Michael Jackson’s records are some of the most carefully layered pop productions ever made, which is why his isolated vocals are among the most played tracks on Multitrack Master. Below you can hear his lead and harmony vocals on their own from songs like Billie Jean, Smooth Criminal and Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough, plus early Jackson 5 performances.
Michael Jackson isolated tracks on Multitrack Master
| Song | Isolated parts |
|---|---|
| Billie Jean | vocals |
| Man In The Mirror | vocals |
| Smooth Criminal | vocals |
| Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough | vocal only, instrumental |
| ABC | vocal only |
| Earth Song | vocal only |
| I’ll Be There | vocals only |
What to listen for in Michael Jackson’s isolated tracks
- Vocal percussion and ad-libs. With the music removed you can hear the hiccups, gasps and percussive “hee-hee” accents he used as part of the rhythm.
- Stacked harmonies. Jackson often sang every harmony part himself and doubled them, so a single “vocal only” track can contain a whole choir of Michaels.
- Falsetto vs. chest voice. Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough is sung almost entirely in falsetto; compare it with the harder, clipped delivery on Smooth Criminal.
- The Quincy Jones era sound. Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad were produced by Quincy Jones and engineered by Bruce Swedien, and the dry, close vocal sound is part of their signature.
About Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson (1958–2009) started out as the lead singer of the Jackson 5 at Motown before becoming the best-selling solo artist of his era. Thriller (1982) is widely cited as the best-selling album of all time. Known as the King of Pop, he was also one of the most influential dancers and video artists in popular music.
Michael Jackson at a glance
Genre
Pop, soul, funk, R&B, rock, disco
Labels
Steeltown
Motown
Epic
Legacy
Sony
MJJ Productions
Artist Website Link: https://www.michaeljackson.com/
Discography
Got to Be There (1972)
Ben (1972)
Music & Me (1973)
Forever, Michael (1975)
Off the Wall (1979)
Thriller (1982)
Bad (1987)
Dangerous (1991)
HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995)
Invincible (2001)
MultiTracks
Michael Jackson | Billie Jean (vocals)
Michael Jackson | Man In The Mirror (vocals)
Michael Jackson | Smooth Criminal (vocals)
Michael Jackson | Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough (vocal only, instrumental)
Michael Jackson R.I.P.| Beat It (vocals only, Eddie Van Halen guitar only)
The Jackson Five | ABC (vocal only)
Michael Jackson | Earth Song (vocal only)
The Jackson Five | I’ll Be There (vocals only)
Michael Jackson isolated tracks: FAQ
Where can I hear Michael Jackson’s isolated vocals?
The tracks listed above include vocal-only versions of Billie Jean, Smooth Criminal, Man in the Mirror, Earth Song and Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough, plus Jackson 5 recordings of ABC and I’ll Be There.
Who produced Michael Jackson’s biggest albums?
Quincy Jones produced Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982) and Bad (1987), with Bruce Swedien as engineer.
Who played bass on Billie Jean?
The famous bass line on Billie Jean was played by Louis Johnson of the Brothers Johnson.
Want to make your own isolated track of any song? See our guide: Isolated Tracks: What They Are, Where They Come From and How to Make Your Own.