Michael Jackson dead

[Gaazy]

Yeah I understand what you mean Jay, and respectively, I just disagree /shrug

[Jay]

Yeah I understand what you mean Jay, and respectively, I just disagree /shrug

NO NO NO YOU SON OF A BITCH!!

JK Bro. The fact of the matter is that we'll never really know. It's a shame that people can pin something like that on someone who I feel was a genuinely decent person through and through who was only guilty of obscurity and naivety.

[Narrock]

It's a shame that celebs can get away with anything from child molestation to murder. All it takes is a fat bank account.

[Tossica]

He was the greatest entertainer ever pretty much but he didn't really write songs. All his hits were written for him.

This is incorrect.

While his Jackson 5 songs were of course written for him, being a child and with Motown, the reason they left the label was so they could have creative control and write their own music. Starting with "The Jacksons" album in 1976 with the CBS Records label, Michael began writing his own songs. Songs such as "Shake Your Body Down To The Ground", "Can You Feel It?", and many others were Jacksons hits written by Michael.

For his solo career, with the exception of a few written for him by Temperton (mainly for the "Off The Wall" album), they're pretty much all his own compositions. "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough", "Workin Day and Night", "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", "The Girl Is Mine", "Beat It", "Billie Jean", "We Are The World", the entire "Bad" album except for "Man In the Mirror" were all written by Jackson, same with the "Dangerous" album.

You are wrong but it's not really worth arguing over. He wrote lyrics, did vocal arrangements and other things for his tracks but very few were written by him. The arrangements would be presented to him and he'd of course add his own style to them but both Off the Wall and Thriller were pretty much Quincy Jones productions and he was the genius behind most of MJ's solo career.

[Gypsiyee]

I do not (not just don't want to, I do not) believe that he molested those boys. There are 2 reasons for this.

1, any case that's settled financially out of court, especially with this type of offense, screams fraud to me. When this started happening, he was already in a stage where he was sort of isolated (I mean he always was, but moreso) - he had tons of money, and he could easily fit the profile of a pedophile due to his relationships with kids and the fact that he was a little odd. I'm not a mom yet, but I know if my child was molested there's no way in hell I'd ever just settle quietly out of court for cash. I would pursue it to my dying day and prove that my children were taken advantage of, not just let the person who did it get off scott-free with no conviction.

2 - I don't think MJ is mentally capable of harming a child. I think due to the constant abuse he had to endure in addition to the robbing of his childhood, he really was a person who just enjoyed being around children to get to feel like a carefree kid. We're not talking about a man who was illiterate or so far gone that he was completely out of touch with reality - we're talking about a man who's experienced love and marriage (regardless of what the media made of it) and someone who is greatly respected and related to by countless icons who are considered perfectly sane. Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, et al - if the guy was really that nuts, don't you think these people would've noticed and would've distanced themselves as far as personal relationships go? I mean we're talking about people who are good, close friends with him.

I think the downward spiral into a bit of crazy occured after the trials - I think the truth lies somewhere between childhood regression and severe depression that anyone could think such terrible things about him when he really just wanted to do good for kids because he never got the chance to have someone show him it's okay to be young and carefree.

I know he was never terribly normal - would you be if you had a father who beat the shit out of you and told you how fucked up you looked (when you were normal)? Strange sometimes? Yes. Malicious? I don't think so, not at all. He was a different personality, but all true geniuses are. Musically and theatrically, that's exactly what he was: a genius.

[Jay]

He was the greatest entertainer ever pretty much but he didn't really write songs. All his hits were written for him.

This is incorrect.

While his Jackson 5 songs were of course written for him, being a child and with Motown, the reason they left the label was so they could have creative control and write their own music. Starting with "The Jacksons" album in 1976 with the CBS Records label, Michael began writing his own songs. Songs such as "Shake Your Body Down To The Ground", "Can You Feel It?", and many others were Jacksons hits written by Michael.

For his solo career, with the exception of a few written for him by Temperton (mainly for the "Off The Wall" album), they're pretty much all his own compositions. "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough", "Workin Day and Night", "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", "The Girl Is Mine", "Beat It", "Billie Jean", "We Are The World", the entire "Bad" album except for "Man In the Mirror" were all written by Jackson, same with the "Dangerous" album.

