I just found this on amazon. It doesn't give a track list, but here's the description:

Product Description
Each Essential Limited Edition 3.0 expanded 3-CD set features the biggest hits and best-loved songs from superstar artists, including material not previously available in an Essential package. Definitive, career-spanning and comprehensive, The Essential 3.0 series features all of the must-have selections from the biggest names in music history--now with a 3rd disc! Now available for the first time in eco-friendly cardboard packaging.

In addition to all the hits on Discs 1 and 2 of these best-selling Essential collections, Limited Edition 3.0 CDs feature these additional hits and fan favorites!

It says it was released on August 26.

Any further info? Tracklist?

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...el_Jackson


only 8 tracks on the 3rd disc:

"Can't Get Outta The Rain"
"Say, Say, Say"
"Jam"
"They Don't Care About Us" (exclusive for USA release)
"Blood On The Dance Floor"
"Stranger In Moscow"
"Butterflies"
"One More Chance"

IstenSzek said:

Thanx. I hope it has the remix of Butterflies (though I'm not holding my breath). I'm kind of surprised that Say, Say, Say is included. I wonder does that mean that MJ and PM have buried the hatchet?

Only hardcore completist fans are buying this

bboy87 said:

I'd buy it if I saw it in the store, but I haven't.
But I certainly don't see myself dropping money
for it on Amazon. At first, I thought it was
a special "Michael-only" thing but other artists (such as Billy Joel)
have also had the "3.0" Essential treatment upgrade.

You would think if the labels would waste the time to print
a third discs of hits we already have just to make a buck,
they'd release some rare tracks to really sell it.

I don't buy best of hits by any artist I admit. And I certainly won't buy MJ's. It's just for sucking the money out of his hardcore fans. Sure MJ gets some money but at the end of the day I don't have to pay MJ's bills!! I'll buy a new studio album though!!!!

Vanilli said:

You would think however....Im not understanding why dont they do this? Or sell a product with dubs and acapellas.
[Edited 9/16/08 11:53am]

Vanilli said:

I'm buying the Thriller 25 book instead

graecophilos said:

I understand your point about not purchasing "best of" collections, but they are designed for the casual listener...not a die-hard fan. Sure, die-hard fans of an artist will purchase them, but most best-of sales are generated by people who are either just casual listeners of an artist or a person just getting exposed to that artist.

I want to get it just for Say Say Say but my friend bought me the essential mj collection for my b'day though I wasn't planning on buying it. Although it's a nice compilation I wasn't pleased with the chopping and edits, so I don't know if it's worth buying the same thing again, though I probably will end up buying it eventually.

that really evens out the set. They seem to be doing this with ALL (or maybe just MOST) of the "Essential" sets. They don't seem to be much more for that third disc (but those eco packages such and the orange covers are really shitty). And if you already bought the 2 disc version, you're totally screwed! I never bought the first one so maybe I'll get this one only if it's damn cheap, though.

VinnyM27 said:

I'd rather get the remastered Jacksons sets

"Can't Get Outta The Rain" is NOT essential or even a remarkable MJ track.

"Say Say Say" is hot and should have been on one of those Thriller reissues instead.

Cinnie said:

I like it much better as the end of the 12" mix of "You Can't Win." I'd say that's essential.


I've always loved that song and I always will.

hey MJ fans,

how many versions of the new "king of pop" CD are there? which has the best track listing? I just got the Aussie one, not bad...

xperience319 said:

Australia 29/08
Austria 29/08
Belgium 25/08
Brazil tba
Finland 01/10
Germany 22/08
Greece tba
Holland 22-29/08
Hong Kong 28/08
Hungary 29/08
Italy tba
Japan 24/09
New Zealand 25/08
Philippines 29/08
Poland 20/10
Sweden 15/10
Switzerland 22/08
Thailand tba
Turkey tba
U.K. 25/08

AUSTRALIA

Disc 1
01. Billie Jean (Single Version)
02. Man In The Mirror (Album Version)
03. Smooth Criminal (Radio Edit) (Album Version)
04. Beat It (Single Version)
05. Thriller (Single Version)
06. They Don't Care About Us (Lp Edit)
07. Who Is It (7 Edit)
08. Black Or White (Album Version)
09. You Rock My World (With Intro)
10. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Single Version)
11. The Way You Make Me Feel (Album Version)
12. Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough (Edited Single)
13. Dirty Diana (Album Version)
14. Blood On The Dance Floor (Album Version)
15. Rock With You (Single Version)
16. Stranger In Moscow (Album Version)
17. Remember The Time (Album Version)

