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The Essential Michael Jackson

FieldValue
nameThe Essential Michael Jackson
typegreatest
artistMichael Jackson
coverMJ-Essential.jpg
released
recorded1969–2003
length
prev_titleThe Ultimate Collection
prev_year2004
next_titleVisionary: The Video Singles
next_year2006
  • Epic
  • Legacy
  • Sony BMG
  • Michael Jackson
  • various

The Essential Michael Jackson is a greatest hits compilation album by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson. It was released on July 19, 2005, by Sony Music's catalog division Legacy Recordings as part of The Essential series. The two-disc compilation features thirty-eight hit songs by Michael Jackson, from his days at Motown Records with The Jackson 5 in the late 1960s and early 1970s to his 2001 hit "You Rock My World".

On August 26, 2008, The Essential Michael Jackson 3.0 was released in the United States as a limited edition containing an additional disc of seven songs performed by Jackson. A re-titled release in the United Kingdom was released on September 5, 2005, as The Hits. As of 2021, the album was certified 5× platinum in the United States for over 2.5 million copies sold. Worldwide, the compilation has sold an estimated 6 million copies.

Impact of album after death

Following Jackson's death on June 25, the album sold 102,000 units in the US on the chart week ending July 1, 2009. The following week the album sold 125,000 units in the US on the chart week ending July 8, 2009 and was the third biggest-selling album of the week. In the UK, where the album had peaked at number two in 2005, it reached number one for seven consecutive weeks from the weeks ending July 11, 2009 to August 22, 2009, dethroning Jackson's own album, Number Ones, which topped the chart the week ending July 4, 2009.

The album has been certified 5× platinum in the United States 9× Platinum in Australia and 7× Platinum in the United Kingdom with worldwide sales estimated around 6 million copies.

As of November 30, 2024, the album reached a new milestone by remaining on the Billboard 200 chart for 500 consecutive weeks. This is Jackson's second album to achieve this feat right after his album Thriller, which holds the record for 653 weeks on the chart.

Track listing

North American version

  • Tracks 1–3 performed by The Jackson 5.
  • Tracks 7–9 and 14 performed by The Jacksons.

American limited-edition 3.0 bonus disc

European and international version

  • Tracks 1–3 performed by The Jackson 5.
  • Tracks 7–8 and 13 performed by The Jacksons.

Japanese version

  • Tracks 1–3 performed by The Jackson 5.
  • Tracks 7–8 and 13 performed by The Jacksons.

Qobuz.com Studio Masters (digital version; 24bit/96kHz)

  • Tracks 1–3 performed by The Jackson 5.

  • Tracks 7–9 and 14 performed by The Jacksons.

  • All attempted recreation of single edits are restored to actual single versions on digital edition with the exception of "Off the Wall", which is a further edit of UK 7" remix and "Will You Be There", which is a radio edit with newly added string intro. Both versions are exclusive to this release.

  • "Enjoy Yourself", "Blame It on the Boogie", "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", and "Black or White" are restored to their album length on the digital edition.

  • The uncut version of "The Lady in My Life" was announced on Legacy Recordings' website to be released on 2008's 3.0 edition bonus disc, but eventually omitted for unknown reasons. However, this version is previously available on the 2002 compilation The Songs of Rod Temperton, which has become a much sought-after item among Jackson collectors upon release, despite the fact that the version on the compilation is an inferior tape transfer with heavy, irreparable distortion due to tape degradation.

