Posted Dec 09, 2004 12:00 AM
58. Billie Jean
Michael Jackson
Posted Dec 09, 2004 12:00 AM
Written by: Jackson
Produced by: Jackson, Quincy Jones
Released: Jan. '83 on Epic
Charts: 7 weeks
Top spot: No. 1
Sinuous, paranoid and omnipresent: the single that made Jackson the biggest star since Elvis was a denial of a paternity suit, and it spent seven weeks at Number One. Jackson came up with the irresistible rhythm track on his home drum machine and nailed the vocals in one take. "I knew it was going to be big while I was writing it," he said. "I was really absorbed in writing it." How absorbed? He was thinking about the song while riding in his Rolls down the Ventura Freeway in California -- and didn't notice the car was on fire.
Appears on: Thriller (Sony)
___________________________________
120. I Want You Back,The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5
Posted Dec 09, 2004 12:00 AM
Written by: Freddie Perren, Fonce Mizell, Deke Richards, Berry Gordy Jr.
Produced by: Perren, Mizell, Richards, Gordy
Released: Nov. '69 on Motown
Charts: 19 weeks
Top spot: No. 1
"I Want You Back" was the song that introduced Motown to the futuristic funk beat of Sly Stone and James Brown. It also introduced the world to an eleven-year-old Indiana kid named Michael Jackson. The five dancing Jackson brothers became stars overnight, as Michael yelped his lead vocals with boyish fervor. "I Want You Back" remains one of hip-hop's favorite beats, sampled everywhere from Kris Kross' "Jump" to Jay-Z's "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)."
Appears on: The Ultimate Collection (Motown)
______________________________
337. Beat It
Michael Jackson
Posted Dec 09, 2004 12:00 AM
Written by: Jackson
Produced by: Quincy Jones
Released: Dec. '82 on Epic
Charts: 25 weeks
Top spot: No. 1
"I wanted to write the type of rock song that I would go out and buy," said Jackson, "but also something totally different from the rock music I was hearing on Top Forty radio." The result was a throbbing dance single with a watch-my-fingers-fly guitar solo provided by Eddie Van Halen.
Appears on: Thriller (Epic)
58. Billie Jean
Michael Jackson
Posted Dec 09, 2004 12:00 AM
Written by: Jackson
Produced by: Jackson, Quincy Jones
Released: Jan. '83 on Epic
Charts: 7 weeks
Top spot: No. 1
Sinuous, paranoid and omnipresent: the single that made Jackson the biggest star since Elvis was a denial of a paternity suit, and it spent seven weeks at Number One. Jackson came up with the irresistible rhythm track on his home drum machine and nailed the vocals in one take. "I knew it was going to be big while I was writing it," he said. "I was really absorbed in writing it." How absorbed? He was thinking about the song while riding in his Rolls down the Ventura Freeway in California -- and didn't notice the car was on fire.
Appears on: Thriller (Sony)
___________________________________
120. I Want You Back,The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5
Posted Dec 09, 2004 12:00 AM
Written by: Freddie Perren, Fonce Mizell, Deke Richards, Berry Gordy Jr.
Produced by: Perren, Mizell, Richards, Gordy
Released: Nov. '69 on Motown
Charts: 19 weeks
Top spot: No. 1
"I Want You Back" was the song that introduced Motown to the futuristic funk beat of Sly Stone and James Brown. It also introduced the world to an eleven-year-old Indiana kid named Michael Jackson. The five dancing Jackson brothers became stars overnight, as Michael yelped his lead vocals with boyish fervor. "I Want You Back" remains one of hip-hop's favorite beats, sampled everywhere from Kris Kross' "Jump" to Jay-Z's "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)."
Appears on: The Ultimate Collection (Motown)
______________________________
337. Beat It
Michael Jackson
Posted Dec 09, 2004 12:00 AM
Written by: Jackson
Produced by: Quincy Jones
Released: Dec. '82 on Epic
Charts: 25 weeks
Top spot: No. 1
"I wanted to write the type of rock song that I would go out and buy," said Jackson, "but also something totally different from the rock music I was hearing on Top Forty radio." The result was a throbbing dance single with a watch-my-fingers-fly guitar solo provided by Eddie Van Halen.
Appears on: Thriller (Epic)