Disc 2
1. Will You Be There (Single Version)
2. Give In To Me (Album Version)
3. You Are Not Alone (Single Version)
4. Say Say Say (Album Version)
5. Scream (Album Version)
6. State Of Shock (Album Version)
7. Got The Hots (Thriller 25th Anniversary, Previously Unreleased)
8. You Can't Win (Album Version)
9. Fall Again (Demo)
10. Sunset Driver (Demo)
11. Someone Put Your Hand Out (Album Version)
12. In The Back (Album Version)
13. We Are The World (Demo)
14. One More Chance (Album Version)
15. Thriller Megamix (Album Version)


AUSTRIA

Disc 1
01. Man In The Mirror - 05:19
02. Smooth Criminal (Radio Edit) - 04:11
03. Billie Jean - 04:53
04. The Way You Make Me Feel - 04:58
05. Black Or White - 04:16
06. Remember The Time - 03:59
07. You Are Not Alone - 04:55
08. Human Nature - 04:05
09. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' - 04:17
10. They Don't Care About Us - 04:09
11. Dirty Diana - 04:41
12. We've Had Enough - 05:45
13. Give In To Me - 05:30
14. Will You Be There - 03:39
15. Heal The World - 04:32
16. Got The Hots - 04:27

Disc 2
01. The Jackson 5 ABC - 02:57
02. The Jacksons Can You Feel It - 05:58
03. Say Say Say - 03:58
04. Thriller - 05:12
05. Bad - 04:07
06. Who Is It - 04:00
07. Earth Song - 05:02
08. Beat It - 04:18
09. Rock With You - 03:23
10. I Just Can't Stop Loving You - 04:12
11. We Are The World - 05:20
12. Stranger In Moscow - 05:22
13. You Rock My World - 05:09
14. Scream - 04:40
15. Ghost - 05:08
16. Thriller Megamix - 04:08

BELGIUM (Het Nieuwsblad edition)

Disc 1
01. Thriller
02. Beat It
03. Billie Jean
04. Bad
05. Black Or White
06. Smooth Criminal
07. Dirty Diana
08. Can You Feel It
09. Heal The World
10. Don't Stop Til' You Get Enough
11. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
12. Blame It On The Boogie
13. I Just Can't Stop Loving You
14. Earth Song
15. Childhood (Theme from "Free Willy 2")
16. The Girl Is Mine
17. Rock With You

Disc 2
01. Man In The Mirror
02. Liberian Girl
03. Blood On The Dance Floor
04. The Way You Make Me Feel
05. We Are The World
06. Baby Be Mine
07. Dangerous 08. They Don't Care About Us
09. Billie Jean 2008 Kanye West mix
10. Human Nature
11. History
12. Say Say Say
13. Remember The Time
14. You Rock My World
15. Beautiful Girl
16. Another Part Of Me


BELGIUM (Bel.RTL edition)

Disc 1
01. Billie Jean
02. Beat It
03. Bad
04. Blood On The Dance Floor
05. Say Say Say
06. Blame It On The Boogie
07. Can You Feel It
08. Heal The World
09. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
10. Earth Song
11. Thriller
12. Dirty Diana
13. Human Nature
14. Smooth Criminal
15. I Just Can't Stop Loving You
16. Rock With You
17. Man In The Mirror

Disc 2
01. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
02. Smile
03. Remember The Time
04. Come Together
05. The Girl Is Mine
06. Stranger In Moscow
07. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
08. Off The Wall
09. Liberian Girl
10. Ghost
11. The Way You Make Me Feel
12. Scream
13. Childhood (Theme from "Free Willy 2")
14. Jam
15. They Don't Care About Us
16. Leave Me Alone
17. We Are Here To Change The World

GERMANY

Disc 1
01. Billie Jean (Album Version) - 4:54
02. Beat It (Album Version) - 4:18
03. Thriller (2003 Edit) - 5:12
04. Smooth Criminal (7'' Edit) - 4:12
05. Bad (Album Version) - 4:08
06. Dirty Diana (Album Version) - 4:41
07. Black Or White (Album Version) - 4:16
08. Man In The Mirror (Album Version) - 5:20
09. Earth Song (Radio Edit) - 5:02
10. Heal The World (7'' Edit) - 4:34
11. They Don't Care About Us (LP Edit) - 4:11
12. Who Is It (7'' Edit) - 4:00
13. Speechless (Album Version) - 3:19
14. The Way You Make Me Feel (Album Version) - 4:58
15. We've Had Enough (Album Version) - 5:45
16. Remember The Time (Album Version) - 4:00

