Michael Jackson – Thriller

FORGET spending a hundred plus bucks on the digital Mofi One Step! THIS pressing is the one to own! The one that Michael and Quincy spent soooo much time mixing and remixing to get perfect! There’s no beating this cut, mastered by Bernie Grundman. Punchy, crystal clear all around. I’m lucky enough to have a Mint condition copy. But these are So easy to find cuz they were so mass produced! There’s plenty of them out there! Literally every house I walked into in 1982 had a copy. The greatest selling album of all time! That’s the only reason this isn’t worth hundreds of dollars. There’s simply no reason not to have this in your collection unless you don’t like music, history or great sounding vinyl. This record was mastered and pressed so well from the get go, that no reissue will beat it. None! It’s not only the best selling record of all time… it’s one of the best Sounding records of all time as well!

This first pressing was recorded loud or hot as Bernie pointed out in an interview. In fact, it was redone on the following issues because some systems could not handle it. I also have a second edition copy. Both sound incredible. Depending on the system you have, you can make your pick. There is no need to purchase the MOFI copy when the originals sound amazing. It is an in your face dance recording. For what I heard MOFI reissue changed the whole concept and master it as if it were an audiophile recording. They missed the whole point! This is a dance record.

my copy fits to every description of this version apart for the runouts = different as listed above:
Matrix / Runout (A-side etched): PAL 38112-1F (+ stamped): P o
Matrix / Runout (B-side etched): PBL 38112-1F (+ stamped): P o
Does anyone have an idea if this could be another variation of this 1st US pressing or is it a complete different version/pressing?

Do yourself a favor: cancel your MoFi preorder, and get yourself this here original pressing. The sound is out of this world good. Deep bass, killer midrange, extended top end, and incredible dynamics. Everything is just right. This is the one to get. Forget MoFi and their not-so-great mastering, I don’t care if it’s DSD or AAA, they royally miss the mark these days. Bloated bass, dark highs, mushy mids round out the modern MoFi sound. (Yes, I’m aware the UD1S isn’t even out yet, but this copy just smokes!) This copy is the way “Thriller” was meant to be heard!!

It's really funny, I've found 4 copies of this record in the last year while buying collections...3 of the 4 have had needle drag scratches and skip quite a bit... Impossible not to move to this one, just watch the damn table when the records spinning lol.

Wow. I found a nearly perfect copy at my local record store, dead quite and sounds absolutely stunning. This is one of the best bang for your buck albums you can buy. Best $15 ever spent.

does anyone own a copy with 1A or 1B in the deadwax?

The best sounding of the three #thriller albums. The very first press. 1st US pressing: this sleeve version DOES NOT list #michaeljackson as a co-producer on back cover. Analogue smooth and clear. #billiejean sounds awesome here.

Tested against the half speed mastered and the master sound DM japanese version.

Did Michaels Jackson's Thriller, ever come out with a plain white outer sleeve?

This is it the most perfect pressing of arguably the most perfect pop album ever made. There is a vivacious energy and enthusiasm in the sound of this record that propels it to being one of the greatest vinyl pressings ever. The sound is just immaculate, the bass is deep and the mid and high end details perfectly pop out of the speakers with an exceptional clarity so much so that the small musical embellishments on the songs are as clear as day and that you can not only hear but also feel the soundstage and the honed craft of Bruce Swedians recording and mixing process. But most importantly of all there is just a behemoth like presence to the sound that makes it stand up above the other pressings of this album of which many are superb but this one right here, this one’s just got that extra something special to it and if I’m not wrong there is a article out there somewhere with Bruce Swedian himself stating that the best representation of the master tapes is this original pressing. Some say that there is problems with sibilance but I didn’t notice any on mine and if there was it certainly didn’t detract from the sound of the record on my playback gear. Another important detail is that on these original pressings Billie Jean has a different mix than is on the reissues but the drums on this particular copy have a real “knock” to them and not just a “snap” if you get what I mean, which really gives it a nice beefiness I feel isn’t really represented on any other copy other than maybe the half speed master in my humble opinion. Baby Be Mine and The Girl Is Mine also have an added level of detail that isn’t really found on other pressings in regards to the synths and guitars. The lady in my life on this one brings forward the hi hat work a lot more to my ears with a real nice sizzle coming through. The stereo separation of the drums in the beginning of beat it truly feel more spread out with extra depth to the bottom end and clarity to the top end especially when those hi hats or cymbals briefly make an appearance, not to mention the guitars absolutely shred here.
Sorry for rambling on abit much but I can’t sing my praises for this pressing enough, it really was a dream come true to discover that thriller could sound even better than how I’ve always heard since I started listening to Michael Jackson as a kid 15 years ago now. Happy thriller collecting to all the thriller and MJ enthusiasts out there !!