Best post 80s Michael Jackson tracks

I agree with your first point. But disagree on what I don't like. Come together is fine but it doesn't fit with the rest of the album as it was recorded during the Bad era. And it's not like the album was running short without it. I've never taken specific issue with the lyrics of Little Susie but also have never really cared for the song that much. When I was a kid the song actually scared me a bit. So I wouldn't listen to it. I listened to Smile probably only a handful of times since it came out. Childhood I've heard more, it was a single after all, but still not very often. I can dig most of the other songs though.

 

Jackson had no less than 12 Top 5 singles in the UK post 1990. Living in the US for a large part of the 90's, my exposure was limited. Listened to today, those songs sound great. I think "Scream", "Blood on the Dance Floor" and "Ghosts" are great rocking tracks, and I don't mind the ballads (even the one with Slash). "Earth Song" was, I believe, his biggest hit in the UK and blocked the Beatles from hitting no. 1 with "Free as a Bird". Ironic, since his first two singles with the Jackson 5 knocked the last two Beatles singles out of the No. 1 spot in the US all those years ago.

 

Easy, "Stranger in Moscow".

"Scream" was pretty good as well.

After that, "Remember the Time" - although it felt more generic and like product.

I'm surprised so many people are saying "Black Or White" - really? That cut is annoying AF.

 

I'm glad to see someone else who likes Speechless. I think it's one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. I rediscovered the Invincible album when it was finally issued on vinyl about 3 years ago. I don't understand why it didn't do well. It's full of very good material imo. I will admit it didn't do anything for me when it was initially released.

 

I love "Invincible" and the demos from that time like "Escape", "Another Day", "She Was Loving Me (also known as Chicago)", "Hollywood Tonight", "Blue Gangster" etc.
Can't understand why it failed so much.
The album came out on vinyl in 2001 but that pressing has gone up in prices in the last years.

 

"Earth Song" wasn't even released as an official single in the U.S. Regardless, it's a terrific song.

 

I think there are a few reasons why Invincible failed.

It's quite well publicised that he was angry with Sony for not promoting it properly. The Record Company are usually the first the artist blames when a record doesn't sell as much as they expect. However in this case there may be some justification. MJ's previous albums were promoted over a two year period with some of the stronger songs being released as singles later in the campaign. This ensured that the album stayed in people's minds and gained attention over a long period. However because Sony appeared to be unwilling to follow this approach with Invincible, the album fell off the public radar fairly quickly.

In addition to that, although I like a lot of the album I just don't think it holds together very well. In fact in the week that I bought the album in 2001 I realised it works a lot better if you imagine it as two separate 40 minute albums by playing the uptempo songs first followed by the ballads. I have played it that way ever since.

Another reason for the failure is that compared to the previous two albums which you could perceive as concept albums, Invincible doesn't really have a lot to say in terms of a central theme. It doesn't tell us an awful lot about his life as a man in his 40's or as a parent.

Having said all that, it sold far more copies than many of the albums that critics hailed as the best albums of 2001. Comes down to how you quantify success I guess.

 

The pickings aren't slim?!
There are tons of fantastic MJ songs to choose from!

 

Give in to Me from the Dangerous LP is a track I enjoyed.

 

Can you post a tracklist of that please?

 

Disc 1:
Unbreakable
Heartbreaker
Invincible
You Rock My World
2000 Watts
Privacy
Shout
Threatened

Disc 2:
Break of Dawn
Heaven Can Wait
Butterflies
Speechless
You Are My Life
Don't Walk Away
Cry
The Lost Children
Whatever Happens

 

This probably isn't the thread for it, but I must say Jackson's career and life after the 1980s makes me rather sad. This year would be his 60th birthday.... and it is just amazing to think of what could have been....

Sorry for any derailing.

 

Who Is It
Give In to Me
Will You Be There
Remember the Time
Heal the World
Scream
Stranger in Moscow
They Don't Care About Us
Money
You Rock My World

 

This looks the closest to an actual compilation that could one day come out. Dangerous alone I think had 8 charting hits so some may quibble over 'Jam' or 'In the Closet' or the one I'd add taking out one of the 'Blood on the Dance Floor' tracks - "Give in to Me". Nice choices.

 

Jam
Remember The Time
Black or White
Who Is It
Will You Be There
Scream
They Don’t Care About Us
Stranger In Moscow
Earth Song
2 Bad
Blood On The Dance Floor
Morphine
Ghosts
Unbreakable
Break of Dawn
Butterflies
Don’t Walk Away
Whatever Happens