Disc 2
01. Whatever Happens (Album Version) - 4:57
02. You Are Not Alone (7'' Edit) - 4:56
03. Say, Say, Say (Album Version) - 3:58
04. Liberian Girl (Album Version) - 3:54
05. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (7'' Edit) - 4:17
06. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (7'' Edit) - 3:57
07. I Just Can't Stop Loving You (Album Version) - 4:13
08. Give In To Me (Album Version) - 5:29
09. Dangerous (Album Version) - 6:58
10. Will You Be There (7'' Edit) - 3:40
11. Scream (Album Version) - 4:39
12. You Rock My World (Single Edit) - 5:08
13. Stranger In Moscow (Single Edit) - 5:23
14. Rock With You (7'' Edit) - 3:23
15. Got The Hots (Album Version) - 4:27
16. Thriller Megamix (Album Version) - 9:14


HOLLAND (Uitgave edition)

Disc 1
01. Billie Jean
02. Thriller
03. Beat It
04. Smooth Criminal
05. Dirty Diana
06. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
07. Man In The Mirror
08. They Don't Care About Us
09. Black Or White
10. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
11. The Way You Make Me Feel
12. Bad
13. Earth Song
14. Ben
15. Heal The World
16. Liberian Girl
17. Rock With You

Disc 2
01. Can You Feel It
02. She's Out Of My Life
03. You Are Not Alone
04. Stranger In Moscow
05. The Girl Is Mine
06. Remember The Time
07. You Rock My World
08. Human Nature
09. Give In To Me
10. Will You Be There
11. Off The Wall
12. I'll Be There
13. Who Is It
14. Blood On The Dance Floor
15. Say Say Say
16. Blame It On The Boogie
17. Ghost
18. Got The Hots (previously unreleased)


HONG KONG

Disc 1
01. Billie Jean
02. Bad
03. Say Say Say (with Paul McCartney)
04. Thriller
05. Ghost
06. Will You Be There
07. Heal The World
08. Smooth Criminal
09. Jam
10. Scream (with Janet Jackson)
11. I Just Can't Stop Loving You (with Siedah Garret)
12. Black Or White
13. They Don't Care About Us
14. Come Together
15. We Are The World (Demo Version)

Disc 2
01. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
02. Beat It
03. Dangerous
04. Dirty Diana
05. You Are Not Alone
06. Remember The Time
07. The Way You Make Me Feel
08. Man In The Mirror
09. Earth Song
10. She's Out Of My Life
11. The Girl Is Mine (with Paul McCartney)
12. You Rock My World
13. Blood On The Dance Floor
14. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
15. Billie Jean 2008 (featuring Kayne West)
16. Thriller Megamix (Radio Edit)


HUNGARY

01. Billie Jean
02. Black Or White
03. Thriller
04. Smooth Criminal
05. Earth Song
06. Bad
07. Beat It
08. Dirty Diana
09. They Don’t Care About Us
10. Heal The World
11. Remember The Time
12. Say Say Say (with Paul McCartney)
13. Dangerous
14. Give In To Me
15. You Are Not Alone
16. Thriller Megamix (radio edit)


JAPAN

01. Billie Jean (Album Version)
02. Man In The Mirror (Album Version)
03. Smooth Criminal (7'' Edit)
04. Thriller (2003 Edit)
05. Beat It (Album Version)
06. Bad (Album Version)
07. Black Or White (Album Version)
08. Heal The World (7'' Edit)
09. Rock With You (7'' Edit)
10. Human Nature (Album Version)
11. We Are The World (Demo)
12. Say, Say, Say (Album Version)
13. Scream (Album Version)
14. Remember The Time (Album Version)
15. Off The Wall (7'' Edit)
16. Ben (Album Version)
17. Thriller Megamix (Radio Edit)


NEW ZEALAND

01. Billie Jean
02. Thriller
03. Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough
04. Man In The Mirror
05. Black Or White
06. Blame It On The Boogie
07. Beat It
08. Smooth Criminal
09. Bad
10. Rock With You
11. The Way You Make Me Feel
12. Heal The World
13. Scream
14. Dirty Diana
15. Remember The Time
16. They Don’t Care About Us
17. Stranger In Moscow

PHILIPPINES

Disc 1
01. Blame It On The Boogie
02. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
03. Rock With You
04. Off The Wall
05. She's Out Of My Life
06. The Girl Is Mine
07. Thriller (single w/ Vincent Price)
08. Beat It
09. Billie Jean
10. Human Nature
11. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
12. Bad (single)
13. The Way You Make Me Feel
14. Man In The Mirror
15. I Just Can't Stop Loving You&
16. Smooth Criminal
17. In The Closet

