Thriller by Michael Jackson

Although things went just a teensy bit haywire for Michael Jackson in the decade that followed the release of his 1982 record Thriller, there can be no denying it's one of the most important albums of not just the 1980s or even the last quarter century, but ever.

And while it can difficult to look past the weirdness, the marriages, the sexual abuse accusations (he was found innocent), and, well, a good deal of the last 20 years of Michael Jackson, the minute you plug in and listen to Thriller again, you know you are jamming to one of the greatest things ever put down on wax.

Produced by Quincy Jones, Thriller kicks off with the hard funk of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'". It is angry and rails against the destructive power of gossip and the media, a harbinger of things to come for Jackson, and is quite the terrifying track. And in a world where top-selling albums are a smattering of hits surrounded by fluff, it should have been the biggest song on the record.

But when other songs on the same record include classics such as "Beat It" and "Billie Jean", and the record's title track is considered by many to be the greatest music video ever made, a strong track like "Wanna be Startin' Somethin'" seems almost like just another hit single off an album of hit singles.

"Billie Jean", about obsessed fans, continued a dark theme that seems to permeate through a number of tracks on Thriller. Still, with its funky dance floor beats, it is a vibrant track, and one nearly forgets it is about an obsessive fan until the unforgettable and obvious lyrics "She says I am the one/But the kid is not my son".

More astonishing, "Billie Jean" was almost left off Thriller, as Jones didn't feel it was strong enough to include.

The only song on the record that matches in terms of chart power and influence - and actually, probably surpasses - is the anti-gang track "Beat It." Jackson set out to write a rock song, and it has been reported that he and Jones wanted a black version of "My Sharona."

With guitar whiz Eddie Van Halen playing the unforgettable solo in the song, it paved the way for future recording acts to combine soul and heavy rock, and really set a precedent for future generations of musicians.

Many musicians would be happy to have one song hit Billboard's Top Ten. Not only did "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", "Billie Jean", and "Beat It" make the Top Ten, but so did four other tracks: "The Girl Is Mine," a duet with former Beatle Paul McCartney; "Human Nature"; "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing); and the album's title track, "Thriller."

The album also won an astonishing eight Grammy Awards, and to this day remained the world's best selling album. Eccentricities aside, Michael Jackson's Thriller is one of the most important records ever released, and without question changed music history.

Where to buy:
Amazon.com (25th Anniversary edition)
Insound (SACD)
CD Universe (25th Anniversary edition)
J&R (25th Anniversary edition)
Tower.com (original version)