"The 40th Anniversary of the Greatest Pop Album Ever By the late 1970s, Michael Jackson was eager to see how far his talent could take him—alone, without his brothers. It was an exciting dream for Michael, but also a scary one. He wasn’t sure he was ready for some of the harsh realities of adulthood, let alone the music industry. “I was raised on the stage and that’s where I’m comfortable,” he said in a 1983 interview. “Everything else is foreign to me.” Ready or not, Michael’s ambition drove him forward. He wanted to do something amazing, something spectacular, something that would make people remember the name Michael Jackson forever. That vision eventually led to Thriller. "
A LIFE IN SHOW BUSINESS
GROWING PAINS • While working on a childhood classic, Michael Jackson took his first steps to becoming his own man
WHERE DO WE GO AFTER DISCO? • With Off the Wall, the singer was determined to move away from the sound of The Jacksons
THE GIRL IS MINE • Michael Jackson wanted to make history with Thriller. This duet with Paul McCartney jump-started the journey
BILLIE JEAN • Jackson’s breakout hit was a sensation and introduced the world to his iconic dance move: the moonwalk
BEAT IT • To create an album that defied classification, Michael Jackson experimented with various genres
WANNA BE STARTIN’ SOMETHIN’ • A visit to Senegal in 1974 inspired one of the most culturally influenced songs of MJ’s career
HUMAN NATURE • Jackson and Jones didn’t always agree, but both felt a melodic ballad was needed to round out the record
P.Y.T. • Four decades after its release, the song still remains popular and influential
THRILLER • The initial idea for the album’s ghoulish title track didn’t involve monsters at all
THE VIDEOS • Michael Jackson’s highly stylized productions set the standard for music videos that followed
LEGACY • Thriller wasn’t Michael Jackson’s last work before he died, but it’s the album he’ll be remembered for forever
Michael Jackson’s Thriller
PHOTO CREDITS