You are wrong but it's not really worth arguing over. He wrote lyrics, did vocal arrangements and other things for his tracks but very few were written by him. The arrangements would be presented to him and he'd of course add his own style to them but both Off the Wall and Thriller were pretty much Quincy Jones productions and he was the genius behind most of MJ's solo career.

According to most music sources I've read, he wrote or cowrote most of his songs. He wrote most of his number 1's. He wrote Billie Jean. Quincy produced it. Having a song produced for you is not having a song written for you. Yeah, Quincy is a legendary producer, but to say he's the genius behind MJ's career is false although he's a huge part of it. You said "all his hits were written for him" then you said "he wrote lyrics, did vocal arrangements and other things for his tracks but very few were written by him". I guess I'm failing to understand what your definition of writing is.

[Tossica]

I'm not trying to slight his genius, I'm just saying there's a TON of talent behind his career but he's the only one that gets credit for it.

[brinstar]

another aspect of "writing a song" involves deciding which actual notes get played and which instruments/musicians play them.

i think toss was pointing out that sure, he did lyrics and vocals, but the songwriting process as a whole is much more involved than that

[Ginzburgh]

I don't think Elvis wrote any of his music.

[Jay]

I'm not trying to slight his genius, I'm just saying there's a TON of talent behind his career but he's the only one that gets credit for it.

That much I can agree with.

[Drem]

it doesn't work quite like film or TV. in the music industry (and this seems to be only a trend in hip hop and soul and electronic music), a producer is generally the one that writes the music. Obviously it's a little different in rock because the showmen are playing instruments and have a much larger say in the song-writing process. You don't hear about Paul Rothschild writing music for the Doors and them not crediting him, yunno? but lyricists and performers are different. Michael Jackson asked Quincy to produce his first three albums and Quincy wrote albums of tunes and gave it to Michael to write lyrics to

think of it like any good hip-hop album, like Nas' Illmatic, which has many different producers from DJ Premier and Q-Tip to the Large Professor. subsequently, every album he's put out after that has sucked total shit because his backing music is terrible because those guys won't work with him anymore save for Premier (and every song on any other album than Illmatic that i actually like all happen to be written by Premier). this is similar to MJ working with new producers after Bad and basically losing all of his momentum

[numatu]

I don't think he's the only one to get credit for it -- Temperton and Quincy Jones were pivotal to his early solo successes. But it's simply untrue that for the songs he wrote, he only edited. All of his compositions were truly his own compositions. It's right in the public record, which is why when you said the line I quoted earlier, it was painfully clear you didn't fact check.

Also, even before his collaboration with Quincy Jones, he had already written hit songs on his own (for the Jacksons, and solo which weren't released until later).

brinstar: Jones, Temperton, and others are also on record as saying that they never had Jackson bring forth a composition that wasn't fully fleshed out already.

Quincy Jones' talent was in his producing, editing, and deciding which songs would be hits. Most of the time he was right, but sometimes Michael had to force the issue (for example, Jones didn't initially want Billie Jean on the album, another one of Michael's compositions).

[brinstar]

ahh fair enough, didn't know that

[Tossica]

Without Quincy Jones, the solo MJ would not be the star he was. PERIOD. Every note, every take, every instrument, every musician, every edit, every overdub, etc that made the final cut of the records was orchestrated and produced by Quincy Jones. Michael got co-producer rights on a few songs and yes, he wrote aspects of a few (Billie Jean is supposedly all him but with wiki's reference to attention to detail in the drum programming and the 91 takes to get a final cut, I'm guessing the end result doesn't sound too much like the demo that Michael presented to Quincy) but without Quincy Jones and others, the songs would not have been the hits that they were. PERIOD. The producer takes the raw talent of the musician (or lack thereof in many cases) and creates a marketable end result. If you need more proof, look at MJ's career post QJ. Michael is in my top 5 favorite artists of all time and was a genius musician and entertainer but the "King of Pop" status that he achieved was through the hard work of MANY people of which Quincy Jones deserves the most credit, IMO.

There are many, many, many examples of producers making or breaking albums and artists through popular music history so this shouldn't be too much of a stretch to accept.

