List of Michael Jackson albums

The following is a list of albums that pop singer Michael Jackson has released during his solo career.

Motown releases

1. Got to Be There - released in January of 1972, the title track was Jackson's first solo. He would continue to record solo albums while remaining in The Jackson 5 for the duration of his tenure at Motown.
2. Ben - released in August of 1972, this album is most notable for its title track, an ode to the main character (a rat) in the 1972 film Ben
3. Music and Me - released in April of 1973, this was Jackson's least successful Motown album, both critically and commercially.
4. Forever, Michael - released in 1975, this album was the Michael's final solo album until he and Quincy Jones revived his solo career in 1979.

Epic releases

1. Off the Wall - released in August of 1979 and has sold over 15 Million copies worldwide. It was the first album Jackson compiled since leaving Motown Records and is considered to be his breakthrough. Included hit singles 'Don't Stop Til You Get Enough' and 'Rock With You'.
2. Thriller - released on December 1, 1982 and has sold more than 52 Million copies worldwide, making it the biggest selling album of all time. Seven of its nine tracks became hit singles: 'Wanna Be Startin Somethin', 'The Girl Is Mine', 'Beat It', 'Billie Jean', 'Human Nature', 'P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)', and the title track 'Thriller', which included a lengthy guest appearance by actor Vincent Price.
3. Bad - released on August 31, 1987 and held the #1 spot in the United States for 6 weeks, and spent 38 weeks in the top 5, breaking The Eagles' Hotel California 26-week record. Bad has sold approximately 29 Million copies worldwide, and spawned eight singles: 'I Just Can't Stop Loving You', 'Bad', 'The Way You Make Me Feel', 'Man In The Mirror', 'Dirty Diana', 'Another Part of Me', 'Smooth Criminal', 'Leave Me Alone' and 'Liberian Girl'. All of Michael Jackson's royalties for 'Man in the Mirror' were donated to charity.
4. Dangerous - released on November 26, 1991. It was the first album by Jackson that was not produced by Quincy Jones and has sold about 29 Million copies worldwide. The album included the massive pop hit 'Black Or White', and several singles, including 'Remember The Time', 'In The Closet', 'Jam', 'Heal The World', 'Who Is It', 'Will You Be There', 'Give In To Me' and 'Gone Too Soon'.
5. HIStory - released on June 20, 1995. This two-disc album included a greatest hits package along with several new tracks. Disc One contains fifteen of Jackson's hits, and Disc Two contains fifteen brand new songs. It has sold over 18 Million copies. Five singles were from this album: 'Scream' (a duet with Janet Jackson), 'You Are Not Alone', 'Earth Song', 'They Don't Care About Us' and 'Stranger In Moscow'.
6. Blood on the Dance Floor - released in May of 1997. This compilation contained five new songs and eight remixes of songs from HIStory. The album was not promoted in most of the world, as it was just meant to promote Jackson's then-current European tour. As a result it has sold only 6 Million copies, a minuscule number in comparison to Jackson's other albums. The album had two singles: the title track 'Blood on the Dance Floor', and 'HIStory'/'Ghosts'.
7. Invincible - released on October 29, 2001 to high anticipation of die-hard fans and indifference from critics. It was released with five different covers, each touting different-colored tints of a portrait of Jackson. Promotion of the album by Sony Music ended prematurely in early 2002, to harsh criticism by Jackson of racism by then record company CEO Tommy Mottola. There were two singles released for the album: 'You Rock My World' and 'Cry' (international release) or 'Butterflies' (American release). It has sold over 8 million copies worldwide.