Stephen Thomas Erlewine at Allmusic: Off the Wall was a massive success, spawning four Top Ten hits (two of them number ones), but nothing could have prepared Michael Jackson for Thriller. Nobody could have prepared anybody for the success of Thriller, since the magnitude of its success was simply unimaginable -- an album that sold 40 million copies in its initial chart run, with seven of its nine tracks reaching the Top Ten (for the record, the terrific "Baby Be Mine" and the pretty good ballad "The Lady in My Life" are not like the others). This was a record that had something for everybody, building on the basic blueprint of Off the Wall by adding harder funk, hard rock, softer ballads, and smoother soul -- expanding the approach to have something for every audience. That alone would have given the album a good shot at a huge audience, but it also arrived precisely when MTV was reaching its ascendancy, and Jackson helped the network by being not just its first superstar, but first black star as much as the network helped him. This all would have made it a success (and its success, in turn, served as a new standard for success), but it stayed on the charts, turning out singles, for nearly two years because it was really, really good. True, it wasn't as tight as Off the Wall -- and the ridiculous, late-night house-of-horrors title track is the prime culprit, arriving in the middle of the record and sucking out its momentum -- but those one or two cuts don't detract from a phenomenal set of music. It's calculated, to be sure, but the chutzpah of those calculations (before this, nobody would even have thought to bring in metal virtuoso Eddie Van Halen to play on a disco cut) is outdone by their success. This is where a song as gentle and lovely as "Human Nature" coexists comfortably with the tough, scared "Beat It," the sweet schmaltz of the Paul McCartney duet "The Girl Is Mine," and the frizzy funk of "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)." And, although this is an undeniably fun record, the paranoia is already creeping in, manifesting itself in the record's two best songs: "Billie Jean," where a woman claims Michael is the father of her child, and the delirious "Wanna Be Startin' Something," the freshest funk on the album, but the most claustrophobic, scariest track Jackson ever recorded. These give the record its anchor and are part of the reason why the record is more than just a phenomenon. The other reason, of course, is that much of this is just simply great music.

Thriller is a legendary album by the American singer and songwriter Michael Jackson, released in 1982 by Epic Records. It is one of the most successful and influential albums of all time, selling over 70 million copies worldwide and winning eight Grammy Awards. The album features a variety of musical genres, from pop and R&B to rock and funk, and showcases Jackson’s incredible vocal range, dance skills, and artistic vision.

The album was produced by Quincy Jones, who had previously worked with Jackson on his 1979 album Off the Wall. Jackson wanted to make an album where every song was a potential hit single, and he collaborated with some of the best songwriters, musicians, and engineers in the industry. The album includes guest appearances by Paul McCartney on “The Girl Is Mine”, a duet about two men fighting over a woman, and Vincent Price on “Thriller”, a horror-themed song with a spoken rap by the famous actor.

The album contains nine songs, each with its own distinctive style and mood. Some of the highlights are:

• “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’”, a funky and energetic song that opens the album with a catchy chorus and a sample of an African chant.

• “Billie Jean”, a smooth and groovy song that tells the story of a woman who claims that Jackson is the father of her child. The song features one of Jackson’s most iconic bass lines and dance moves.

• “Beat It”, a rock anthem that encourages people to avoid violence and walk away from trouble. The song features a guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen and a gang fight scene in the music video.

• “Human Nature”, a soft and romantic ballad that expresses Jackson’s curiosity and wonder about the world. The song has a dreamy and ethereal sound, with synthesizers and keyboards by Steve Porcaro and David Paich of Toto.

• “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)”, a fun and upbeat song that celebrates young love and attraction. The song features backing vocals by Janet Jackson and La Toya Jackson, Michael’s sisters.

• “Thriller”, the title track and the longest song on the album, clocking at almost six minutes. The song is inspired by horror movies and Halloween, with spooky sound effects, creepy lyrics, and a thrilling music video that features zombies, werewolves, and a dance routine that has become a cultural phenomenon.

Thriller is not only an album, but also a cultural milestone that changed the landscape of music, entertainment, and society. The album broke racial barriers in the music industry, as Jackson became the first black artist to receive regular airplay on MTV and mainstream radio stations. The album also revolutionized the music video format, as Jackson created mini-movies that showcased his storytelling, choreography, and special effects. The album also influenced countless artists across genres and generations, who have cited Jackson as their inspiration and role model.