Michael Jackson Discography: Every Album in Order
Few artists have changed pop music as completely as Michael Jackson. His records span from early Motown singles to solo albums that set global chart records.
Yet tracking the full Michael Jackson discography can be confusing. It spans studio albums, remix projects, collaborations, and posthumous releases.
This post covers every era in order, with key facts for each release. It also covers his most famous songs, major collaborations, and the visual legacy tied to his music.
Michael Jackson Discography Overview
The Michael Jackson discography covers several distinct release types. Studio albums hold his original material. Live albums capture specific tours. Compilation albums pull hits and rarities into one package.
Remix albums, such as Blood on the Dance Floor, rework existing songs for club and dance audiences. Posthumous releases, issued after 2009, draw on unfinished recordings he left behind.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Michael Joseph Jackson |
| Born | August 29, 1958, Gary, Indiana |
| Died | June 25, 2009 |
| Career Active | Late 1960s to 2009 |
| Genres | Pop, R&B, soul, funk, rock |
| Solo Studio Albums | 10 |
| Compilation Albums | 55+ |
| Best-Known Album | Thriller (1982) |
| Record Labels | Motown (1972–1975), then Epic Records (1979–2001) |
| Total Records Sold | Over 500 million worldwide |
| Apple Music | Michael Jackson on Apple Music |
His catalog splits into four broad eras: Motown solo years, breakthrough solo era, global superstar era, and later career releases. Each era produced albums that shaped pop, R&B, and dance music in lasting ways.
Michael Jackson Studio Albums in Order
These studio albums trace his complete arc as a recording artist, from a 13-year-old Motown act to a solo performer who sold out stadiums worldwide.
1. Got to Be There (1972)
Got to Be There, released January 24, 1972, was Jackson’s solo debut on Motown. Producers Hal Davis, The Corporation, and Willie Hutch handled the sessions. Berry Gordy served as executive producer.
The title track, written by Elliot Willensky, reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100. “Rockin’ Robin,” a cover of the Bobby Day original, climbed to number two. The album peaked at number 14 on the Billboard 200 and earned a gold certification in 2013.
2. Ben (1972)
Ben, released August 4, 1972, centers on a title track written for a horror film about a boy and his pet rat. The sincerity in Jackson’s vocals carried the strange premise.
“Ben” gave him his first number-one single, topping both the US Hot 100 and Australia’s chart. It also earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. The album sold roughly 5 million copies worldwide and cracked the top 10 on the Billboard 200.
3. Music and Me (1973)
Music and Me followed the same Motown formula but didn’t match the commercial reach of his first two records. By this point, Jackson had already started pushing for more creative input on his material. Motown consistently turned that down.
Critics largely ignored the album at the time. It remains one of the quieter entries in his catalog. Its main interest now is hearing a teenager still working inside a structure that wasn’t built around his own voice.
4. Forever Michael (1975)
Forever Michael, released January 16, 1975, became Jackson’s final album for Motown before he and his brothers left for Epic Records.
Producers Brian Holland, Hal Davis, and Freddie Perren leaned the record into funk and soul beyond his earlier pop sound.
One single from the album, “One Day in Your Life,” barely charted at the time. It reached UK number one six years later, after Motown reissued it during a 1981 wave of Jackson nostalgia.
5. Off the Wall (1979)
Off the Wall marked Jackson’s first collaboration with producer Quincy Jones. That partnership began after the two met working on the 1978 film adaptation of The Wiz.
Released by Epic on August 10, 1979, the album moved Jackson into disco and funk territory. It was made for an adult audience rather than a teen-idol image.
“Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” and “Rock With You” both topped the charts. The former earned Jackson his first Grammy Award.
The record went on to sell more than 20 million copies worldwide. That forced critics who had written him off as a former child star to reconsider.
6. Thriller (1982)
Thriller reunited Jackson with Quincy Jones for a second album. It was recorded between April and November 1982 at Westlake Recording Studios, on a reported $750,000 budget.
Jones brought in 62 musicians and 22 singers across the sessions. “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and the title track anchored the record.
Eddie Van Halen played an uncredited guitar solo on “Beat It.” Paul McCartney also appeared on the record. His feature on “The Girl Is Mine” marked the first credited guest spot on a Jackson album.
Thriller spent 37 non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard 200, a record that still stands. It produced seven top-10 singles from one release, with “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” both reaching number one. The album won eight Grammy Awards in one night at the 1984 ceremony. That remains a record. Santana equaled it in 2000, but no one has surpassed it.
7. Bad (1987)
Bad closed out Jackson’s run with Quincy Jones after roughly three and a half years of writing and recording. Jackson himself wrote nine of its eleven tracks.
Bad was the first album to produce five consecutive number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. Those five were “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You,” “Bad,” “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “Man in the Mirror,” and “Dirty Diana.“
Director Martin Scorsese created an 18-minute short film for the title track. A then-unknown Wesley Snipes starred alongside Jackson as the antagonist. Bad topped the charts in 25 countries and reportedly sold two million copies in its first US week.