[Narrock]

I can't wait til they throw this pill-popping pedophile in the ground and shovel dirt over his ass and be done with it already.

[Tikker]

why were all the artists Quincy produced not as successful then?

maybe not intending to, but you're really downplaying what MJ brought to the table by saying the success belonged to Quincy

[numatu]

Michael was already a megastar before his collaboration with Quincy. When they combined, his career hit a never-before-seen level. Also I don't think the fact that his post-Quincy music wasn't as popular, diminishes his earlier work, or guarantees that the real magic was Quincy. Quincy also produced Bad, and that didn't come close to Thriller either (or Off the Wall, critically); I just think both of them did their best work in that time frame, and the style fit the time.

And once again, yes he did really write and compose many of his songs (I'm not sure why you're hesitant to concede this point, you can easily find interviews with Quincy and Temperton attesting to that fact). The Billie Jean early demo really does sound like the finished version. The reason it took so many takes was because Quincy and Michael were both absolute perfectionists.

[Drem]

why were all the artists Quincy produced not as successful then?

Ellah Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, George Benson, Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington, Dizzie Gillespie's big band, Count Basie's big band, Miles & Quincy at Montreux, blah blah blah..... easy to see why michael jackson tapped him to make his first solo albums

[Tossica]

Oh for fucks sake.

Off the Wall

Tracklisting:
A1 Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (6:02)
Arranged By [Horns], Flugelhorn, Trumpet - Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Percussion, Rhythm, Vocals], Backing Vocals, Co-producer, Lead Vocals, Percussion, Written-by - Michael Jackson
Arranged By [Rhythm], Electric Piano - Greg Phillinganes
Arranged By [Strings] - Ben Wright*
Backing Vocals [Additional] - Augie Johnson , Jim Gilstrap , Mortonette Jenkins , Paulette McWilliams , Zedric Williams
Bass - Louis Johnson
Concertmaster - Gerald Vinci
Drums - John Robinson (2)
Flute, Saxophone [Alto, Tenor] - Larry Williams
Flute, Saxophone [Baritone, Tenor] - Kim Hutchcroft
Guitar - David Williams (4) , Marlo Henderson
Percussion - Paulinho Da Costa , Randy Jackson , Richard Heath
Performer [Horns] - Seawind Horns, The
Trombone - William Reichenbach*
Trumpet - Gary Grant


A2 Rock With You (3:38)
Arranged By [Horns], Flugelhorn, Trumpet - Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Rhythm, Vocals], Written-by - Rod Temperton
Arranged By [Strings] - Ben Wright*
Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals - Michael Jackson
Bass - Bobby Watson
Concertmaster - Gerald Vinci
Drums - John Robinson (2)
Electric Piano - David "Hawk" Wolinski
Flute, Saxophone [Alto, Tenor] - Larry Williams
Flute, Saxophone [Baritone, Tenor] - Kim Hutchcroft
Guitar - David Williams (4) , Marlo Henderson
Performer [Horns] - Seawind Horns, The
Synthesizer - Greg Phillinganes , Michael Boddicker
Trombone - William Reichenbach*
Trumpet - Gary Grant


A3 Working Day And Night (5:12)
Arranged By [Horns], Flugelhorn, Trumpet - Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Percussion, Rhythm, Vocals], Backing Vocals, Co-producer, Lead Vocals, Percussion, Written-by - Michael Jackson
Arranged By [Rhythm], Electric Piano - Greg Phillinganes
Bass - Louis Johnson
Drums, Percussion - John Robinson (2)
Flute, Saxophone [Alto, Tenor] - Larry Williams
Flute, Saxophone [Baritone, Tenor] - Kim Hutchcroft
Guitar - David Williams (4) , Phil Upchurch
Percussion - Paulinho Da Costa
Performer [Horns] - Seawind Horns, The
Trombone - William Reichenbach*
Trumpet - Gary Grant


