... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Arguably the last true moment of genius in Michael Jackson's career – a record that sold a bazillion copies around the world – and for plenty good reason! Michael's still working here with Quincy Jones – in territory that steps nicely from the Off The Wall groove, into territory that's somewhat more poppy, but still quite soulful overall. And yes, the success of the album meant that cuts like "Billie Jean", "Thriller", and "Beat It" got plenty of play – thanks to both heavy radio and video rotation – but a few decades later, there's still a tremendous amount of depth here – on great cuts like "Human Nature", "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin", and "PYT" – which all hold up nicely! LP, Vinyl record album

Includes "I Want You Back", "ABC", "I'll Be There", "The Love You Save", "Mama's Pearl", "Never Can Say Goodbye", "Maybe Tomorrow", "Lookin' Through Windows", "Dancing Machine", "Got To Be There", "Rockin' Robin", "I Wanna Be Where You Are", "Ben" and "One Day In Your Life". LP, Vinyl record album

The third great album in the trilogy that includes Off The Wall and Thriller – and a set that still has Michael Jackson running strong at the height of his solo powers! Quincy Jones is still at the helm, and Michael more than proves that he can still come up with a pop tune without going too far over the top – catchy, compelling numbers that played well all over the world of pop – but which still hang onto just a little part of his soul roots too! That balance is a key factor to the success of this set – a record that helped re-ignite interest in Jackson's music, and introduce him to a whole new generation – while still keeping most of the older fans plenty pleased too. Titles include "Just Good Friends", "Smooth Criminal", "Bad", "Another Part Of Me", "Man In The Mirror", and "Speed Demon". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Remix by Frankie Knuckles. 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

An amazing groover from Michael's first big adult years – a hard-grooving dancefloor anthem that never gets old – and which proves that when he was on the money, he could be pretty darn amazing! 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A great one from Michael – one of our favorite early tracks by him! The tune's a great bubbling number from Leon Ware – one that shows Michael singing in a slightly more mature style that really comes off well! "We've Got A Good Thing" is more of a sweet pop tune – but still pretty nice too. 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

This 1979 solo album by Michael is a killer batch of soul grooves – one of his best moments ever, and a crowning cap to a stellar 70s run – both as a younger solo act, and with the whole Jackson family! Quincy Jones produced, and the album's got a funky undercurrent that's really stunning – clubby, yet plenty darn soulful, with a wickedly sly groove that others would try to copy for years, but never fully match. Titles include seminal groovers like "Rock With You", "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough", "Working Day And Night", "Girlfriend", "Off The Wall", "Burn This Disco Out" and more. Amazing amazing amazing work from the to-be-coronated King Of Pop! LP, Vinyl record album

House mixes by Steve Silk Hurley, E-Smoove and Clivilles & Cole. 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A great set from Rebbie Jackson – a batch of 80s groovers that's way different than work from siblings Michael or Janet – and done with a percolating sort of vibe that's quite different from some of the core projects of the rest of the Jacksons universe! Wayne Henderson handled most of the production for the set, and brings in a nice sense of class that pushes the work far from too-commercial soul – that strong balance that always makes his name on a record one key reason to check it out! There's still a bit of Jackson influence on the vocals – as Rebbie gets help from Michael, Tito, and Randy Jackson – alongside additional guest vocals from Gary Glenn, Patryce Banks, Maxie Anderson, and The Weather Girls. Titles include "Centipede", "Play Me", "Open Up To My Love", "Hey Boy", "Come Alive It's Saturday Night", "Ready for Love", and "A Fork In The Road". LP, Vinyl record album

The Jacksons' third album for Motown – and definitely one that has the quintet moving full steam ahead! There's a sense of perfection here right from the get-go – that really put-together quality the boys hit with their second album, thanks to great studio help from The Corporation and Hal Davis! Michael's vocals are beautiful, but so are the rest of the bros' – and titles include their sweet, sweet rendition of "I'll Be There", plus the groovy "Goin Back To Indiana", and other nice ones like "Mama's Pearl", "Darling Dear", "Can I See You In the Morning", and a tight version of "Ready Or Not (Here I Come)". LP, Vinyl record album

Michael Jackson's last album with his famous family – a set of electric 80s soul that's a bit different than Jackson's well-known solo work! In a way, the later Jacksons albums almost feel like a place where Michael can try out some ideas that don't fit as tightly into the overall sound of his own records – and there's definitely more diversity here than before – a shift between gentle ballads, beat-heavy tunes, and even a few rockish/poppish moments. Of course, we should probably be crediting the other Jacksons for their help in the sound here too – as they're certainly credited on the cover – but there's also less of the "many parts as one" sound than before, so it's hard to tell how they're working together. Titles include "The Hurt", "Wait", "Torture", "One More Chance", "Body", "We Can Change The World", and "State Of Shock", the big single, which features a guest appearance by Mick Jagger. LP, Vinyl record album

