Sources : My personal research, Wikipedia, Michael Jackson: For The Record by Chris Cadman & Craig Halstead, Twitter account of Damien Shields and the amazing archives of the MJCast.
ERA
RECORDING DATE
April 14 – November 8, 1982.
STUDIO(S)
Westlake (Los Angeles, California)
SONGWRITER(S)
Michael Jackson
PRODUCER(S)
Quincy Jones & Michael Jackson
RELEASE DATE :
November 30, 1982 (Thriller album)
February 14, 1983 (single)
LABEL
Epic CBS Records
LENGTH
4:18
ALTERNATE VERSIONS RECORDED BY MJ (covers and remixes by other artists are not included)
Beat It (demo) : Recorded in 1982 and released posthumously on October 26, 2009 (Michael Jackson’s This Is It album).
Beat It 2008 : For Thriller 25, Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am remixed “Beat It”. The song, titled “Beat It 2008”, featured additional vocals by fellow Black Eyed Peas member Fergie. Released February 8, 2008 (Thriller 25).
MUSICIANS
Michael Jackson – lead and backing vocals, drum case beater
Paul Jackson Jr. – rhythm guitar
Steve Lukather – lead guitar, bass guitar
Eddie Van Halen – guitar solo
Steve Porcaro – synthesizer, synthesizer programming
Greg Phillinganes – Rhodes, synthesizer
Bill Wolfer – keyboards
Tom Bahler – Synclavier
Jeff Porcaro – drums
Greg Smith – Synergy synthesizer
Chris Shepard – vibraslap
PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :
1
SHORT FILM (filmed by MJ during his lifetime)
Music video directed by Bob Giraldi
Date of shooting : March 9, 1983
Date of premiere : March 31, 1983
Official release : Released on DVD in 1995 (History), in 2003 (Number Ones) and in 2010 (Vision) and on Michael’ You Tube official page.
LIVE PERFORMANCES ON TV SHOWS
Never performed on a TV show
LIVE PERFORMANCES IN CONCERTS
Victory Tour 1984
Bad World Tour 1987-1989
Dangerous World Tour 1992-1993
History World Tour 1996-1997
Brunei Royal Concert on July 16, 1996
History World Tour 1996-1997
Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Special (September 7+ 10, 2001)
This Is It 2009 (the song was rehearsed in June 2009 and is part of the This Is It movie)
Jackson Dynasty 