A4 Get On The Floor (4:44)
Arranged By [Horns], Flugelhorn, Trumpet - Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Rhythm] - Quincy Jones
Arranged By [Rhythm], Bass, Written-by - Louis Johnson
Arranged By [Strings] - Ben Wright*
Arranged By [Vocals], Backing Vocals, Co-producer, Lead Vocals, Written-by - Michael Jackson
Backing Vocals [Additional] - Augie Johnson , Jim Gilstrap , Mortonette Jenkins , Paulette McWilliams , Zedric Williams
Clavinet - Greg Phillinganes
Concertmaster - Gerald Vinci
Drums - John Robinson (2)
Flute, Saxophone [Alto, Tenor] - Larry Williams
Flute, Saxophone [Baritone, Tenor] - Kim Hutchcroft
Guitar - Wah Wah Watson*
Percussion - Paulinho Da Costa
Performer [Horns] - Seawind Horns, The
Trombone - William Reichenbach*
Trumpet - Gary Grant


B1 Off The Wall (4:04)
Arranged By [Horns], Flugelhorn, Trumpet - Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Rhythm, Vocals], Written-by - Rod Temperton
Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals - Michael Jackson
Bass - Louis Johnson
Drums - John Robinson (2)
Electric Piano, Synthesizer - Greg Phillinganes
Flute, Saxophone [Alto, Tenor] - Larry Williams
Flute, Saxophone [Baritone, Tenor] - Kim Hutchcroft
Guitar - David Williams (4) , Marlo Henderson
Percussion - Paulinho Da Costa
Performer [Horns] - Seawind Horns, The
Programmed By [Synthesizer] - Michael Boddicker
Programmed By [Synthesizer], Synthesizer - George Duke
Trombone - William Reichenbach*
Trumpet - Gary Grant


B2 Girlfriend (3:04)
Arranged By [Horns], Flugelhorn, Trumpet - Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Rhythm, Vocals] - Quincy Jones
Arranged By [Rhythm] - Tom Bahler
Arranged By [Rhythm], Electric Piano - Greg Phillinganes
Arranged By [Vocals], Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals - Michael Jackson
Bass - Louis Johnson
Drums - John Robinson (2)
Flute, Saxophone [Alto, Alto Solo, Tenor] - Larry Williams
Flute, Saxophone [Baritone, Tenor] - Kim Hutchcroft
Guitar - Marlo Henderson , Wah Wah Watson*
Performer [Horns] - Seawind Horns, The
Programmed By [Synthesizer] - Steve Porcaro
Programmed By [Synthesizer], Synthesizer - George Duke
Synthesizer - David Foster
Trombone - William Reichenbach*
Trumpet - Gary Grant
Written-By - Paul McCartney


B3 She's Out Of My Life (3:36)
Arranged By [Strings] - Johnny Mandel
Bass - Louis Johnson
Concertmaster - Gerald Vinci
Electric Piano - Greg Phillinganes
Guitar - Larry Carlton
Lead Vocals - Michael Jackson
Written-By - Tom Bahler


B4 I Can't Help It (4:27)
Arranged By [Horns], Flugelhorn, Trumpet - Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Rhythm], Electric Piano, Synthesizer - Greg Phillinganes
Arranged By [Rhythm], Written-by - Stevie Wonder
Arranged By [Strings] - Johnny Mandel
Bass - Louis Johnson
Concertmaster - Gerald Vinci
Drums - John Robinson (2)
Flute, Saxophone [Alto, Tenor] - Larry Williams
Flute, Saxophone [Baritone, Tenor] - Kim Hutchcroft
Lead Vocals - Michael Jackson
Percussion - Paulinho Da Costa
Performer [Horns] - Seawind Horns, The
Programmed By [Synthesizer] - Michael Boddicker
Trombone - William Reichenbach*
Trumpet - Gary Grant
Written-By - Susaye Greene


B5 It's The Falling In Love (3:46)
Arranged By [Horns], Flugelhorn, Trumpet - Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Rhythm, Vocals] - Quincy Jones
Arranged By [Rhythm], Synthesizer, Written-by - David Foster
Arranged By [Vocals] - Tom Bahler
Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals - Michael Jackson , Patti Austin
Bass - Louis Johnson
Drums - John Robinson (2)
Electric Piano - Greg Phillinganes
Flute, Saxophone [Alto, Tenor] - Larry Williams
Flute, Saxophone [Baritone, Tenor] - Kim Hutchcroft
Guitar - Marlo Henderson , Wah Wah Watson*
Performer [Horns] - Seawind Horns, The
Programmed By [Synthesizer] - Steve Porcaro
Trombone - William Reichenbach*
Trumpet - Gary Grant
Written-By - Carole Bayer Sager