Disc 2
01. Remember The Time
02. Heal The World
03. Black Or White
04. Gone Too Soon
05. Dangerous
06. Scream
07. They Don't Care About Us
08. Earth Song
09. You Are Not Alone
10. Childhood (Theme From Free Willy 2)
11. Blood On The Dance Floor
12. Invincible
13. We Are The World (demo)
14. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008 (Feat Akon)
15. Say Say Say (with Paul McCartney)
16. Got The Hots (demo recorded)
17. Thriller Megamix (radio edit)


SWITZERLAND

Disc 2
01. Billie Jean (Album Version) - 4:54
02. Beat It (Album Version) - 4:18
03. Thriller (2003 Edit) - 5:12
04. Smooth Criminal (7'' Edit) - 4:12
05. Bad (Album Version) - 4:08
06. Dirty Diana (Album Version) - 4:41
07. Black Or White (Album Version) - 4:16
08. Man In The Mirror (Album Version) - 5:20
09. Earth Song (Radio Edit) - 5:02
10. Heal The World (7'' Edit) - 4:34
11. They Don't Care About Us (LP Edit) - 4:11
12. Who Is It (7'' Edit) - 4:00
13. Speechless (Album Version) - 3:19
14. The Way You Make Me Feel (Album Version) - 4:58
15. We've Had Enough (Album Version) - 5:45
16. Remember The Time (Album Version) - 4:00

Disc 2
01. Whatever Happens (Album Version) - 4:57
02. You Are Not Alone (7'' Edit) - 4:56
03. Say, Say, Say (Album Version) - 3:58
04. Liberian Girl (Album Version) - 3:54
05. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (7'' Edit) - 4:17
06. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (7'' Edit) - 3:57
07. I Just Can't Stop Loving You (Album Version) - 4:13
08. Give In To Me (Album Version) - 5:29
09. Dangerous (Album Version) - 6:58
10. Will You Be There (7'' Edit) - 3:40
11. Scream (Album Version) - 4:39
12. You Rock My World (Single Edit) - 5:08
13. Stranger In Moscow (Single Edit) - 5:23
14. Rock With You (7'' Edit) - 3:23
15. Got The Hots (Album Version) - 4:27
16. Thriller Megamix (Album Version) - 9:14


U.K.

Disc 1
01. Billie Jean
02. Bad
03. Say Say Say (with Paul McCartney)
04. Thriller
05. Ghost
06. Will You Be There
07. Heal The World
08. Smooth Criminal
09. Jam
10. Scream (with Janet Jackson)
11. I Just Can't Stop Loving You (with Siedah Garrett)
12. Black Or White
13. They Don't Care About Us
14. Come Together
15. We Are The World' (Demo Version)span>

Disc 2
01. Don't Stop Til You Get Enough
02. Beat It
03. Dangerous
04. Dirty Diana
05. You Are Not Alone
06. Remember The Time
07. The Way You Make Me Feel
08. Man In The Mirror
09. Earth Song
10. She's Out Of My Life
11. The Girl Is Mine (with Paul McCartney)
12. You Rock My World
13. Blood On The Dance Floor
14. Wanna Be Starting Something
15. Billie Jean 2008' (feat. Kayne West)
16. Thriller Megamix' (Radio Edit)

cool thanks bboy87!

So not all 2disc editions huh...this must be bankrupting the hardcore collector fans out there...lol

Seems aussie fans voted for all the demos and "unreleased" tracks...dunno if thats a good or a bad thing...

which version do the fans think is the best?

xperience319 said:

Well, the Italian one is going to have Got The Hots and the full version of Carousel

so far, it seems the Australia version is the most popular. I feel the communication between Michael's people and the fans are kinda off, not to mention the fans that ARE in communication with his team and Sony are kinda mute. When the Thriller 25 set came out, the overall reaction from most of the forums and older hardcore fans were "What the hell is this bullshit!" The owner of MJNO was in direct contact with Sony because they said they wanted feedback, but I believe he didn't give much because many of the fans were severly disappointed. I even made a "fantasy tracklisting"
Disc 1
1.Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
2.Baby Be Mine
3.The Girl Is Mine
4.Thriller
5.Beat It
6.Billie Jean
7.Human Nature
8.P.Y.T.
9.The Lady In My Life
10.The Girl Is Mine(demo)
11.Beat It (demo)
12.Billie Jean (demo)
13.The Lady In My Life (long version)
14.Someone In The Dark
15.Carousel (uncut version)

Disc 2
1.Got The Hots
2.Starlight
3.Behind The Mask
4.Hot Street
5.Nightline
6.Stand Tall
7.Much Too Soon
8.Billie Jean (Extended Version)
9.Beat It (Video Mix)
10.Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Extended Version)

Disc 3
Motown 25 Performance
Billie Jean
Beat It
Thriller
Billie Jean '84
Victory Tour Live in Los Angeles
Making of Thriller


I even EMAILED one of the execs at Legacy with a idea for a boxset and Bad Tour DVD, but they weren't tryin' to hear it

Thanks Bboy,

looks like i got the the best version then!

shame about the Thriller 25th ed., was very disappointing indeed, im a casual fan, but i usually grab whatever is out for MJ, even if i don't play it for months after buying it...