Greg's definitely showing off all his chops on this one – working with help from a huuuge array of famous guest stars – including The Pointer Sisters, James Ingram, Howard Hewett, Jackie Jackson, Michael Jackson, Robbie Nevil, and others. And while the bulk of the record really shows the influence of these mainstream 80s soul artists – and not always in a good way – the record also sports a brilliant tune done with Donald Fagan of Steely Dan, the sweetly grooving "Lazy Nina", which sounds like the best work off Fagan's Nightfly, and has Greg and Don duetting on vocals! Titles include "Behind The Mask", "Signals", "Shake It", "Countdown To Love", "Come As You Are", and "Playin With Fire". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the strangest acts to come from Motown in the early 80s – and almost more of a new wave record than a soul one! The standout hit here is the title track "Somebody's Watching Me" – an odd electro tune that has Rockwell speaking/singing these paranoid lyrics with a vague British accent – but which has Michael Jackson coming in on the chorus to warm up the tune! Sadly, Michael's gone for the rest of the record – so Rockwell takes center stage with tunes that have a soul-based take on styles heard more familiarly by Human League or Ultravox at the time – and which display the real Anglophile bent in American pop at the time. Still, there's a few nice electro moments – and titles include "Obscene Phone Caller", "Change Your Ways", "Runaway", "Wasting Time", and "Knife". LP, Vinyl record album

Diana Ross really finds a way to remake her groove here – a sweet new sound that fits her revamped look in the Andy Warhol image on the cover! Although Ross could sparkle strongly during the disco years, the best cuts here are some of the more midtempo moments – nicely spaced out in ways that allow the singer to modulate her approach, and never push things too far, or get overly dramatic. There's definitely a few of those later modes here – both on ballads and more upbeat numbers – but the core of the record lingers nicely in the silky electric style promised in the title – especially on the great cut "Muscles", which was written for the record by Michael Jackson. Other titles include "So Close", "Still In Love", "Who", "Love Lies", "In Your Arms", and "I Am Me". LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Jo Jones, Cozy Cole, Panama Francis, JC Heard, Oliver Jackson, Michael Silva, and Ed Thigpen. LP, Vinyl record album

Written by Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie, with Quincy Jones producing! Includes the all-star title track plus selections by Chicago, Huey Lewis & The News, Steve Perry, The Pointer Sisters, Prince & The Revolution, Kenny Rogers, Bruce Springsteen, and Tina Turner. LP, Vinyl record album

With production help from Arthur Baker and Michael Jackson! Titles include "Dreams Never Die", "He's A Pretender", "You're The One", "What Kind Of Love Is This", "No Frills Love", and "Say You Love Me". LP, Vinyl record album

A super-huge album from Quincy Jones – a record that's almost like Quincy's trying to show the whole younger generation that an older master like himself can still deliver the goods! The set was delivered right after Quincy helped out Michael Jackson on Off The Wall – and while it's got a few of the soulful touches of that set, it's also marked more deeply by the kind of work that Jones was turning out in the 70s – nicely focused with soulful vocals on most cuts, including some especially nice work from Patti Austin – a singer whose sophisticated style works perfectly for Quincy's groove. Titles include the killer "Ai No Corrida", plus "Razzamatazz", "Just Once", "Something Special", "Turn On The Action", "The Dude", "Betcha Wouldn't Hurt Me", "Velas", and "One Hundred Ways". LP, Vinyl record album

Starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Lena Horne and Richard Pryor. Soundtrack features work by Toots Thielemans, Jerome Richardson, Eric Gale, and Michael Brecker, with compostions by Ashford & Simpson and Luther Vandross. LP, Vinyl record album

A sonically sensitive session from Oliver Lake – recorded in the mid 70s, in very relaxed quartet formation! Lake plays a range of reeds here – alto, soprano sax, and flute – and the group features lots of musings on guitar from Michael G Jackson, a player we don't know at all, but one who seems to have a harmelodic bent at some points, and a much more mellow one at others. Jackson's presence on the record really has a big impact on the sound – putting it somewhere in a space between James Blood Ulmer and Sonny Greenwich – and remaining rhythms are handled by Fred Hopkins on bass and Paul Maddox on drums and percussion. Titles include "Trailway Shake/Sad Lo-uis", "Usta B", "Ballad", "Machine Wing", and "Holding Together". LP, Vinyl record album

With Oliver Lake on alto, soprano, and flute – plus Michael Gregory Jackson on guitar, Pheeroan Ak Laff on drums, Anthony Davis on piano, and Abdul Wadud on cello. LP, Vinyl record album

