''The Definitive Collection'' is a

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one Performing arts#Performers, performer or by several performers. If the recordings are from ...

by American singer

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Michael Jackson, one of the most culturally significan ...

released by

Universal Motown Universal Motown Records was an American record label that operated as a division of Universal Motown Republic Group. It was the contemporary incarnation of the legendary Motown Records label, and the " urban" half of the Universal Records ...

on August 25, 2009, and the third album to be released since his death, being released exactly two months later.

Chart performance

''The Definitive Collection'' charted on number 39 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and number 17 on

Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a music chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine that ranks R&B and hip-hop albums based on sales in the United States and is compiled by Luminate. The chart debuted as Hot R&B LPs in the issue dated January 30, ...

charts.

Reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and former senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of multiple artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance ...

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

said: "Released roughly three days after Michael Jackson's passing, ''The Definitive Collection'' is a 19-track collection of highlights from his Motown recordings, including the hits he had with his brothers in

the Jackson 5 The Jackson 5, later known as the Jacksons, are an American pop band composed of members of the Jackson family. The group was formed in Gary, Indiana in 1964, and originally consisted of brothers Jackie, Ti ...

. This emphasizes Michael's solo hits over the Jackson 5's—there are ten cuts of him alone, nine with his brothers (and one of those is an alternate 'minus mix' of 'I'll Be There')—which skews this a little bit toward puppy love over bubblegum, something that may be a little too syrupy for some listeners, but there's no denying that for fans lacking a collection of Michael's earliest hits, this is a useful compilation, gathering 'I Want You Back', 'ABC', 'The Love You Save', 'Who's Lovin' You', 'Never Can Say Goodbye', 'Got to Be There', 'Rockin' Robin', 'Ben', and 'Dancing Machine' in one place."

Track listing

Charts

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Definitive Collection (Michael Jackson album), The 2009 compilation albums Michael Jackson compilation albums Motown compilation albums Compilation albums published posthumously