B6 Burn This Disco Out (3:38)
Arranged By [Horns], Flugelhorn, Trumpet - Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Rhythm, Vocals], Written-by - Rod Temperton
Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals - Michael Jackson
Bass - Louis Johnson
Drums - John Robinson (2)
Electric Piano - Greg Phillinganes
Flute, Saxophone [Alto, Tenor] - Larry Williams
Flute, Saxophone [Baritone, Tenor] - Kim Hutchcroft
Guitar - David Williams (4) , Marlo Henderson
Percussion - Paulinho Da Costa
Performer [Horns] - Seawind Horns, The
Trombone - William Reichenbach*
Trumpet - Gary Grant


TWO of 10 songs written by MJ the rest are collaborations or Michael was responsible for the vocals.

Thriller

Tracklisting:
1 Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (6:02)
Arranged By [Horn Arrangement] - Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Rhyth Arrangement] - Quincy Jones
Backing Vocals - Becky Lopez , Bunny Hull , James Ingram , Julia Waters , Maxine Waters , Michael Jackson , Oren Waters
Bass - Louis Johnson
Co-producer, Arranged By [Horns, Vocal, Rhythm] - Michael Jackson
Electric Piano [Rhodes] - Greg Phillinganes
Flugelhorn [Flügelhorn] - Gary Grant , Jerry Hey
Flute - Larry Williams
Guitar - David Williams (4)
Other [Bathroom Stomp Board] - Michael Jackson , Nelson Hayes , Steven Ray
Percussion - Paulinho Da Costa
Saxophone - Larry Williams
Synthesizer - Bill Wolfer , Greg Phillinganes , Michael Boddicker
Trombone - Bill Reichenbach (2)
Trumpet - Gary Grant , Jerry Hey


2 Baby Be Mine (4:20)
Arranged By [Horn] - Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Vocal, Rhythm And Synthesizer] - Rod Temperton
Arranged By [Vocals, Rhythm, Synthesizer] - Rod Temperton
Drums - Ndugu Chancler*
Flugelhorn [Flügelhorn] - Gary Grant , Jerry Hey
Flute - Larry Williams
Guitar - David Williams (4)
Keyboards, Synthesizer - Greg Phillinganes
Programmed By [Synthesizer] - Anthony Marinelli , Brian Banks , Steve Porcaro
Saxophone - Larry Williams
Synthesizer - David Paich , Michael Boddicker
Trombone - Bill Reichenbach (2)
Trumpet - Gary Grant , Jerry Hey


3 The Girl Is Mine (3:42)
Arranged By [Rhythm] - David Paich
Arranged By [Strings], Conductor [Strings] - Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Synthesizer] - David Foster
Arranged By [Vocals] - Michael Jackson
Arranged By [Vocals], Arranged By [Rhythm] - Quincy Jones
Bass - Louis Johnson
Concertmaster - Jerry Vinci*
Drums - Jeff Porcaro
Electric Piano [Rhodes] - Greg Phillinganes
Featuring - Paul McCartney
Guitar - Dean Parks , Steve Lukather
Piano - David Paich
Programmed By [Synthesizer] - Steve Porcaro
Synthesizer - David Foster


4 Thriller (5:57)
Arranged By [Horn] - Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Vocals, Rhythm, Synthesizer] - Rod Temperton
Featuring [Rap] - Vincent Price (2)
Flugelhorn [Flügelhorn] - Gary Grant , Jerry Hey
Flute - Larry Williams
Guitar - David Williams (4)
Other [Effects] - Bruce Cannon , Bruce Swedien
Other [Synthesizer Programming] - Anthony Marinelli
Saxophone - Larry Williams
Synthesizer - Brian Banks , Greg Phillinganes , Rod Temperton
Trombone - Bill Reichenbach (2)
Trumpet - Gary Grant , Jerry Hey


