There are several Michael Jackson greatest-hits compilations out there, each one its own take on what should be the definitive portrait of the gloved one's career. The Ultimate Collection, The Essential Collection (different from the one here), and Number Ones have all surfaced in 2003 and 2004, and HIStory a few years prior. Each one of these collections, while commendable in its attempt to thoroughly document Jackson's accomplishments, has fallen woefully short in one aspect or another. This has finally been rectified with this installment of Sony's outstanding Essential collection. Starting with his campaign with his brothers in the Jackson 5, this two-disc set tours through every important single and every important fan favorite short of including his duet with Paul McCartney on "Say Say Say" (the Beatle does, however, make an appearance here on "The Girl Is Mine"). From Off the Wall to Dangerous, it's all here in one concise package, making it the ideal reference point from which exploration into his deeper catalog can begin. While die-hard fans will already have every single song contained herein and may be weary to purchase another greatest-hits compilation short of a greatest-hits compilation including his backing vocals on Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me," this may be the only one fans and casual listeners will ever have to purchase to get their fill of the King of Pop's magic. [An 38-track international version was also released.] ~ Rob Theakston, All Music Guide
Sandra Crouch (Choir Arrangement), The Winans (?), Siedah Garrett (Vocals), Siedah Garrett (Duet), James Ingram (Arranger), James Ingram (Vocals (Background)), Michael Jackson (Percussion), Michael Jackson (Arranger), Michael Jackson (Vocals), Michael Jackson (Vocals (Background)), Michael Jackson (Producer), Michael Jackson (Soprano (Vocal)), Michael Jackson (Clapping), Michael Jackson (Executive Producer), Michael Jackson (Vocal Arrangement), Michael Jackson (Horn Arrangements), Michael Jackson (Rhythm Arrangements), Michael Jackson (Synthesizer Arrangements), Michael Jackson (Soloist), Michael Jackson (Instrumentation), Michael Jackson (Finger Snapping), Michael Jackson (Percussion Arrangement), Michael Jackson (Introduction), Michael Jackson (Duet), Paul McCartney (Vocals), Paul McCartney (Vocals (Background)), Paul McCartney (Soloist), Trevor Rabin (Guitar), Steve Stevens (Guitar), Steve Stevens (Soloist), Larry Carlton (Guitar), George Duke (Synthesizer), George Duke (Synthesizer Programming), Quincy Jones (Arranger), Quincy Jones (Producer), Quincy Jones (Vocal Arrangement), Quincy Jones (Rhythm Arrangements), Quincy Jones (Synthesizer Arrangements), Jeremy Lubbock (String Conductor), David Foster (Synthesizer Arrangements), Roland Bautista (Guitar), Bryan Loren (Percussion), Michael Sembello (Guitar), Vincent Price (Rap), Jackie Jackson (Arranger), Bunny Hull (Vocals (Background)), R. Kelly (Producer), Andraé Crouch (Vocal Arrangement), Andraé Crouch (Choir Arrangement), John Bahler (Choir Arrangement), Glen Ballard (Rhythm Arrangements), Glen Ballard (Synthesizer Arrangements), John Barnes (Vocal Arrangement), John Barnes (String Arrangements), John Barnes (Rhythm Arrangements), John Barnes (Synthesizer Arrangements), George DelBarrio (String Arrangements), Michael Boddicker (Synthesizer), Michael Boddicker (Keyboards), Michael Boddicker (Synthesizer Programming), Bill Bottrell (Producer), Brad Buxer (Synthesizer), Brad Buxer (Keyboards), Brad Buxer (Keyboard Arrangements), David Daoud Coleman (Art Direction), David Daoud Coleman (Design), Bobby Colomby (Executive Producer), Paulinho Da Costa (Percussion), Christopher Currell (Rhythm Arrangements), Hal Davis (Producer), Frank Dileo (?), Frank Dileo (Breathing), Kenny Gamble (Producer), Brad Gilderman (Engineer), Jim Gilstrap (Vocals (Background)), Peter Granet (Engineer), Peter Granet (Mixing), Linda Harmon (Soprano (Vocal)), Richard Heath (Percussion), Marlo Henderson (Guitar), Jerry Hey (Horn Arrangements), Jerry Hey (String Arrangements), Jerry Hey (Rhythm Arrangements), Jerry Hey (Synthesizer Arrangements), Jerry Hey (String Conductor), Jean-Marie Horvat (Engineer), Leon Huff (Producer), Randy Jackson (Percussion), Tito Jackson (Guitar), Mortonette Jenkins (Vocals (Background)), Augie Johnson (Vocals (Background)), Louis Johnson (Bass), Gary King (Bass), L.T.B. (Rap), Christa Larson (Vocals), Mel Larson (Producer), Rhett Lawrence (Synthesizer), Becky Lopez (Vocals (Background)), Steve Lukather (Arranger), Paulette McWilliams (Vocals (Background)), Johnny Mandel (Conductor), Johnny Mandel (String Arrangements), Johnny Mandel (Orchestral Arrangements), Jerry Marcellino (Producer), Jay Marks (Mixing), Rick Marotta (Percussion), Rick Marotta (Drums), Marty Paich (Arranger), Marty Paich (Conductor), Don Murray (Engineer), Don Murray (Mixing), David Paich (Synthesizer), David Paich (Arranger), David Paich (Keyboards), David Paich (Rhythm Arrangements), David Paich (Keyboard Arrangements), David Paich (Synthesizer Arrangements), Joseph M. Palmaccio (Mastering), Jeff Porcaro (Drums), Greg Phillinganes (Synthesizer), Greg Phillinganes (Keyboards), Greg Phillinganes (Piano (Electric)), Greg Phillinganes (Rhythm Arrangements), Steve Porcaro (Synthesizer), Steve Porcaro (Arranger), Steve Porcaro (Synthesizer Programming), Teddy Riley (Synthesizer), Teddy Riley (Producer), Teddy Riley (Vocal Arrangement), Teddy Riley (Rhythm Arrangements), Teddy Riley (Synthesizer Arrangements), Slash (Guitar), Claudio Slon (Conga), Bruce Swedien (Producer), Bruce Swedien (Mixing), Bruce Swedien (Effects), Rod Temperton (Vocal Arrangement), Rod Temperton (Rhythm Arrangements), Rod Temperton (Synthesizer Arrangements), Tom Tom 84 (Horn Arrangements), Tom Tom 84 (String Arrangements), Gerald Vinci (Concert Master), Maxine Willard Waters (Vocals (Background)), Oren Waters (Vocals (Background)), Zedric Williams (Vocals (Background)), David Wolinski "Hawk" (Piano (Electric)), Dick Zimmerman (Photography), Nelson George (Liner Notes), Rodney Jerkins (Producer), Rodney Jerkins (Engineer), Rodney Jerkins (Mixing), Rodney Jerkins (Instrumentation), Claudio Sion (Conga), Waters, Julia (Vocals (Background)), Neal Preston (Photography), Nathan Watts (Bass), Sam Emerson (Photography), Dexter Simmons (Engineer), Todd Gray (Photography), Stuart Brawley (Engineer), Stuart Brawley (Digital Editing), Chris Tucker (Introduction), Mario Henderson (Guitar), Harvey Mason, Jr. (Digital Editing), Ashley Ferrell (Vocals), Bruce Cannon (Effects), Bobby Martin (Arranger), David E. Williams (Guitar), Douglas Kirkland (Cover Photo), John "4 Daddman" Robinson (Drums), Ben Wright (String Arrangements), Andraé Crouch Choir (Vocals (Background)), Andraé Crouch Choir (Choir, Chorus), Joy Gilbert Monfried (Project Director), Laudir DeOliveira (Percussion), Laudir DeOliveira (Conga), Laudir DeOliveira (Drums), Bobby Ray Watson (Bass), Ed Green (Drums), Susan Hargrove (Packaging Manager), Roger Menz (Project Director), Mike Atkinson (Executive Producer), Kenny Rogers (Photography), Bill Colomby (Executive Producer), Jeff Tarsia (Engineer), Jeff Tarsia (Mixing)
![Essential Michael Jackson [International]](http://content.answers.com/main/content/img/amg/pop_albums/cov200/drh000/h023/h02368vbbno.jpg)
