Michael Jackson was hailed as the King of Pop long before he became infamous for his peculiar, headline-grabbing antics. Fortunately, this five-disc retrospective box set -- spanning 1969 to 2004 -- returns the spotlight to Jackson's triumphs as an artist. Disc 1 chronicles the Gloved One's not-so-humble beginnings as the young-yet-dynamic lead singer for the
Jackson 5 with a string of four No. 1 pop and R&B singles ("I Want You Back," "ABC," "I'll Be There," and "Got to Be There"), which appear alongside disco-era Jackson 5 hits ("Dancing Machine," "Enjoy Yourself"). Disc 1 also includes MJ songs from the films
The Wiz and
Ben, as well as career-defining solo numbers from
Off the Wall ("Rock with You," "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"). With the inclusion of six hit singles from
Thriller -- still the bestselling record of all time -- Disc 2 captures the pop icon at the height of his career. Disc 3 features seminal tracks from
Bad ("Smooth Criminal") and
Dangerous ("Remember the Time"), while Disc 4 features selections from 1995's
HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1 and 2001's modest comeback,
Invincible. Besides more hits, what further distinguishes
The Ultimate Collection from the aforementioned two-disc
HIStory is the addition of 13 rare and previously unissued recordings, including demo versions of "PYT" and "We Are the World," and a DVD containing a full-length concert shot in Bucharest during 1992's
Dangerous tour. The deluxe box set also contains a 64-page booklet with never-before-seen photos, personal memorabilia, a chronological timeline, complete discography, and an essay by acclaimed music journalist Nelson George -- making this truly an
Ultimate Collection.
