There are numerous superior Michael Jackson best-of collections. If you want a true overview of Jackson’s career, This Is It, is not the record you want. But as the first posthumous release from arguably the only other pop musician to scale the same heights as The Beatles and Rolling Stones, This Is It is fascinating. Read our full This Is It review now for our verdict.
Opening with Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’, This Is It takes a whistle stop tour through Jackson’s peerless solo releases hampered only by the inclusion of the execrable preaching of Earth Song.
However, the unreleased songs are where the interest truly lies. Two versions of the song This Is It (from 1991′s Dangerous session) are included on the record.
With backing vocals from the rest of the Jackson 5, This Is It is a surprisingly effective ballad with a soulful guitar hook. An unfortunate lyrical reference to being “the light of the world” is the only reminder of Jacko’s more Messianic tendencies.
Michael Jackson: The Videogame incoming
A second disc of rarities includes demoes of Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’, Beat It and She’s Out Of My Life. There’s also a spoken word piece called Planet Earth which defines the phrase “for serious fans only”.
As a curio and souvenir of the O2 shows that never were, This Is It is a fitting tribute to Michael Jackson’s musical genius but there are better summaries of his career.
Michael Jackson This Is It is out now