5 Beat It (4:17)
Arranged By [Rhythm] - Quincy Jones
Drums - Jeff Porcaro
Electric Piano [Rhodes] - Greg Phillinganes
Guitar - Paul Jackson*
Guitar, Bass [Electric] - Steve Lukather
Keyboards - Bill Wolfer
Other [Drum Case Beater], Arranged By [Vocal, Rhythm] - Michael Jackson
Other [Synclavier] - Tom Bahler
Other [Synergy] - Greg Smith
Percussion [Drum Case Beater] - Michael Jackson
Soloist [Guitar Solo] - Eddie Van Halen
Synthesizer - Greg Phillinganes
Synthesizer, Programmed By [Synthesizer] - Steve Porcaro


6 Billie Jean (4:57)
Arranged By [Strings] - Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Synthesizer, Vocal, Rhythm] - Michael Jackson
Bass - Louis Johnson
Co-producer - Michael Jackson
Conductor [Strings] - Jeremy Lubbock
Drums - Ndugu Chancler*
Electric Piano [Rhodes] - Greg Phillinganes
Guitar - Dean Parks
Other [Emulator] - Michael Boddicker
Synthesizer - Greg Phillinganes , Greg Smith
Synthesizer, Programmed By [Synthesizer] - Bill Wolfer


7 Human Nature (4:05)
Arranged By - David Paich , Steve Lukather , Steve Porcaro
Drums - Jeff Porcaro
Guitar - Steve Lukather
Other [Emulator] - Michael Boddicker
Percussion - Paulinho Da Costa
Synthesizer - David Paich
Synthesizer, Programmed By [Synthesizer] - Steve Porcaro


8 P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) (3:58)
Arranged By, Written By - James Ingram , Quincy Jones
Backing Vocals - Howard Hewett
Backing Vocals, Keyboards [Portasound Keyboard] - James Ingram
Bass [Electric] - Louis Johnson
Drums - Ndugu Chancler*
Guitar - Paul Jackson*
Handclaps - Greg Phillinganes , James Ingram , Louis Johnson , Michael Jackson , Steven Ray (2)
Keyboards [Portasound] - James Ingram
Other [P.y.t.'s] - Becky Lopez , Bunny Hull , Janet Jackson , La Toya Jackson
Synthesizer, Programmed By [Synthesizer] - Greg Phillinganes
Vocoder, Other [Emulator] - Michael Boddicker


9 The Lady In My Life (4:57)
Bass - Louis Johnson
Drums - Jeff Porcaro
Electric Piano [Rhodes] - Greg Phillinganes
Guitar - Paul Jackson*
Other [Emulator] - Michael Boddicker
Synthesizer - David Paich , Steve Porcaro


TWO out of 9 tracks written almost exclusively by MJ, the rest are collaborations or Michael was just singing or responsible for vocals

BAD

Michael had a lot more to do with this album and most of it sucked or wasn't near the quality of his first two releases.

Tracklisting:
1 Michael Jackson Bad (4:07)
Arranged By [Horns] - Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Rhythm] - Christopher Currell , Michael Jackson , Quincy Jones
Drum Programming - Douglas Getschal
Drums - John Robinson (2)
Guitar - David Williams (4)
Organ [Hammond B3 Midi Solo] - Jimmy Smith
Percussion - How Now Brown Cow , Paulinho Da Costa
Saxophone - Kim Hutchcroft , Larry Williams
Synthesizer - Greg Phillinganes , John Barnes , Michael Boddicker
Synthesizer [Solo] - Greg Phillinganes
Synthesizer [Synclavier], Guitar [Digital] - Christopher Currell
Trumpet - Gary Grant , Jerry Hey
Written-by, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Arranged By [Vocals] - Michael Jackson


2 Michael Jackson The Way You Make Me Feel (4:58)
Arranged By [Horns] - Jerry Hey
Drum Programming - Douglas Getschal
Drums - John Robinson (2)
Guitar - David Williams (4) , Eric Gale
Percussion - Ollie E. Brown* , Paulinho Da Costa
Programmed By [Synthesizer] - Larry Williams
Saxophone - Kim Hutchcroft , Larry Williams
Synthesizer - Greg Phillinganes , John Barnes , Michael Boddicker
Synthesizer [Synclavier], Other [Finger Snaps] - Christopher Currell
Trumpet - Gary Grant , Jerry Hey
Written-by, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Arranged By [Rhythm], Arranged By [Vocals], Other [Finger Snaps] - Michael Jackson