I haven't bought that Thriller yet, mainly because of those horrible new versions of his songs...why mess with perfection?? And if you have to mess with it, make the original singer mess with it...

It certainly appears that Sony wasn't listening to the fans...I have "The Ultimate Collection" boxset, seems better value to MJ fans than that Thriller 25th imo.

Fingers crossed for GOOD new material!!

Some info about Thriller 25 and Michael's Marketing Plan:


Thriller 25 was a lot better than I expected it to be. And actually..I think it holds up better than that mess of Invincible.

That being said, Thriller 25 wasn't about messing with the original. It wasn't about the "fan base." It was about seeking out NEWER and YOUNGER fans...and to connect with them. Michael Jackson has always been the guy who tries to take his music and his legacy to future generations. He is the blueprint for the people that follow him. Think what he did with Dangerous, he worked with the hottest producers of the moment and changed it up. After that, other artists followed his lead (Lionel Richie for one) (Some could even Madonna) and others. But it started before that, it started when he started making his little "I'm an Amazing Artist/Documentary movies." Do any of the older fans remember The Legend Continues? If not, the newer fans should remember the thing that came out in 2004, The One! Now he is about to release a book which documents Thriller. Again, while this book might excite some fans (me for one) - it is really about..showing the fans who don't know/don't understand how big Michael once was...what they missed. It isn't about the "fans" anymore - it is about getting Michael out there. Think of this like an election, Michael is seeking new "voters" to support him when he really does need it. His next "comeback" might make or break his career. Ironically enough, he faced the same predicament in 1995 upon the eve of releasing HIStory and before that in 1991, before he released Dangerous. (Taraborrelli pointed this out in his book.)

The main points are - Don't be surprised in a few years when you see Beyonce, Usher, and Justin Timberlake all making the same sorta video projects..having artists praise them mixed with concert footage and music videos. It is only a matter of time. Michael writes the book and these twits copy it. Oh and that reminds, don't forget I predicted Justin will probably release "Justisfied 10 Years Later" in 2012 and Beyonce will have a book out talking about how amazing Destiny's Child were. (They weren't..they were a poor man's TLC or Xscape at best.)

If you view Thriller 25 compared to what you might expect from a NEW MICHAEL JACKSON project...it comes up short, yes. But doing this is an injustice. If you view it FOR WHAT IT IT WAS...picking up new Michael Jackson fans and getting "at-one-time" Michael fans excited about his music again, it was a huge success.

xperience319 said:

Aussie fans only voted for the first 20 tracks on the album. The other songs on disc 2 were added by sony as "rarities" and "unreleased" tracks (Got The Hots). For example, Say Say Say, Scream, etc weren't even in the poll to vote for.

The Australian version seems to be the most popular so far, but the Italian version may end up being more popular for the full version of Carousel.

The packaging for KOP Australia was done very well. Sony did ask us at the Sony KOP Launch / 50th birthday party last month what we thought of the package, design, tracklist etc. Also, Got The Hots will be the "radio only" single for the KOP Aussie edition. I got the album free at the launch.

As for the Essential 3.0 there was some hype about it because we were told that Lady In My Life (complete version) would be on it, but plans for it were eventually scrapped OR fans were told in error. There's no reason to buy it.

Vanilli said:

Yea, but the thing he should've done is make 2 editions

Thriller 25 standard edition
Thriller 25 (Collector's Edition)- a 3CD set of unreleased material and stuff that fans wanted

Ditto @ bboy87...

Sure releasing it the way they did proved to be marketable but they still could've done some for the old school heads that dug all the ins and outs of what made "Thriller" the album it became anyway.

I'm sure you haven't seen the last of the Thriller reissues.

Cinnie said:

So true. so true.
Next time around..the diehard fans will probably be a bit more satisfied.
I mean back in 2001, the fans were salvating at the special edition content.
Just wait for 2010 or whenever the next one is....it will be a lot better.

And bboy better get his fantasy tracklist or I'm seriously handing in my
glove. I'll be done with Mike. I want the full version of "Trouble" in high quality.