Michael Jackson’s Thriller and The Essential Michael Jackson sit at Nos. 10 and 6, respectively, on this week’s Top R&B Albums chart. 399369 133: Singer Michael Jackson accepts his Peformer of the Century Award during the 29th Annual American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium January 9, 2002 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
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It’s not uncommon to see bands that are no longer together or musicians who are no longer with us appear on the Billboard charts. There are many instances of beloved musical acts that, for one reason or another, are no longer producing new work, managing to live on the weekly lists. It is somewhat uncommon for late stars to occupy space inside the top 10, as there’s so much competition from current-day powerhouses pushing singles and albums with huge marketing budgets, but it’s not impossible.
Michael Jackson is one musician who manages to do so regularly, and this week he accomplished the feat twice over.
The Essential Michael Jackson Returns to the Top 10
On this week’s edition of the Top R&B Albums chart, Billboard’s list of the most consumed projects in that one genre, Jackson claims not one, but two top 10 wins. Thriller holds in tenth place, while The Essential Michael Jackson bounces back into the region, as it lifts from No. 13 to No. 6.
The Essential Michael Jackson and Thriller
Both The Essential Michael Jackson and Thriller have spent hundreds of weeks among the most popular R&B albums in the U.S. The compilation has racked up 357 stays, while Thriller recently passed 400 turns on the roster.
Amazingly, despite their incredible commercial success and longevity, both titles missed out on giving Jackson a No. 1 as they stalled at No. 2.
The Essential Michael Jackson Beats Thriller
The Essential Michael Jackson appears in loftier positions on three rankings when compared to Thriller. This time around, the compilation leaps from No. 127 to No. 68 on the Billboard 200, and it breaks back into the top 20 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums roster — but only barely — as it settles at No. 20.
Thriller Appears on More Charts
Thriller may appear in lower spaces, but it lives on a greater number of rankings than The Essential Michael Jackson. Thriller comes in behind the compilation on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums rankings, though it does climb to Nos. 92 and 26, respectively. Thriller can also be found on the Vinyl Albums and Top Album Sales charts this week, where it rises to Nos. 11 and 24, respectively.
Large Gains in Consumption
Jackson’s albums don’t just gain ground — they see their consumption figures grow. The Essential Michael Jackson experiences a 26% uptick in units moved. According to Luminate, last week it shifted just under 13,900 equivalent units, while the previous frame, it managed 11,000. Thriller, meanwhile, breaks back into the highest half of the Billboard 200 with 12,500 equivalent units. That’s up a little under 6% from the period before, when it managed 11,900.