Classic Albums Live: Michael Jackson’s Thriller

Classic Albums Live and its roster of A-list musicians perform Michael Jackson’s Thriller, note for note, cut for cut. Released in 1982, the album broke ground and redefined the possibilities of pop music. It was produced by Quincy Jones, who previously worked with Jackson on his album Off the Wall (1979). With the ongoing backlash against disco music at the time, he moved in a new musical direction, resulting in a mix of pop, post-disco, rock, funk, synth-pop, and R&B sounds, and darker themes; Jackson wanted to create an album where “every song was a killer.” Featuring iconic singles like Billie Jean and Beat It, the album set new records, becoming the best-selling album of all time, a title it still holds to this day.