THIS IS IT IS #1 ALBUM IN AMERICA AND 16 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD

New York, NY – “MICHAEL JACKSON’S THIS IS IT” made motion picture history as the highest grossing concert film of all time. And now, the two-disc album companion to the movie Michael Jackson’s This is It released by Sony Music’s Epic Records makes its first week debut in the #1 spot of the Billboard Top 200 album chart, as well as the Soundtrack album chart. U.S. sales of the album - which features new hit song “This is It” – totaled 373,100 units this week according to Nielsen Soundscan – this figure does not include significant sales from non-traditional retailers. Sales figures from other parts of the world are still being tallied although the album did hit #1 in 16 other countries including Canada, Japan, France, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Turkey, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the Middle East and Colombia and Top-3 in the UK, Australia, Argentina, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland and Spain. A simultaneous #1 album and a #1 documentary film has not happened since 1971 when the Rolling Stones did it with the album Sticky Fingers and movie Gimme Shelter.

Michael Jackson albums now occupy the top five spots of Billboard catalog album chart at #1, #3 and #4; his Number Ones album is this year’s best-selling overall album year to date as of this week. Throughout his career, Michael Jackson has spent a total of 51 weeks at #1 on the Billboard album chart. Only The Beatles and Elvis Presley have spent more weeks at the top. His last #1 was Invincible in 2001 although Thriller hit the top of the Billboard catalog album chart last October.

Disc one features the original album masters of some of Michael's biggest hits such as "Billie Jean," "Smooth Criminal," "Human Nature," and "Thriller" arranged in the same sequence as they appear in the film. The disc ends with two versions of "This Is It," the original and an orchestral version. Disc two offers fans a rare listen to the early demo versions of classics "She's Out Of My Life," "Wanna Be Startin'," "Somethin'," and "Beat It." This disc also features a recently discovered spoken word poem from Michael Jackson entitled "Planet Earth."

Michael Jackson's This Is It also includes a 36-page, commemorative booklet featuring exclusive photos of Michael from his last rehearsal.










Dupa ce “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” a intrat pe primul loc in box-office-ul american la doar o saptamana de la lansare, devenind filmul-concert cu cele mai mari incasari din toate timpurile, acum soundtrack-ul documentarului Michael Jackson’s This is It a debutat pe pozitia fruntasa a topului Billboard 200. Dublu-discul, care include piesa nelansata pana acum - “This Is It” – s-a vandut in 373,100 exemplare in SUA. Pana acum, soundtrack-ul filmului care-l prezinta pe Michael in timpul ultimelor repetitii a urcat pana pe pozitia intai in clasamentele din 16 tari sau regiuni, printre care Canada, Japonia, Franta, Italia, Olanda, Belgia, Turcia, Noua Zeelanda, Hong Kong, Coreea, Filipine, Singapore, Taiwan, Tailanda, Estul Mijlociu si Columbia. In Marea Britanie, Australia, Argentina, Austria, Danemarca, Norvegia, Portugalia, Elvetia si Spania, “This Is It” – albumul – a intrat in Top 3. Niciun artist nu a mai reusit sa ocupe simultan primul loc atat in box-office, cat si in topurile muzicale, din 1971, cand Rolling Stones au lansat albumul “Sticky Fingers” si filmul “Gimme Shelter”.
In momentul de fata, in Top 5 Billboard se afla 3 dintre albumele lui Michael Jackson. De altfel, discul sau “Number Ones” este, pana acum, cel mai bine vandut album al anului.
Primul dintre cele doua discuri “This Is It” cuprinde cateva dintre cele mai cunoscute piese Michael Jackson, in versiunile originale, aranjate intocmai ca in filmul ce-l prezinta pe Regele Pop dansand pentru ultima data. CD-ul se incheie cu doua versiuni ale nelansatei “This Is It”, piesa pe care backing-vocals-urile sunt asigurate de fratii Jackson. Cel de-al doilea disc include versiuni demo ale unor piese clasice Michael Jackson, plus o emotionanta poezie – “Planet Earth” – citita de artist.
Albumul Michael Jackson's This Is It mai contine si un booklet de 36 de pagini, cu numeroase fotografii care il infatiseaza pe Michael in timpul ultimelor sale repetitii.