8. Dangerous (1991)
Dangerous marked Jackson’s split from Quincy Jones after their three-album run. He brought in new jack swing pioneer Teddy Riley, alongside longtime engineer Bruce Swedien and songwriter Bill Bottrell.
Jackson wrote 12 of the album’s 14 tracks himself. “Black or White” reached number one and tackled racial identity directly in both the song and its video.
“Remember the Time” leaned further into smoother R&B production. The album eventually sold more than 32 million copies worldwide, earning Jackson only one Grammy, for Best Engineered Album.
9. HISTORY: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995)
Released June 20, 1995, HIStory paired a full disc of greatest hits with a disc of new material. That new material came from a wide range of collaborators, including Janet Jackson and Teddy Riley.
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis also produced tracks for the record. Dallas Austin and David Foster also contributed production work.
Guitarist Slash contributed a solo to “D.S.,” a track built around themes of mistrust and corruption.
Singles like “Earth Song,” “You Are Not Alone,” and “They Don’t Care About Us” leaned into personal, socially charged writing. Years of intense media scrutiny surrounding his life shaped that shift.
10. Blood on the Dance Floor HIStory in the Mix (1997)
This release reworked HIStory tracks into club-ready remixes alongside a handful of new songs. Those included the title track and its B-side, “Ghosts.”
The release never carried the weight of a true studio follow-up. It still gave dance floors and DJs a different version of material most fans already knew by heart.
11. Invincible (2001)
Invincible took shape over an unusually long stretch, recording from October 1997 through September 2001 across ten-plus studios.
Reported production and promotional costs topped $55 million combined, making it one of the most expensive albums ever made. Rodney Jerkins, Teddy Riley, and Babyface all contributed production, and the album closed out Jackson’s studio career during his lifetime.
Sales fell short of his earlier records, at roughly 8 to 10 million copies worldwide. That was partly overshadowed by a very public dispute with his label at the time. “You Rock My World” still found a lasting audience, though.
Michael Jackson’s Most Influential Albums and Their Legacy
Several albums in the Michael Jackson discography did more than sell records. They changed how other artists approached pop music entirely.
Why Thriller Changed the Industry
Thriller remains the best-selling album of all time. Estimates put worldwide copies sold between 65 and 70 million. It proved that a Black artist’s videos could dominate MTV, a network that had largely excluded Black performers before 1983.
Its eight Grammy wins in one night still stand as a record. That combination of chart reach and video invention opened doors for artists who followed.
Why Off the Wall Mattered Before Thriller
Without Off the Wall, Thriller’s leap would have looked impossible. The earlier album gave critics and radio programmers a reason to take Jackson seriously as an adult solo act. His first Grammy win and sales past 20 million copies built an audience. Thriller then expanded that audience on a far bigger scale.
Why Bad Carried Real Weight
Following the best-selling album in history is a nearly impossible assignment. Bad handled it by breaking its own chart record, becoming the first album to generate five consecutive number-one singles.
That achievement, paired with a 123-show world tour marking his solo touring debut, gave him a second commercial peak. Few artists manage that after a defining record.
Why Dangerous Took a Risk
Dangerous pushed Jackson into sounds his 1980s audience hadn’t asked for. It folded new jack swing and hip-hop into pop at a moment when he had nothing left to prove commercially.
Ending his run with Quincy Jones for a younger, street-facing production team was a statement in itself. That willingness to shift shaped how later pop stars approached their own genre-blending albums.
Why HIStory Told a Different Story
HIStory works less as a pure music statement and more as a personal one. Addressing fame, criticism, and public scrutiny through new songs gave the album a storytelling angle few others have matched. It turned a hits compilation into something closer to a memoir.
Michael Jackson Collaborations and Featured Songs
Jackson’s collaborations brought together some of the biggest names in music. These partnerships blended different styles and voices across pop, rock, and charity work.
1. Say Say Say With Paul McCartney
Say Say Say, released in 1983, blended Jackson’s rhythmic pop instincts with McCartney’s melodic songwriting.
It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The song stands among the era’s more successful pairings of two solo superstars.
2. The Girl Is Mine With Paul McCartney
The Girl Is Mine, recorded for Thriller, served as the album’s first single. It marked Jackson’s first use of a credited featured artist on one of his own records.
It reached fans before “Billie Jean” or “Beat It” took over the charts. It marked the second collaboration between Jackson and McCartney within a short span.
3. We Are the World
Jackson co-wrote this 1985 charity single with Lionel Richie. It was recorded under the USA for Africa banner, alongside dozens of other major artists in a single overnight session.
The song raised money for famine relief and became one of the best-selling singles of all time.
4. Scream With Janet Jackson
Released from HIStory in 1995, this sibling duet paired Michael and Janet Jackson on a track addressing media criticism.
Its video, built around a stark black-and-white spaceship set, became one of the most expensive ever produced at the time.
