August is the month where music aficionados celebrate the birth of an icon: Michael Jackson. Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 to a family filled with undeniable talent. Being the seventh child of nine children didn’t stop Jackson, at the age of six, from becoming the lead vocal in the popular Motown group, the Jackson 5. During his early pre-teen years, Jackson released his first solo album and since then has become one of the best-selling solo-artists of all time. Known for being donned in his go-to get-up—aviators, a black fedora, a military-inspired jacket and a pony-tail with one loose hair in front of his face—Jackson dominated the music industry and influenced trends for over 40 years. Despite the controversy surrounding him, he still remains one of the most influential people of the 20th century. Here’s a list of five of the best-selling albums of his career.
Off the Wall (1979)
Following Jackson’s charismatic performance of the brainless scarecrow in The Wiz, he continued to captivate his fans with his new album “Off the Wall.” Countless hits were released from this album, including the Grammy-award winning “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” and the classic “Rock With You”; these immediately bring back memories of watching Jackson sashay in a full-bodied sparkly outfit behind a disco-themed setting. With a diversified album full of R&B, rock, pop and jazz songs, Jackson became one of the first solo-artists to have four singles from the same album peak at Top 10 in the Billboard Top 100. Though Jackson had several solo albums prior to “Off The Wall,” this album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and established Jackson as a visionary of unrelenting talent.
Thriller (1982)
If there is one album that Jackson’s name is synonymous with, it’s “Thriller.” Seven of the nine songs on this album were chart-topping hits, with the exceptions of “Baby Be Mine” and “Lady in My Life,” which are arguably some of his best R&B songs ever made. The then 24-year-old Jackson set records with every track from this album by singing about love, independence and the pressure to be successful. This album was so successful because it broke demographical barriers. Because of his wide-range of emotions and rhythms, he was able to attract a larger audience of different ages and races. The second released single, “Billie Jean,” was performed live at the Motown 25th Anniversary Special, where Jackson debuted his vocal hiccups and signature dance move, the Moonwalk.
Of the released singles from this album, “Beat It” and “Thriller” were made into short films. “Thriller,” one of Jackson’s most creative videos, was received exceptionally well for its outstanding choreography and production, and it also made a huge fashion statement—the birth of the legendary leather red quilted jacket. Jackson’s videos had heavy rotation on the popular music network MTV, which, at the time, only played videos by white artists. The airing of Jackson’s videos opened doors for many black artists and eventually led to the growing success of MTV today. Thriller won eight Grammys and 58 platinum records in 28 countries on six different continents, and it still holds the title as the best-selling album in the world.
Bad (1987)
“Bad” is the album that gave Jackson’s innocent image an edgier feel. This album related to issues that were consuming the world, like gang-related violence, racism and the need for romance and world peace. “Bad,” like his other albums, helped cement Jackson into the pop-sensation we know him as today. With catchy tracks such as “Bad,” “Dirty Diana” and “Beat It,” this album proved that Jackson was gaining more control over his artistic freedom. “Bad” won two Grammy Awards and gave rise to one of Jackson’s most famous short films, “Smooth Criminal.” In it, Jackson shows off his best dance moves while clad in all white from head- to-toe, including his distinctive fedora, which later became a key piece of Jackson’s signature look.
Dangerous (1991)
Breaking his own records, “Dangerous” became the fastest selling album, rocketing to the number one spot three days after its release. This album produced nine singles out of 14 tracks and, like Jackson’s previous albums, remains one of the best-selling albums today. Singles such as “Remember the Time,” “Jam” and “In the Closet” all helped this album gain recognition. But the most notable song off the album was “Black or White,” which was released simultaneously around the world; the music video broke the record for the most viewers, according to Nielsen Ratings. The video featured “Home Alone” star Macaulay Culkin and model Tyra Banks. Jackson covered an array of topics including racism, environmental issues and political injustice, all of which he eloquently strung together with hip beats and soothing lyrics.
Invincible (2001)
“Invincible” was Jackson’s last studio album, produced by a number of recording artists, including R. Kelly and Babyface. Jackson began recording this album in 1997 and released it in 2001, making it the longest time Jackson has ever spent recording an album. “Invincible,” like his others, was well-received by fans. Tracks such as “Rock My World” and “Butterflies” helped the album acquire recognition as one of the best-selling albums in the 2000s. While his album did well in the U.S., Jackson’s ratings were exceptionally high over-seas.
Michael Joseph Jackson’s musical style and dance techniques were unmatched and uncategorized; he redefined the term professional entertainer. From the age of six to the age of 50, Jackson made the stage his home and a place where people around the world enjoyed the raw and unfiltered talent of a legendary icon. With over 26 studio-recorded albums under his belt, it’s clear that his legacy will live on through his timeless music. However, creating chart-topping albums wasn’t his only forte. Jackson was heavily involved in humanitarian contributions, and his donations exceed his album sales. He created the Heal the World Foundation, which aims to help impoverished children and raise awareness about world hunger and the environment. Jackson has donated an estimated amount of over 300 million dollars towards charities.
He and Lionel Richie co-produced the “We Are the World” single, featuring 45 American artists including Diana Ross, Ray Charles, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper and many more. All of the proceeds were given directly to Africa’s most impoverished areas. This was the largest selling single of the 80s and the first ever single to become multi-platinum. Because of this, he was named Artist of the Decade in 1990 by President George Bush for his well-recognized humanitarian contributions.
Michael Jackson is a name that will live forever. From generation to generation, Jackson has proved that his mark on the world will never be forgotten. He has played one of the largest leading roles in influencing the music industry, and his inspirations can be seen in many artists’ creations today. Though Jackson has had many monikers during his career, the one which fits him like a white sequined glove is “The King of Pop.”
