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.[3] A re-titled release in the United Kingdom was planned on July 6, 2009, as The Hits, but was cancelled upon Jackson's death. 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.[4]
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.[5] The following week the album sold 125,000 units in the US on the chart week ending July 8, 2009 and was the fourth biggest-selling album of the week.[6]
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.[4]
"Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" (7" version; performed by The Jacksons)
R. Jackson, Michael Jackson
3:46
10.
"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
Michael Jackson
6:04
11.
"Rock with You" (7" remix)
Temperton
3:23
12.
"Off the Wall" (UK 7" remix – edited version)
Temperton
3:46
13.
"She's Out of My Life"
Bahler
3:37
14.
"Can You Feel It" (7" edit; performed by The Jacksons)
Michael Jackson, J. Jackson
3:50
15.
"The Girl Is Mine" (duet with Paul McCartney)
Michael Jackson
3:42
16.
"Billie Jean"
Michael Jackson
4:56
17.
"Beat It"
Michael Jackson
4:19
18.
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (7" version)
Michael Jackson
4:20
19.
"Human Nature" (7" remix)
Porcaro, Bettis
3:47
20.
"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
Ingram, Jones
3:59
21.
"Thriller" (radio edit)
Temperton
5:12
Disc Two
No.
Title
Writer(s)
Length
1.
"Bad" (7" single mix)
Michael Jackson
4:06
2.
"I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (radio edit)
Michael Jackson
4:11
3.
"Leave Me Alone"
Michael Jackson
4:39
4.
"The Way You Make Me Feel" (7" remix)
Michael Jackson
4:26
5.
"Man in the Mirror"
Garrett, Ballard
5:18
6.
"Dirty Diana" (single edit)
Michael Jackson
4:40
7.
"Another Part of Me" (7" version)
Michael Jackson
3:46
8.
"Smooth Criminal" (album version #3)
Michael Jackson
4:17
9.
"Black or White"
Michael Jackson; rap lyrics by Bottrell
4:16
10.
"Heal the World"
Michael Jackson
6:24
11.
"Remember the Time"
Riley, Michael Jackson, Belle
3:59
12.
"In the Closet" (7" edit)
Michael Jackson, Riley
4:48
13.
"Who Is It" (7" edit)
Michael Jackson
3:59
14.
"Will You Be There" (radio edit with string intro)
Michael Jackson
3:40
15.
"Dangerous"
Michael Jackson, Bottrell, Riley
6:59
16.
"You Are Not Alone" (album edit)
R. Kelly
4:55
17.
"You Rock My World" (album edit)
Michael Jackson, Jerkins, Jerkins III, Daniels, Payne
5:08
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
Weekly chart performance for The Essential Michael Jackson
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
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^ a b cSullivan, Randall (2012). Untouchable: The Strange Life and Tragic Death of Michael Jackson. Atlantic Books. ISBN978-1611859935. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
^Sisario, Ben (2009-07-01). "In Death as in Life, Michael Jackson Sets Music Sales Records". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
^"Michael Jackson Dominates 'Billboard' Charts". MTV. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
^"Australiancharts.com – Michael Jackson – The Essential". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
^"Austriancharts.at – Michael Jackson – The Essential" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
^"Ultratop.be – Michael Jackson – The Essential" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
^"Ultratop.be – Michael Jackson – The Essential" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
^"artist=Michael Jackson Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
^ds. "Čns Ifpi". Ifpicr.cz. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
^"Danishcharts.dk – Michael Jackson – The Essential". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
^"Dutchcharts.nl – Michael Jackson – The Essential" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
^"Lescharts.com – Michael Jackson – The Essential". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
^"Offiziellecharts.de – Michael Jackson – The Essential" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
^ds. "Greece Albums Charts - The Essential Michael Jackson". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
^"Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2009. 33. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
^"Irish-charts.com – Discography Michael Jackson". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
^"Italiancharts.com – Michael Jackson – The Essential". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
^ds. "Mexican Albums Chart Week 32 - 2009". AMPROFON. Archived from the original on February 23, 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
^"Charts.nz – Michael Jackson – The Essential". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
^"Norwegiancharts.com – Michael Jackson – The Essential". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
^"Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
^"Portuguesecharts.com – Michael Jackson – The Essential". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
^"Spanishcharts.com – Michael Jackson – The Essential". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
^"Swedishcharts.com – Michael Jackson – The Essential". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
^"Swisscharts.com – Michael Jackson – The Essential". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
^"Michael Jackson | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
^"Michael Jackson Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
^"ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2005". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
^"Jaaroverzichten 2005" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
^"Rapports Annuels 2005" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
^"Årslista Album – År 2005" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
^"Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2005". hitparade.ch. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
^"End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2005". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
^"ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2009". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
^"Årslista Album – År 2009" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
^"End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2009". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
^"Top Comprehensive Albums". Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 39. October 3, 2009. p. 80. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
^"ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2010". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
^"Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
^"ARIA Top 100 Albums 2016". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
^"ARIA End Of Year Catalogue Albums Chart 2016 | Top 50 Australian Catalogue Albums Chart | ARIA Charts". www.ariacharts.com.au. Archived from the original on April 20, 2017.
^"ARIA End of Year Albums 2017". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
^"Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
^"Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
^"Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
^"Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
^"Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
^"Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
^"Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
^"Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
^"Italian album certifications – Michael Jackson – The Essential Michael Jackson" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved April 6, 2023. Select "2013" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "The Essential Michael Jackson" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".