Michael Jackson - Invincible (2001)

Michael Jackson - Invincible (2001)

Tracklist front / back album covers

1. "Unbreakable"   6:25

2. "Heartbreaker"   5:10

3. "Invincible"   4:45

4. "Break of Dawn"   5:32

5. "Heaven Can Wait"   4:49

6. "You Rock My World"   5:39

7. "Butterflies"   4:40

8. "Speechless"   3:18

9. "2000 Watts"   4:24

10. "You Are My Life"   4:33

11. "Privacy"   5:05

12. "Don't Walk Away"   4:25

13. "Cry"   5:01

14. "The Lost Children"   4:00

15. "Whatever Happens"   4:56

16. "Threatened"   4:19

Total length:   77:01

Notes

"Unbreakable" features a rap verse by The Notorious B.I.G. The rap verse was originally from the song "You Can't Stop the Reign" by Shaquille O'Neal.

"Break of Dawn", "2000 Watts" and "Threatened" were excluded from the original Chinese release. In the Chinese edition of the box set The Collection released in 2013, all 16 tracks are included.

 

Michael Jackson Band Members / Musicians

Michael Jackson – lead vocals (all tracks), background vocals (1–7, 9–12, 15–16), arranger (8, 14), multiple instruments (1, 4, 6, 16), programming (2, 3), drum programming (4, 13), orchestral arrangements and conducting (8), keyboard programming (9, 13, 14)

Marsha Ambrosius – background vocals (track 7)

Maxi Anderson – vocals (track 8)

Gloria Augustus – vocals (track 8)

Babyface – acoustic guitar, bass guitar, background vocals, drum programming, and keyboards (track 10)

Tom Bahler – youth choir conductor (track 14)

Emanuel "Bucket" Baker – drums (track 11)

Rose Beatty – youth choir (track 14)

Edie Lehmann Boddicker – youth choir (track 14)

Robert Bolyard – youth choir (track 14)

Norman Jeff Bradshaw – horns (track 7)

Brandy – additional background vocals (track 1)

Stuart Brawley – whistle solo (track 15)

Mary Brown – additional background vocals (track 15)

Tim Brown – vocals (track 8)

Brad Buxer – drum programming (tracks 4, 13), keyboards (8), keyboard programming (9, 12, 14)

David Campbell – string arrangement (track 11)

Matt Cappy – horns (track 7)

Martha Cowan – youth choir (track 14)

Andraé Crouch – vocals (track 8)

Sandra Crouch – vocals (track 8)

Paulinho da Costa – percussion (track 13)

LaShawn Daniels – background vocals (tracks 2, 11)

Valerie Doby – vocals (track 8)

Dr. Freeze – background vocals (tracks 4, 5), multiple instruments (4)

Monique Donally – youth choir (track 14)

Kevin Dorsey – vocals (track 8)

Marja Dozier – vocals (track 8)

Alfie Silas Durio – vocals (track 8)

Nathan East – bass guitar (track 11)

Jason Edmonds – choir (track 10)

Geary Lanier Faggett – vocals (track 8)

Vonciele Faggett – vocals (track 8)

Fats – rap (tracks 2, 3)

Lynn Fiddmont-Lindsey – choir (track 10)

Kirstin Fife – violin (track 8)

Judy Gossett – vocals (track 8)

Harold Green – vocals (track 8)

Jonathon Hall – youth choir (track 14)

Justine Hall – youth choir (track 14)

Andre Harris – multiple instruments (track 7)

Scottie Haskell – youth choir (track 14)

Micha Haupman – youth choir (track 14)

Tess (Teresa) Escoto – youth choir (track 14)

Gerald Heyward – drums (track 11)

Tabia Ivery – choir (track 10)

Luana Jackman – youth choir (track 14)

Prince Jackson – narrative (track 14)

Rodney Jerkins – multiple instruments (1, 4, 6, 16), programming (2, 3)

Tenika Johns – vocals (track 8)

Angela Johnson – vocals (track 8)

Daniel Johnson – vocals (track 8)

Zaneta M. Johnson – vocals (track 8)

Laquentan Jordan – vocals (track 8)

R. Kelly – choir arrangement (track 13)

Peter Kent – violin (track 8)

Gina Kronstadt – violin (track 8)

Michael Landau – guitar (track 13)

James Lively – youth choir (track 14)

Robin Lorentz – violin (track 8)

Jeremy Lubbock – orchestral arrangements and conducting (tracks 5, 8, 15)

Brandon Lucas – youth choir (track 14)

Jonathon Lucas – youth choir (track 14)

Ricky Lucchse – youth choir (track 14)

Melissa MacKay – youth choir (track 14)

Alex Martinez – youth choir (track 14)

Howard McCrary – vocals (track 8)

Linda McCrary – vocals (track 8)

Sam McCrary – vocals (track 8)

Alice Jean McRath – vocals (track 8)

Sue Merriett – vocals (track 8)

Bill Meyers – string arrangements (track 10)

Mischke – background vocals (track 2)

Patrice Morris – vocals (track 8)

Kristle Murden – vocals (track 8)

The Notorious B.I.G. – rap (track 1)

