bboy87 said:

MJ looks great!

THEY GLOVE HIM, THEY REALLY GLOVE HIM: Michael Jackson's 25th anniversary Thriller reissue on Sony Legacy is selling even better than expected, with a projected first-week total of 120k that should easily place it in next week's Top 5. The new package includes the original nine songs, five tracks remixed with will.i.am, Akon, Fergie and Kanye West, a ballad, "For All Time," that was left off the original, and a DVD featuring the three classic videos ("Beat It," "Billie Jean," "Thriller") and a clip of the King of Pop moon-walking for the first time on the Motown 25th anniversary show. Props to John Ingrassia and his Commercial Music Group for a job well done on this historic package. (2/13p)

HITS DAILY


JACKING THE CHARTS: It looks like Brushfire/Universal Republic’s Jack Johnson will get another week on top of the HITS Building Album Sales chart next week, as Sleep Through the Static appears on target to sell more than 135k, based on one-day sales reports from retailers now surfing in Kansas. Still, it's not out of the question that the #1 slot could be in reach for Jackson’s 25th anniversary Thriller package or Universal Republic’s Amy Winehouse, depending on trends, while J Grammy winner Alicia Keys’ As I Am continues strong with another 100k, give or take. That would give Monte Lipman’s label two of the Top 5. Other Grammy titles experiencing sales boosts include Album of the Year winner Herbie Hancock’s Joni Mitchell tribute on Verve, up to 35k from 5k last week, and RCA/RMG’s Rock winners Foo Fighters up to 30k from 13k. The market was up 11% vs. last week, down 14% vs. same week last year and now already down 13% year-to-date. (2/13p)

Top 5 Overall Sales Debuts

#1 - Michael Jackson - Thriller 25th Anniversary Edition (SBME/Legacy)
#2 - Widespread Panic - Free Somehow (Redeye/Widespread)
#3 - Nancy Lamott - Ask Me Again (Allegro/Midder)
#4 - Simple Plan - Simple Plan (WEA/Lava)
#5 - British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music? (EMM/Rough Trade)

Sales Debut By Format

#1 - Hot AC - Michael Jackson - Thriller 25th Anniversary Edition (SBME/Legacy)
#2 - Hot AC - Simple Plan - Simple Plan (WEA/Lava)

#1 - Mainstream Top 40 - Michael Jackson - Thriller 25th Anniversary Edition (SBME/Legacy)
#2 - Mainstream Top 40 - Simple Plan - Simple Plan (WEA/Lava)

#1 - Rhythmic - Michael Jackson - Thriller 25th Anniversary Edition (SBME/Legacy)

#1 - Triple A - Widespread Panic - Free Somehow (Redeye/Widespread)

#1 - Urban - Michael Jackson - Thriller 25th Anniversary Edition (SBME/Legacy)

#1 - Urban AC - Michael Jackson - Thriller 25th Anniversary Edition (SBME/Legacy)

I can't stop playing "For All Time."

tricky2 said:

I'm still playing this song. Help me.

Hitsdaily double is now reporting Thriller 25 is on pace for 120k the 1st week

Michael Jackson's Thriller 25 release is destined to make a splash with its first week of sales. HITS Daily Double writes: "Jackson's 25th anniversary Thriller reissue on Sony Legacy is selling even better than expected, with a projected first-week total of 120,000 that should easily place it in next week's Top 5."

Furthermore, early figures indicate that Thriller 25 is the #1 musical debut of the week, both overall and across most major formats (including Hot AC, Mainstream Top 40, Rhythmic, Urban, and Urban AC).

^^^^^

I don't have it but I heard it's available on Itunes, but I don't know for sure. I would love to hear the song though.

BabyBeMine said:

I really thought this was gonna flop but it's doing much better than I expected. I mean this is really something else because the U.S. is considered Michael's weakest market so these numbers are great for Michael. I also have to say that Sony did a great job with the promotion. Invincible never got this much promotion lol, but congrats to Mike! I know he must be happy about this.
[Edited 2/13/08 20:51pm]

Anyway, I got a question, for those that bought it, if you got the booklet, when they get to the sales thing, do they put the 104 million in or still say 50-55 million?

Pictures of the Limited Edition Thriller 25 iPod:

Timmy84 said:

There's no mention of how many copies it sold. It mentioned a few times that its the biggest selling album of all time but it doesn't actually quote sales figures.

As far as the photos go:

Hate the hair/wig
Hate the pants

Love the smile..and that is what matters the most to me.

Will this chart on the Billboard 200, or the Catalog chart? When U2's 20th Anniversary of the Joshua Tree was released in November, it only charted on the Catalog chart, and it's sales were high enough to get onto the main chart.

Axchi696 said:

They're treating "Thriller" like a new album (Sony) so I think it's gonna go on the main chart...I think.

Timmy84 said:

Wouldn't it be funny if this album hit NUMBER ONE 25 years after its initial release?

I live in Dallas and see that it is selling extremely well. I picked up all 3 special editions (Target, Circuit City and Best Buy. All of them had sold almost all of their copies. I had to go to 5 different Targets to find ONE copy of the bonus edition. All of them had sold out.

BTW, the bonus edition at Target is Billie Jean (1982 Dance Remix). It sounds like a Frankie Knuckles remix. The "bonus download" is a computer wallpaper.

bboy87 said:

I heard the newly recorded (vocals only mind) of "for all time", and must say I prefer my bootlegged version I downloaded about 5 years ago.

Love that track, and the only thing missing is the clarity of the vocals on the middle 8 (just before "all these words, that young lovers say"). Just cant get into the "thriller 25" version, the middle 8 just sounds wrong.

Odd history that song has. Sounds early 80's, but the vocals sounded "dangerous" era, yet now been re-recorded for "thriller 25". Strange...

And no I did not buy this travesty, but was keen to listen to the newer "for all time" though, as the original version is one of my fav MJ tracks.

thesexofit said:

The vocals are from the Dangerous era. The leaked version from 2002 was recorded from 1990 and thriller 25's mix is the same but more clear and the bridge and later adlibs redone

Timmy84 said:

Wouldn't it be funny if this album hit NUMBER ONE 25 years after its initial release?

I live in Dallas and see that it is selling extremely well. I picked up all 3 special editions (Target, Circuit City and Best Buy. All of them had sold almost all of their copies. I had to go to 5 different Targets to find ONE copy of the bonus edition. All of them had sold out.

BTW, the bonus edition at Target is Billie Jean (1982 Dance Remix). It sounds like a Frankie Knuckles remix. The "bonus download" is a computer wallpaper.

bboy87 said:

Yeah, I could tell they were not "thriller" era vocals (hardcore fans can tell his voice did change after "we are the world"). Who wrote the song? Sounds like "human nature", and definately sounds early 80's?

thesexofit said:

Steve Porcaro, who co-wrote Human Nature, also co-wrote For All Time