3 Michael Jackson Speed Demon (4:01)
Arranged By [Horns], Arranged By [Synthesizers] - Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Rhythm] - Michael Jackson , Quincy Jones
Drum Programming - Douglas Getschal
Drums - John Robinson (2) , Miko Brando , Ollie E. Brown*
Engineer [Sounds] - Ken Caillat , Tom Jones (4)
Guitar - Bill Bottrell , David Williams (4)
Percussion - Paulinho Da Costa
Programmed By [Synthesizer] - Eric Persing
Saxophone - Kim Hutchcroft
Saxophone [Midi Solo] - Larry Williams
Synthesizer - Greg Phillinganes , John Barnes , Michael Boddicker
Synthesizer [Synclavier], Other [Effects] - Christopher Currell
Trumpet - Gary Grant , Jerry Hey
Written-by, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Arranged By [Vocals], Synthesizer [Vocal] - Michael Jackson


4 Michael Jackson Liberian Girl (3:53)
Arranged By [Rhythm] - John Barnes , Michael Jackson , Quincy Jones
Arranged By [Swahili Chant] - Caiphus Semenya
Arranged By [Synthesizers] - Jerry Hey , John Barnes , Quincy Jones
Arranged By [Vocals] - John Barnes , Michael Jackson
Drum Programming - Douglas Getschal
Drums - John Robinson (2)
Percussion - Paulinho Da Costa
Programmed By [Synthesizer] - Steve Porcaro
Synthesizer - David Paich , John Barnes , Larry Williams , Michael Boddicker
Synthesizer [Synclavier] - Christopher Currell
Vocals [Swahili Chant] - Letta Mbulu
Written-By, Vocals, Backing Vocals - Michael Jackson


5 Michael Jackson With Stevie Wonder Just Good Friends (4:05)
Arranged By [Horns] - Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Rhythm, Vocals & Synthesizers] - Graham Lyle , Quincy Jones , Terry Britten
Drum Programming - Cornelius Mims
Drums - Bruce Swedien , Humberto Gatica , Ollie E. Brown*
Guitar - Michael Landau
Percussion - Paulinho Da Costa
Saxophone - Kim Hutchcroft , Larry Williams
Synthesizer - Greg Phillinganes , Larry Williams , Michael Boddicker , Rhett Lawrence
Synthesizer [Synclavier] - Christopher Currell
Trumpet - Gary Grant , Jerry Hey
Vocals - Michael Jackson , Stevie Wonder
Written-By - Graham Lyle , Terry Britten


6 Michael Jackson Another Part Of Me (3:53)
Arranged By [Horns] - Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Rhythm & Vocals] - John Barnes , Michael Jackson
Guitar - David Williams (4) , Paul Jackson, Jr.*
Saxophone - Kim Hutchcroft , Larry Williams
Synthesizer - John Barnes , Rhett Lawrence
Synthesizer [Synclavier] - Christopher Currell
Trumpet - Gary Grant , Jerry Hey
Written-By, Vocals, Backing Vocals - Michael Jackson


7 Michael Jackson Featuring Siedah Garrett And Winans, The And Andraé Crouch Choir, The Man In The Mirror (5:18)
Arranged By [Rhythm] - Glen Ballard , Quincy Jones
Arranged By [Synthesizer] - Glen Ballard , Jerry Hey , Quincy Jones
Arranged By [Vocals] - Andrae Crouch*
Backing Vocals - Andraé Crouch Choir, The , Michael Jackson , Siedah Garrett , Winans, The
Guitar - Dann Huff
Keyboards - Greg Phillinganes
Other [Clap] - Ollie Brown
Synthesizer - Glen Ballard , Randy Kerber
Vocals - Michael Jackson
Written-By - Glen Ballard , Siedah Garrett


