Elly Roberts reviews
The Essential: Michael Jackson
Distributed by
SONY/BMG Music Entertainment
The Essential: 
Ultimate Collection:
Number Ones:
- Cat.no: 5204222
- Released: July 2005
- Rating: 8/10
After four months of emotional battering and drama in a California court
which rocked his world, the 'case of the century' turned into a real
Thriller.
Now Wacko gets a 'backo' with the Essential release on Monday July
18, a superb back-catalogue collection, though there are glaring omissions.
This is set to be another monster success for the humbled pop icon, but
things could have been a lot worse. Down in the dumps and, apparently, down
on the funds, someone out there believes Jacko is in much need of a refill.
His behaviour might well be Off The Wall, but he's not all Bad. When you're
as talented as Michael Jackson, there's no suppressing Human Nature, as he's
sure to pump up the units once again, adding to his global 130 million
sales.
Thriller remains the best selling album ever, with sales between 47
and 52 million, which was nominated for a record 12 Grammys. Collectively,
this made him the first act to top $100m in one year. Back on creative
territory, he has single -handedly changed the face of pop - oriented soul
music over the past four decades, either as part of the brotherhood, (The
Jackson 5 and The Jacksons) or as a solo artist.
Tracklisted in a
non-chronological format, delving as far back as 1969 when he was 11 years
of age with I Want You Back to Invincible's You Rock my World, you can trace
the progress of one of the most distinctive voices on the planet. Solo hits
include number ones Billie Jean, I Just Can't Stop Loving You, Black or
White, You Are Not Alone and his biggest selling UK single Earth Song -
1,038,821 copies.
Surprisingly missing, are the brilliant Bill Withers cover
of Ain't No Sunshine and his first chart UK topper One Day In Your Life, so
it loses points for that. The longest period Jackson has gone without a
major hit was an incredible seven years, between Ben (who else could sing
about a rat and get a hit?) in 1972, and Don't Stop in 1979.
How long before his next one I wonder?
Weblink:
Michael Jackson.com
The full list of tracks included are :
DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TXW32R4 32" widescreen TV
connected to either a Creative Dxr2 DVD-ROM player or Microsoft Xbox and
played through a Sony STR-DB930 amplifier.
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2008.
