8 Grammys, and it probably wasn't close in any category.
+ Album of the Year
+ Record of the Year ("Beat It")
+ Best Male Pop Vocal Performance ("Thriller")
+ Best Male Rock Vocal Performance ("Beat It")
+ Best Male R&B Vocal Performance ("Billie Jean")
+ Best R&B Song ("Billie Jean")
+ Producer of the Year (Qunicy Jones and Michael Jackson)
+ Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical (Bruce Swedien)

And there must not have been awards for best music video back then because "Thriller," "Billie Jean," and "Beat It" would have all been nominated.

This is a pivotal album that is well done here at an affordable price when you factor in all the cool stuff that's included.

Enjoy!!!

This second re-issue of Thriller is a better re-issue than the 2001 Special Edition. The sound quality is a lot better. But I still find it a tad lacking. It is missing "Can't get Outta The Rain" Which appeared on side 2/B of the 45 release of Billie Jean and "Got the hots" (Which is appearing on the Japan Release). Those 2 tracks should have been added. I wouldn't be surprised if the album has a 30th anniversary edition 5 years later with those 2 songs adeed. Also, The Kanye West Remix of Billie Jean was a tad disappointing. Kanye gave the song a great new beat but I was hoping to get a rap verse out of him on the track. The Fergie remix to Beat It wasn't too bad either. I have nothing against Fergie but I think that P!nk would have been a better choice for the song. Anyways, Like I said, this is a big improvement from the 2001 Special Edition for the sound quality. The Interviews on that edition are better bonus features. I think it's well worth getting for the better sound quality. But Even though the sound is better, I find the DVD lacking. Thriller is missing the making of the video. That should have been added.

Well... THRILLER came out in 1983 and if you wanna know what's the importance of this album, just think about this: not only it summed up the best things about American popular music so far but it also revolutionized the way pop music was marketed and regarded. Perhaps, in the History of American music, there are only two phases: before THRILLER and after THRILLER.

If we try to break down the album, we can see each song as the outstanding corollary of certain styles and influences... R&B, Motown, TSOP, Blues, Disco, Gospel, Electro and anything else you can think of. It's all there. And that is the proof that both Michael and his producer Quincy Jones were, at that time, a match made in heaven.

This is certainly an album to be studied.

This 25th Anniversary Edition puts together a nice package: first comes the CD with all the original tracks plus some new remixes and homages(made by Kanye West, Fergie and Will.I.Am) and a new unreleased track FOR ALL TIME.

Now... honestly... I found all this new material completely delectable. I really prefer the previous THRILLER SPECIAL EDITION which contains other unreleased tracks AND a beautiful demo of BILLIE JEAN that is gorgeous. That edition of THRILLER is, in my opinion, superior to this one. It is richer... while this one focuses on the "homage" side.

BUT... this edition comes with a DVD that cannot be missed. Not only it brings you the THRILLER video - without a doubt, the video that defined what a music video is today (before THRILLER, music videos were something else...) but it also comes loaded with new stuff (like the unreleased song FOR ALL TIME) and the great MOTOWN 25 TV special.

So, in a word, unmissable.

And if you are willing to spend more money, this is a DELUXE CASEBOOK EDITION that comes in a hardbound 48-page book full of rare photos, lyrics and more.

A little more expensive, but twice unmissable. (laughs)

Let me start by saying, I'm a huge MJ fan and, of course, Thriller is probably THE album that comes to mind for anyone who thinks Michael Jackson. It's a classic! ...However, the question one has to ask themselves when it comes to re-releases (especially after the recent 2001 re-release) is, what more am I getting? Why am I going to spend another $20 on this project?

Obviously, the newly recorded bonus tracks/remixes are a MAJOR plus! I mean, Michael's recording again!!! And contrary to some negative reviews, if you're familiar with the "Jackson Sound", these tracks are definitely "jammin'"!

...That, however, is where the perks stop. Why he/Sony choose to release a "Casebook Edition" is beyond me. For an extra $5-8 you get... Pictures. Pictures any MJ fan have already seen, if not own elsewhere. To be frank, you may as well buy the "Standard/Classic Edition" for $9-11. You still get all the bonus tracks plus the bonus DVD.

Do not be fooled into thinking you're getting this huge treat. ...Even if it is Michael Jackson.

The fans wanted more UNRELEASED songs from the original sessions. Not these remixes from these flash in the pan performers.Still, this is Thriller, so it will be regardless, but the remixes slightly cheapens it's legacy

Michael Jackson's "Thriller" gets the royal treatment on its 25th anniversery,this time including five remixes from the likes of Kanye West,will.i.am,Akon and Fergie,a very good unreleased track from the "Thriller" sessions "For All Time" and the DVD containing all the classic videos of "Bille Jean","Beat It" and "Thriller" plus the legendary moonwalking performance of BJ from "Motown 25" that sent MJ and "Thriller" into the stratesphere of "The World's Biggest-Selling Album Of All-Time".The real reason to pick up this reissue,to those who already have this,is the remastered sound of the original album(done by Tom Coyne at Sterling Sound),which easily surpasses the previous Thriller edition from 2001 in terms of bass,clarity and dimension.It makes the album sound sound fresh and new again.Yes,MJ is weird,but "Thriller" still sounds wonderful after all these years!