  • A UK-exclusive edition of this compilation was renamed as The Hits (with the same font as the five-album box set The Collection) and given a colorized version of the cover in 2009.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2005–2023)Peak
positionCzech Albums (IFPI)Greek Albums (IFPI)Mexican Albums (AMPROFON)Polish Albums (ZPAV)
3
20
1
5

Year-end charts

Chart (2005)PositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)UK Albums (OCC)Chart (2009)PositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)UK Albums (OCC)US Billboard Comprehensive AlbumsChart (2010)PositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)US Billboard 200Chart (2014)PositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)Chart (2015)PositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)US Billboard 200Chart (2016)PositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)Australian Catalogue Album ChartChart (2017)PositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)US Billboard 200US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)Chart (2018)PositionUS Billboard 200US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)Chart (2019)PositionUS Billboard 200Chart (2020)PositionUS Billboard 200Chart (2021)PositionUS Billboard 200Chart (2022)PositionUS Billboard 200Chart (2023)PositionUK Albums (OCC)US Billboard 200US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)Chart (2024)PositionUK Albums (OCC)US Billboard 200US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)Chart (2025)PositionUK Albums (OCC)US Billboard 200US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)
69
58
37
52
87
88
8
22
12
22
63
112
93
81
174
77
10
96
126
73
105
51
101
149
163
145
25
141
86
16
130
44
14
127
41

Decade-end charts

Chart (2000–2009)PositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)Chart (2010–2019)PositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)
76
80

Certifications and sales

References

References

  1. [{{AllMusic
  2. "Michael Jackson: The Essential Michael Jackson".
  3. "The Essential 3.0 Michael Jackson". www.amazon.com.
  4. Sullivan, Randall. (2012). "Untouchable: The Strange Life and Tragic Death of Michael Jackson". [[Atlantic Books]].
  5. Sisario, Ben. (2009-07-01). "In Death as in Life, Michael Jackson Sets Music Sales Records". The New York Times.
  6. "Michael Jackson Dominates 'Billboard' Charts".
  7. "MICHAEL JACKSON songs and albums - full Official Chart history".
  8. (2024-12-02). "Michael Jackson's 'The Essential' album achieves 500 weeks on Billboard 200".
  9. McIntyre, Hugh. "Michael Jackson Reaches A Major Chart Milestone–One That Few Musicians Ever See".
  10. Abdur-Rahman, Nahlah. (2024-12-02). "Michael Jackson Hits Milestone Record As Second Album Charts On Billboard 200 For Decade".
  11. ds. "Čns Ifpi". Ifpicr.cz.
  12. ds. "Greece Albums Charts - The Essential Michael Jackson". [[IFPI Greece]].
  13. ds. "Mexican Albums Chart Week 32 - 2009". [[Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas.
  14. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS.
  15. "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2005". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  16. "Jaaroverzichten 2005". Ultratop.
  17. "Rapports Annuels 2005". Ultratop.
  18. "Årslista Album – År 2005". Sverigetopplistan.
  19. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2005".
  20. "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2005". Official Charts Company.
  21. "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2009". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  22. "Årslista Album – År 2009". Sverigetopplistan.
  23. "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2009". Official Charts Company.
  24. (October 3, 2009). "Top Comprehensive Albums".
  25. "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2010". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  26. "Best of 2010 - Billboard Top 200". [[Nielsen Business Media, Inc]].
  27. "End of Year Charts – ARIA Top 100 Albums 2014". [[Australian Recording Industry Association]].
  28. "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 2015". [[Australian Recording Industry Association]].
  29. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2015".
  30. "ARIA Top 100 Albums 2016". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  31. "ARIA End Of Year Catalogue Albums Chart 2016 {{!}} Top 50 Australian Catalogue Albums Chart {{!}} ARIA Charts".
  32. "ARIA End of Year Albums 2017". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  33. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2017".
  34. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2017".
  35. "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2018".
  36. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2018".
  37. "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2019".
  38. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2020".
  39. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2021".
  40. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2022".
  41. "End of Year Albums Chart – 2023". [[Official Charts Company]].
  42. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2023".
  43. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2023".
  44. "End of Year Albums Chart – 2024". [[Official Charts Company]].
  45. "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2024".
  46. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2024".
  47. "End of Year Albums Chart – 2025". [[Official Charts Company]].
  48. "Year-End Charts: Billboard 200 Albums (2025)".
  49. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2025".
  50. "2009 ARIA End of Decade Albums Chart".
  51. "2019 ARIA End of Decade Albums Chart".
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