8 Michael Jackson With Siedah Garrett I Just Can't Stop Loving You (4:13)
Arranged By [Rhythm] - Quincy Jones
Arranged By [Synthesizer] - David Paich , Quincy Jones
Arranged By [Vocals] - John Barnes , Michael Jackson
Bass - Nathan East
Drums - N'dugu Chancler*
Guitar - Dann Huff
Percussion - Paulinho Da Costa
Piano - John Barnes
Programmed By [Synthesizer] - Steve Porcaro
Synthesizer - David Paich , Greg Phillinganes
Synthesizer [Synclavier] - Christopher Currell
Vocals - Michael Jackson , Siedah Garrett
Written-By - Michael Jackson


9 Michael Jackson Dirty Diana (4:41)
Arranged By [Rhythm] - Jerry Hey , John Barnes , Michael Jackson
Arranged By [Strings] - John Barnes
Arranged By [Synthesizer] - John Barnes , Michael Jackson , Quincy Jones
Drum Programming - Douglas Getschal
Drums - John Robinson (2)
Guitar - David Williams (4) , Paul Jackson, Jr.*
Guitar [Solo] - Steve Stevens
Synthesizer - John Barnes , Michael Boddicker , Randy Waldman
Synthesizer [Synclavier] - Christopher Currell , Denny Jaeger
Written-by, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Arranged By [Vocals], Claves [Clave' Clapstick] - Michael Jackson


10 Michael Jackson Smooth Criminal (4:16)
Arranged By [Horns] - Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Rhythm] - John Barnes , Michael Jackson
Drums - Bill Bottrell , Bruce Swedien , John Robinson (2)
Guitar - David Williams (4)
Piano [Muted Steinway] - Kevin Maloney
Recorded By [Michael Jackson's Heartbeat] - Eric Chevlen, Dr.
Saxophone - Kim Hutchcroft , Larry Williams
Synthesizer - John Barnes , Michael Boddicker
Synthesizer [Synclavier Effects] - Denny Jaeger , Michael Rubini*
Synthesizer [Synclavier] - Christopher Currell
Trumpet - Gary Grant , Jerry Hey
Vocals [Chief Of Police Announcement] - Bruce Swedien
Written-by, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Arranged By [Vocals], Other [Clap] - Michael Jackson


11 Michael Jackson Leave Me Alone (4:37)
Drum Programming - Larry Williams
Guitar - Paul Jackson, Jr.*
Synthesizer - Greg Phillinganes , Larry Williams
Synthesizer [Synclavier], Programmed By [Synthesizer] - Casey Young
Written-by, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Synthesizer [Vocal], Arranged By [Rhythm & Vocals] - Michael Jackson

[Drem]

likes this.

[numatu]

All his hits were written for him.

That was the quote I objected to. You mention two of the songs on Off The Wall (it was actually 3, he also wrote Get On the Floor, but that wasn't a big hit) The two he did were two of the biggest hits of the album, Don't Stop Till You Get Enough, and Workin' Day and Night. Of the other songs that weren't written by Michael, only Rock With You was a big hit.

For Thriller, your source did not include credits for Wanna Be Startin' Something and The Girl is Mine which were written by Michael, and were massive hits along with Beat It and Billie Jean, also Michael compositions.

And of course all of Bad's biggest hits (except for Man In the Mirror) were Michael's.

I'm not sure what your source (discogs?) was supposed to convey. You said all his hits were written for him, and that's clearly not the case.

I also don't think any of the other songs are diminished due to collaboration.

[Tossica]

You are right, "all his hits were written for him" was a generalization. Unlike someone like Prince who wrote, played every instrument on AND produced much of his entire catalog along with writing for and launching the careers of a staggering amount of other artists, MJ had a TON of help along the way. In your quest to prove me wrong, you've missed the big picture. MJ the "icon" was a callaborative effort and would not have happened if not for the other genius involved in his career and the production of his albums.

[Arlos]

Heresy, I realize, but I never cared for Michael Jackson's music at all. Not Jackson 5 stuff, not solo, none of it. Not saying he sucked or any such thing, just that I didn't care for it, even when Thriller first came out.

-Arlos

[Ginzburgh]

Damn, even after seeing the Thriller video for the first time?

[Arlos]

Yes, even after seeing Thriller. And Billy Jean. etc. Not my cup of tea.

-Arlos