5. Other Collaborations Worth Knowing
Jackson worked with artists across genres, including a guitar solo from Slash on “D.S.” Those pairings built his standing among peers.
Michael Jackson Compilation and Posthumous Albums
Michael Jackson’s compilation and posthumous albums preserve key moments from his career. These releases include greatest-hits collections, remixed projects, unreleased recordings, and anniversary editions.
1. Number Ones (2003)
This compilation gathered his biggest hits for longtime fans and new listeners, released while Jackson was still actively recording. It brought his chart history together in one accessible set.
2. The Essential Michael Jackson (2005)
A broader two-disc collection, this release aimed for more catalog depth than a strict hits package. It pulled from his Jackson 5 years and his solo career. It did not just repeat the singles found on Number Ones.
3. Michael (2010)
Released the year after his death, Michael combined unfinished recordings that producers completed after he passed away. The album drew real controversy.
Some fans and family members alleged that three of its ten tracks featured a vocal impersonator rather than Jackson himself. That dispute has never been fully resolved.
4. Immortal (2011)
Built around a Cirque du Soleil stage show, this album remixed Jackson recordings into new arrangements. They were built for live theatrical performance, not radio play.
5. Xscape (2014)
Xscape gathered eight tracks recorded between 1980 and 1999, executive produced by L.A. Reid. Timbaland led the production team in updating the material for modern audiences.
The deluxe edition included the original unaltered demo versions, letting fans compare Jackson’s raw vocals against the reworked production.
The lead single “Love Never Felt So Good” added a new verse from Justin Timberlake alongside Jackson’s original vocal. It became a global number one, a stronger reception than the more divisive Michael album had received.
6. Scream (2017)
This themed compilation gathered darker, more intense tracks from across his catalog. The theme tied loosely to a horror and thriller mood connected to his most famous videos.
7. Thriller 40 (2022)
Marking the album’s 40th anniversary, this reissue added 10 bonus tracks, including four previously unreleased demos. A digital deluxe edition expanded that further to 15 additional tracks.
A limited vinyl pressing of 40,000 copies through Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab rounded out the release.
Michael Jackson’s Music Videos and Visual Legacy
Jackson approached music videos as short films rather than promotional clips. The choices behind them still get studied today.
- “Thriller” ran nearly 14 minutes and featured a full horror narrative with makeup effects. Director John Landis choreographed sequences that played out like a horror film.
- “Beat It” staged a rival gang confrontation resolved through dance instead of violence. It used professional dancers and street casting side by side.
- “Billie Jean“ relied on minimal sets and lighting tricks, including light-up sidewalk panels that have since been widely copied.
- “Smooth Criminal” introduced the anti-gravity lean, a stunt built on a hidden shoe mechanism that Jackson patented for the performance.
- “Bad” was an 18-minute short film directed by Martin Scorsese, featuring a then-unknown Wesley Snipes.
- “Black or White“ combined early morphing visual effects with a direct statement on race. Its extended closing sequence was controversial enough that networks edited it for broadcast.
Each video pushed the technical and creative bar higher for the music format as a whole.
Michael Jackson’s Discography by Era
The Michael Jackson discography splits into four clear periods, each with its own sound, creative team, and cultural impact.
| Era | Years | Key Releases |
|---|---|---|
| Motown Solo Years | 1972–1975 | Got to Be There, Ben, Music and Me, Forever Michael |
| Breakthrough Solo Era | 1979–1982 | Off the Wall, Thriller |
| Global Superstar Era | 1987–1995 | Bad, Dangerous, HIStory |
| Later Career and Legacy | 1997–2022 | Invincible, Thriller 40, and posthumous projects |
The Michael Jackson Discography at a Glance
The Michael Jackson discography traces one of the most complete careers in pop history. Ten studio albums, spanning 1972 to 2001, would alone secure his place in music history.
The chart records, collaborations, and posthumous projects that followed have kept his catalog alive across generations. New listeners keep finding these albums long after “Billie Jean” and “Thriller” first topped the charts.
If you want to start somewhere, Thriller and Off the Wall remain the best entry points into his full catalog.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is bigger, MJ or Elvis?
Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley are both cultural icons with massive global influence. The answer depends on the measure, with MJ often leading in worldwide pop culture impact and modern music influence.
What is Michael Jackson’s best album ever?
Thriller is widely considered Michael Jackson’s greatest album due to its record-breaking sales and iconic hits. It remains the best-selling album of all time.
Has any artist outsold Michael Jackson
Yes, some artists have higher total career sales estimates, including The Beatles and Elvis Presley. However, MJ remains one of the best-selling solo artists in history.
Does Michael Jackson still own 50% of Sony?
No, Michael Jackson’s estate sold its remaining stake in Sony/ATV Music Publishing in 2016. The estate received a major payout from Sony for its share.
Who sold more, the Beatles or Michael Jackson
The Beatles have higher estimated total record sales worldwide. Michael Jackson remains one of the top-selling solo artists, with Thriller as the biggest-selling album ever.