Novi Novog – viola and contractor (track 8)

Nora Payne – background vocals (track 2)

Que – background vocals (track 5)

Teddy Riley – multiple instruments (track 5) additional background vocals (9)

John Robinson – drums (track 13)

Baby Rubba – narrative (track 14)

Carlos Santana – guitar and whistle solo (track 15)

Deborah Sharp-Taylor – vocals (track 8)

F. Sheridan – youth choir (track 14)

Slash – guitar solo (track 11)

Andrew Snyder – youth choir (track 14)

Sally Stevens – youth choir (track 14)

Richard Stites – additional background vocals (track 12)

Thomas Tally – viola (track 8)

Brett Tattersol – youth choir (track 14)

Ron Taylor – vocals (track 8)

Michael Thompson – guitar (track 11)

Chris Tucker – introduction (track 6)

Mario Vasquez – additional background vocals (track 15)

Johnnie Walker – vocals (track 8)

Nathan "N8" Walton – choir (track 10)

Rick Williams – guitar (track 15)

Yvonne Williams – vocals (track 8)

Zandra Williams – vocals (track 8)

John Wittenberg – violin (track 8)

Record production

Executive producer: Michael Jackson

Produced by Michael Jackson (all tracks), Rodney Jerkins (1–3, 6, 11, 16), Dr. Freeze (4), Teddy Riley (tracks 5, 9, 12, 15), Andre Harris (7), Babyface (10), R. Kelly (13)

Co-produced by Andreao "Fanatic" Heard" and Nate Smith (track 5), Richard Stites (12)

Recorded by Bruce Swedien (tracks 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 14, 15), Teddy Riley (5, 9, 12, 15), Rodney Jerkins (6, 11), Stuart Brawley (1–3, 6, 8, 14, 16), Brad Gilderman (4, 6, 11, 13), Dexter Simmons (4, 6), George Mayers (4, 5, 9, 12, 15), Jean-Marie Horvat (6, 11), Brad Buxer (8, 14), Mike Ging (4, 13), Paul Boutin (10), Andre Harris (7), Humberto Gatica (4, 13)

Assistant engineers: Rob Herrera, Craig Durrance, Kevin Scott, Steve Robillard, Franny Graham, Richard Thomas Ash, Chris Carroll, Dave Ashton, Christine Tramontano, Vidal Davis (track 7)

Rap recorded by Bob Brown (tracks 2, 3)

Strings recorded by Tommy Vicari (track 10)

Assisted by Steve Genewick

Production coordinator: Ivy Skoff

Mixed by Bruce Swedien (tracks 1–3, 5–9, 12, 14–16), Teddy Riley (4, 5, 9, 12, 15), Rodney Jerkins (1–3, 6, 11, 16), Michael Jackson (13), Mick Guzauski (13), Stuart Brawley (1–3, 16), George Mayers (4, 5, 9, 12, 15), Jean-Marie Horvat (11), Jon Gass (10), Humberto Gatica (4)

Assisted by Kb and EQ (track 10)

Mastered by Bernie Grundman

Digital editing by Stuart Brawley (tracks 1–4, 6, 8, 14, 16), Brad Buxer (8, 14), Rob Herrera, Harvey Mason, Jr. (4, 6, 11), Alex Greggs (2), Fabian Marasciullo (2), Paul Cruz (11), Paul Foley (1), George Mayers (5, 9, 12, 15)

Additional digital editing and engineering by Michael Prince

Art direction: Nancy Donald, David Coleman, Adam Owett

Cover design: Steven Hankinson

Photography: Albert Watson

Illustration: Uri Geller

Make-Up and hair: Karen Faye

Vocal consultant: Seth Riggs

Archivist: Craig Johnson

Invincible is the 10th and final studio album by American singer Michael Jackson, released on October 30, 2001, by Epic Records. It was Jackson's sixth studio album released through Epic, and his last released before his death in 2009. The album features appearances from Carlos Santana, The Notorious B.I.G. and Slash. It incorporates R&B, pop and soul, and, similarly to Jackson's previous material, the album explores themes such as love, romance, isolation, media criticism, and social issues.

The album's creation was expensive and laborious. Jackson started the multi-genre production in 1997 and did not finish until eight weeks before the album's October 2001 release. It was reported that it cost $30 million to make the album, making it the most expensive album ever made. There was no concert tour to promote Invincible; Jackson refused to tour adding to the already growing rift between him and Sony Music Entertainment. Following Sony's decision to abruptly end promotion for the album, Jackson made allegations in July 2002 that Tommy Mottola was a "devil" and a "racist" who did not support his African-American artists but used them for personal gain.

Invincible debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and in ten other countries worldwide. The album was certified double platinum in January 2002 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and has sold over 8 million copies worldwide. The album's lead single, "You Rock My World", peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 2002 Grammy Awards. The album spawned two more singles, "Cry" and "Butterflies", as well as the promotional single "Speechless".

Invincible received mixed reviews from music critics, and became his most critically derided album. Retrospective reviews have been more positive, and the album has been credited as featuring early examples of dubstep. In 2009, it was voted by online readers of Billboard as the best album of the decade.