Released 26 years ago this November
The Best of Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson · 2000
36 min · 11 tracks · blues
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Strong early solo melodies and polished performances carry the collection, but its anthology sequencing gives it little shape or identity as an album.
What we noticed
- The opening run moves from the buoyant bounce of “Rockin’ Robin” into the more socially minded “People Make the World Go ’Round,” then returns to a child-singer ballad with “With a Child’s Heart.”
- “Ben” lands seventh as the most prominent ballad, followed by several later solo tracks; “Music and Me” closes the set quietly rather than building to a finale.
- The eleven songs span Jackson’s early solo years, and the sequence reads as a selection of songs rather than a continuous dramatic arc.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
3/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
4/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Got to Be There 3:25
- 2 I Wanna Be Where You Are 2:58
- 3 Rockin' Robin 2:34
- 4 People Make the World Go 'Round 3:17
- 5 With a Child's Heart 3:35
- 6 Happy (Love Theme From "Lady Sings the Blues") 3:28
- 7 Ben 2:47
- 8 We're Almost There 3:46
- 9 Just a Little Bit of You 3:14
- 10 One Day in Your Life 4:19
- 11 Music and Me 2:36
Reference: MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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