A top-shelf set of smooth fusion work from Alphonse Mouzon – recorded with a host of excellent players from the LA scene, in a style that sits nicely with his work from the earlier part of the decade. The overall feel is smooth, but there's some nice funky undercurrents on the tunes, thanks to Al's great drum work – and the players on the set really help keep the quality high – as you'd guess from names that include Paul Jackson Jr, Tom Scott, Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, and Lee Ritenour. Titles include "Saving My Love For You", "I Don't Want To Lose This Feeling", "That's Right", "Everybody Party", and "Step Into The Funk". LP, Vinyl record album

Jackson 5, move over – because the folks at Numero Records have uncovered a whole host of rare kid soul acts from the 70s – most of them a fair bit funkier than their Motown contemporaries! The tracks here all clearly follow the lead started by Michael and his brothers at the end of the 60s – but the music is way more than just a simple copycat of Jackson modes – as each of these artists have a really individual approach, and a heck of a lot of personality in their music – despite their youthful years. In true Numero fashion, most of the cuts here are from tiny little labels – issued only as singles back in the day, but produced with a great deal of enthusiasm for the music – and a confident, competent sound that's quite striking, given the age of the performers. The package comes with complete notes on the music – opening up a whole world of lesser-known kid soul acts – and titles include the amazing "Trust Your Child" by Patrizia & Jimmy, plus "I'm Not Ready For Love" by Promise, "One Is Enough For One" by Jack & the Mods, "Now That School Is Through" by Cindy & The Playmates, "Jersey Slide (part 1)" by 3 Stars, "You Are My Dream" by 3 Simmons, "Can't Let You Break My Heart" by Quantrells, "If You're Looking For Love" by Triads, "Yellow Ribbons" by Atons, "Sweet Pea" by Altyrone Deno Brown, "Time After Time" by Step By Step, "Time" by Otis The 3rd, and "Little Girl" by Michael Washington. LP also contains a bonus track – part 2 of "Trust Your Child" by Patrizia & Jimmy! LP, Vinyl record album

Midtempo groover from Curtis – one of the more overlooked singers of the early 80s, but a sweet soul vocal talent that deserves more notice. This cut's got kind of a Michael Jackson Off The Wall groove – and in our book that's a good thing! 12-inch, Vinyl record

A heavy groove and a heady title that points the way towards Michael Jackson's soon-to-be legendary solo career – all served up in a batch of tracks that resonate nicely with the Off The Wall groove! The sound here really isn't disco or club, but it's a nicely upbeat groove that shows The Jacksons at the top of their game – tightly stepping and often highly rhythmic – and striking a great balance between strong lead vocals and some of the sweeter harmonies that got them going in the past. Titles include the sublime groovers "Blame It On The Boogie" and "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)", plus great sleepers like "All Night Dancin", "Bless His Soul", "Things I Do For You" and "That's What You Get For Being Polite". LP, Vinyl record album

Great stuff – and a key link between the early work of the Jackson 5 on Motown and Michael's later grooves with Quincy Jones! The Gamble/Huff team give the group a smooth sweet sound – definitely in a dancefloor mode, with some of the bassy riffs of Michael's Off The Wall album, but also with all the sweet catchy soul of earlier years – a really great blend that makes the album a great winner in the group's post-Motown years! The album includes the incredible smooth soul number "Show You The Way To Go", a killer cut that's very much in the Philly modern mode – and other tracks include "Style Of Life", "Enjoy Yourself", "Think Happy", "Blues Away", and "Living Together". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Michael Jackson's last albums with his famous brothers – a record that was cut in between the two Quincy Jones albums (Off The Wall and Thriller) that would catapult him to megastardom! This set is still an all-Jacksons affair – produced and written by the whole group, and put together with some of those uptempo groovers that both Michael and Jermaine would showcase heavily in their own solo work. The sound's a nice extension of the late 70s Jacksons vibe, peppered with some of Michael's new strengths – and titles include "Can You Feel It", "Lovely One", "Your Ways", "Everybody", "This Place Hotel", "Give It Up", and "Wondering Who". LP, Vinyl record album

Incredible music from Seu Jorge – and that's saying a lot, given how much we've loved all of his previous records! This time around, Jorge really knocks it out of the park – by stepping away from some of his tighter styles, and going for a looser, more organic approach that's totally great – forged strongly with the cool combo Almaz, which features members of Nacao Zumbi, and bassist Antonio Pinto – the guy behind the great music in City Of God! The result is a record that's completely fresh, new territory for Jorge – but a set that also still holds onto all the best charms of his previous records too – and given that he's always seemed poised for superstardom and global crossover, it's even more incredible that he's made such a rootsy record like this! The record's filled with cool covers – all given the Almaz twist – tunes by Kraftwerk, Roy Ayers, Michael Jackson, Jorge Ben, Tim Maia, and others – completely reworked, and tuned up with spare instrumentation that's mostly guitar, bass, and drums. Titles include "Everybody Loves The Sunshine", "The Model", "Cala Boca Menino", "Girl You Move Me", "Juizo Final", "Cirandar", "Tempo De Amor", and "Rock With You". LP, Vinyl record album