Side 1

 

1. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'  - 6:03

2. Baby Be Mine  - 4:20

3. The Girl Is Mine  - 3:42

4. Thriller  - 5:57

 

 

Side 2

 

1. Beat It  - 4:18

2. Billie Jean  - 4:54

3. Human Nature  - 4:06

4. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)  - 3:59

5. The Lady In My Life  - 5:00

 

 

 

Released: November 30, 1982

Recorded: April 14 – November 8, 1982; Westlake Recording Studios (West Hollywood, California)

Length: 42:19

Label: Epic

Producer: Quincy Jones/Michael Jackson (co-producer)

 

 

 

 

Personnel

 

• Brian Banks – keyboards, synthesizers, programming

• Michael Boddicker – keyboards, synthesizers

• N'dugu Chancler – drums

• Paulinho da Costa – percussion

• David Foster – keyboards, synthesizers

• Gary Grant – trumpet and flügelhorn

• Eddie Van Halen – guitar solo on "Beat It"

• Jerry Hey – trumpet and flügelhorn

• Michael Jackson – co-producer, lead and background vocals, drum case beater, bathroom stomp board, vocal, drum, horn and string arrangement

• Paul Jackson – guitar

• Louis Johnson – bass guitar

• Quincy Jones – producer

• Steve Lukather – guitar, bass guitar

• Anthony Marinelli – synthesizer programming

• Paul McCartney – vocals on "The Girl Is Mine"

• David Paich – keyboards, synthesizers, programming

• Dean Parks – guitar

• Greg Phillinganes – keyboards, synthesizers, programming

• Jeff Porcaro – drums, horn and string arrangements

• Steve Porcaro – keyboards, synthesizers, programming

• Vincent Price – voice-over on "Thriller"

• Bill Reichenbach – trombone

• Bruce Swedien – recording engineer, mixer

• Chris Shepard   - vibraslap on "Beat It"

• Rod Temperton – keyboards, synthesizers

• David Williams – guitar

• Larry Williams – saxophone and flute

• Bill Wolfer – keyboards, synthesizers

• La Toya Jackson – background vocals on "PYT"

• Janet Jackson – background vocals on "PYT"

• Greg Smith - synthesizers

 

 

 

 

Singles

 

• "The Girl Is Mine" Released: October 18, 1982

• "Billie Jean" Released: January 2, 1983  (Video)

• "Beat It" Released: February 14, 1983  (Video)

• "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" Released: May 8, 1983

• "Human Nature" Released: July 3, 1983

• "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" Released: September 19, 1983

• "Thriller" Released: November 12, 1983  (Video)

 

 

 

 

Videos