The 2 Stars are not for the album,(I Love Thriller), they're for the LAME bonus disc. I just see this release as a huge wasted chance to finally release the rest of the great unreleased tracks from the Thriller sessions. What happened to songs like "Hot Street", "Trouble" and "NightLine". Those songs are excellent and are a worthy addition to a Thriller 25th year collection. I couldn't care less about a bunch of remixes. I never listen to them. The Black Eyed Peas don't belong on a release of Thriller. Michael could've and should've done much better.

Michael Jackson's "Thriller" is such a timeless album. This album will always be the greatest of all time. Why? Because no one makes good music like this anymore. My parents, who have always been big country music fans, had this album on record. That just shows how much Michael broke down barriers.
I was 2 years old when the original album came out and as I grew older and became a fan I bought this album on cassette tape. When the 25th anniversary edition came out I had to get this puppy on CD and of course get the deluxe edition with never before seen pictures.
The original songs are still awesome of course. The remixes are ok. "Wanna Be Startin' Something" with Akon and "Beat It" with Fergie are my favorite. "Billie Jean" with Kanye West is alright...the beat is good. However, Billie Jean is the kind of classic song that maybe should have been left alone. And "For all time" is such a beautiful song.
It is amazing that this album is selling better than current artists 25 years later. But not that amazing considering the type of album this is and the genius who made it. Plus, I think it is great that people who were not around when the original album came out can finally see what the fuss was about.

Michael Jackson is the greatest artist in history and this album, "Thriller" is the greatest as well.
Hopefully, Michael will give us new music sometime in the future. The music industry needs him. If you haven't bought this album yet then you are missing out. Go out and get the album; it is well worth it.

I'm sure almost every household on this planet has got a copy of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" which is the best selling album of all time to date.

Released originally December 1982, the album was produced by Quincy Jones and had an unprecedented 7 US top 10 singles (matched only by the 7 top 10 singles from sister Janet's "Rhythm Nation 1814" in 1990). This version has been released to commemorate the 25th anniversary of that landmark album. The original 9 tracks (which we all know and love) are here (remastered), as well as an unreleased "Thriller" era ballad "For all time" which was newly recorded by Michael and sounds in parts like "Human nature" (it's just ok), a voice over by horror movie king Vincent Price (the spooky voice on the song "Thriller" kidding around with Michael, then doing his "Thriller" rap including a verse omitted from the final recording, I honestly don't see myself listening to this more than a couple of times), and remixes of 5 of the 7 "Thriller" singles featuring some of today's hottest producers and acts. These are the songs I was really looking forward to.

"The girl is mine" has been transformed into a more upbeat song with will.i.am replacing Paul McCartney (and providing different lyrics), and is surprisingly rather nice. It has a dreamy feel and additional guitars - I prefer it to the original. "Wanna be startin' something" (which made Billboard's hot 100 recently) features Akon who starts off singing against a piano backdrop, before the more familiar beats kick in. It doesn't deviate too much from the original but is shorter and features a new bridge sung by Akon.

"Beat it" has been remixed pointlessly and features a Fergie duet with Michael. I say pointlessly as it doesn't deviate too much from the original, although the guitar riffs have been turned around a bit. I was rather worried about how "Billie Jean" (my favourite MJ song ever, and the moonwalking marvel) would turn out. Remixed by Kanye West, it features hard hitting beats (similar to those on Kanye's "Gold digger"), and a more stripped down sound with that famous bassline taken out and the strings pushed to the fore. Unlike the other remixes, the vocals are mostly Michael's (Kanye appears fleetingly), and it still manages to sound like the original.

Last remix is "P.Y.T" by will.i.am (who also raps on it). Like "The girl is mine", this is another total transformation with elements of Billie Jean thrown in, a scratchy bass line, and re-sung by Michael with some new lyrics. Nice. It seems will.i.am was the only one not too intimated by the herculean task of breathing new life into these classics.

The CD booklet comes with lyrics and loads of photos, quite a few of which were previously unseen.

There you have it. It is nice to have these alternate versions which some might like and others will loathe. Still proving that Michael is a potent musical force, the album sold over 100,000 copies in its first week, just behind the week's #1 selling album, Jack Johnson's "Sleep through the static".

Michael Jackson does it again! He has released another masterpiece. This is the biggest selling album of all time and is also one of the best albums. I remembered when my mother purchased this for me as a child, I wore my vinyl album out and eventually got another copy and the cassette as well. I have also purchased it on CD and then in 2001 purchased the Special Edition. Now I have purchased the 25th Anniversary Edition and it was well worth my purchase. The unreleased track "For All Time" is timeless. An of course, you cannot leave out the Michael classics, Billie Jean,Beat It,Wanna Be Startin Somethin,The Girl Is Mine,P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing),Thriller,and my personal favorite "Human Nature". Baby Be Mine and The Lady In My Life were two other non-single songs on the album but were also very good. This is also the first album to have 7 Top 10 hits from one album and this album spent 37 weeks at #1. 25 Years Later and Thriller is still the best. The new tracks with Akon,william,Fergie,and Kanye West are very good. My person favorite is "Wanna Be Startin Somethin 2008". Make sure you pick up a copy of this amazing album! This is the reason why Michael Jackson will always be named the King of Pop!