Michael’s Magnum Opus

“Thriller” was one of two solo albums that helped Michael Jackson accomplish more in the ’80s than Madonna did with six or Prince with nine. The fact that it earned a record eight Grammys seems secondary: Almost every song on “Thriller” was a top-ten hit, and the album itself would become the best selling of all time. People refer to “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” by the Beatles as the “soundtrack to the summer” – “Thriller” became the soundtrack for two whole years, spending 122 weeks on the Billboard 200.

Although Jackson’s duet with Paul McCartney on “The Girl is Mine” was the first hit from “Thriller,” it didn’t provide the sheen funk critics expected. The following month, sales for the album went from agreeable to explosive when “Billie Jean” hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. At once blunt and ambiguous, “Billie Jean” was deliciously dark and mature; a turning point in his career. Jackson was especially devoted to “Billie Jean”: He was reportedly so absorbed while writing it in his Rolls-Royce that he hadn’t noticed when it caught fire. A hit grappling infidelity was a gamble, particularly at a time when HIV brought the sexual revolution to an immediate end.

More and more, “Thriller” represents what’s missing from modern pop music: Risk. Instead of cloning his previous “Off the Wall,” Jackson explored his feelings on gossip (“Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’”), society (“Human Nature”) and infatuation (“P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)”). Using “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” as the first track could’ve been unwise considering its six-minute length, but it gave “Thriller” the rousing opener it needed. Intersecting rock and funk on “Beat It” produced a unique sound that succeeded with black and white fans rather than alienating them.

As groundbreaking as it was for the radio, “Thriller” was an even greater risk for television. In its early years, MTV’s demographic made its play list all but devoid of black artists. When the network refused to air Jackson’s video for “Billie Jean,” CBS Records threatened to ban MTV from showing the label’s other talents. The video debuted soon after, and quickly went into heavy rotation.

For all the money CBS was willing to devote to promoting the album, they shied away from Jackson’s $500,000 request to budget a 14-minute video for “Thriller.” When they caved in and agreed to produce it, ratings for MTV spiked as fast as album sales did. The clip for “Beat It” also made a splash, even when guitar hero Eddie Van Halen was reportedly convinced it wouldn’t be a hit and didn’t show up to film the solo.

Jackson’s performance of “Billie Jean” on “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever” prompted a thunderous reaction. Millions were mesmerized by the break-dance echoes of his signature move, the moonwalk. When originally asked to perform a Jackson 5 medley, he agreed on the condition that he could also perform new material. What resulted became a career landmark, reducing the Jackson 5 reunion to a mere afterthought.

“Thriller” shines in the timeline of Jackson’s career. He underwent a saccharine spring (as a child star who endured his violent father), an appalling fall (as tabloid fodder) and a wretched winter (as a basket case headed for early doom). Summertime sure was hot, though.