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Thriller was the 7th and final single (and the title track) from the best-selling album of all time. Released on November 30th 1982, the Thriller album was Michael Jackson's sixth studio album.

The title song features the voice of horror actor Vincent Price and reached #4 in the Billboard Hot 100 and #10 in the UK, although by the time of it's release most fans had bought the album and had heard the song anyway. The real excitement came from the video which was could be best described as a fourteen minute horror musical epic. Featuring a choreographed dance routine with zombies (fronted by Michael himself, of course) the video received critical acclaim and won three MTV video awards. 

With regards to the Thriller album, what more can I say that hasn't already been said? If you've never listened to the album then you really need to right now!

Also check out the Instrumental version of Thriller (the bass and funky guitar really shine through!) at my blog 80s Remix.

Yes, it was a real shock to wake up on the morning of 26th June 2009 and hear the news that the King of Pop, Michael Jackson was dead.

He may have been plagued by controversial headlines and ill health in his final years, but it was the 1980's that saw him at his absolute peak, with both the Thriller and Bad albums becoming an incredible World-wide success.

Michael Jackson started in the music business at the age of 11. This was, of course, with his brothers as a member of the Jackson 5. In the early 1980s, he defined the art form of music video with such ground-breaking videos as "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and the epic "Thriller." Jackson's sound, style and dance moves inspired subsequent generations of pop, soul, R&B and hip-hop artists.

After its release in 1982, the Thriller album became the biggest-selling album of all time. Nearly every track became a single, but my personal favourites are "Billie Jean" and the title track "Thriller".

Michael donated and raised millions of dollars for beneficial causes through his foundation, charity singles and support of 39 charities.

We all have memories of what we were doing when Thriller was released, but I have a weird memory of camping with a friend in 1984 and playing the tape of "Thriller" (which I borrowed off another friend who had also lent us the tent!) just before 12.00am. My friend asked me what the time was and I had wound the tape to the part where Michael sings "It's close to Midnight, and there's something evil lurking in the dark"! We were sad in those days, but what happy memories!

Sadly, as youtube have taken off so many music videos for the UK market, the original video for "Thriller" has been taken off this page. However, the good news is that you can now see a live version.

R.I.P. Michael Joseph Jackson

(August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009)

• 1972: Got to Be There
• 1972: Ben
• 1973: Music & Me
• 1975: Forever, Michael
• 1979: Off the Wall
• 1982: Thriller
• 1987: Bad
• 1991: Dangerous
• 1995: HIStory
• 2001: Invincible

Michael Jackson's Number One Singles in the U.S.

Oct 1972  Ben

Oct 1979  Don't Stop Till You Get Enough

Jan 1980  Rock With You

Mar 1983  Billie Jean

Apr 1983  Beat It

Dec 1983  Say, Say, Say(with Paul McCartney)

Sep 1987  I Just Can't Stop Loving You

Oct 1987  Bad

Jan 1988  The Way You Make Me Feel

Mar 1988  The Man In The Mirror

Jul 1988   Dirty Diana

Dec 1991  Black Or White

Sep 1995  You Are Not Alone

Number One Singles in the UK

Jun 1981  One Day In Your Life

Mar 1983  Billie Jean

Aug 1987  I Just Can't Stop Loving You

Nov 1991  Black Or White

Sep 1995  You Are Not Alone

Dec 1995  Earth Song

May 1997  Blood On The Dance Floor

Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson

Released in October 1988, Smooth Criminal was the seventh single to be released from the 1987 Bad Album. It reached No.3 in the UK and made #1 in Spain, Holland, Denmark and Belgium. Well, I just hope Annie is okay!

Michael Jackson - Remember The Time

Of course, Remember The Time wasn't an 80s tune and was released in early 1992 in the UK. But I thought it was appropriate for this page to remember the good times from when Michael Jackson was creating brilliant music. The song reached #3 in both the UK and U.S. and was lifted from the 1991 album, Dangerous.