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.
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)
January 2, 1983 (single)
LABEL
Epic CBS Records
LENGTH
4:54 (album/single version)
6:20 (12-inch version)
ALTERNATE VERSIONS RECORDED BY MJ (covers and remixes by other artists are not included)
Billie Jean (demo 1) : Recorded in 1981 at the Hayvenhurst home studio & released on October 16, 2001 (Thriller Special Edition).
Billie Jean (demo 2) : Recorded in 1982 & leaked online. Remains unreleased.
Billie Jean (demo 3) : Recorded in 1982 and used in the “This Is It’ movie in 2009. The full demo leaked in 2018 but remains unreleased.
Billie Jean (Pepsi version) : In november 1983, Michael records a new version of “Billie Jean” for the upcoming Pepsi commercials at the Soundcastle studio with Bill Bottrell and John Barnes. Released in a special limited 7″promo Pepsi Pepsi titled “The Choice Of A New Generation”. Never released on CD.
Billie Jean (Spanish version) : Bill Bottrell on X (December 6, 2024) :” I did record the Spanish vocals for Pepsi on Billie Jean though”. Remains unreleased.
Billie Jean 2008 : Michael Jackson’s original version of “Billie Jean” was remixed by Kanye West for Thriller 25, a 25th anniversary reissue of Jackson’s Thriller. Released on February 8, 2008 (Thriller 25).
MUSICIANS
Michael Jackson – lead and backing vocals; Yamaha CS-80 synthesizer; songwriting; vocal, rhythm, synthesizer and string arrangements
Michael Boddicker – E-mu Emulator
Leon “Ndugu” Chancler – drums
Louis Johnson – bass guitar
Greg Phillinganes – Rhodes piano, synthesizer
Tom Scott – lyricon
Greg Smith – synthesizer
David Williams – guitar
Bill Wolfer – synthesizer, synthesizer programming
Jerry Hey – string arrangement
Jeremy Lubbock – string conducting
Bruce Swedien – mixing, engineer
PEAK ON HOT 100 BILLBOARD :
1
SHORT FILM (filmed by MJ during his lifetime)
Music video directed by Steve Barron
Date of shooting : January 31,1983
Date of premiere : March 10, 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
March 25, 1983 : Michael & The Jacksons tape a performance at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium for “Motown 25th: Yesterday, Today & Forever” TV special. For the first time since 1975, all the Jackson brothers including Jermaine & Randy are reunited on stage for a medley of the Jackson 5 hits followed by a solo performance of “Billie Jean” during which Michael showcases his first ever public performance of the Moonwalk. At the end of the show, Michael joins Diana Ross and all the Motown stars on stage to pay tribute to Berry Gordy. NBC broadcasts the two hour special “Motown 25th: Yesterday, Today & Forever” TV special on May 16, 1983. The show is watched by 47 millions Americans and Michaels dancing talents are finally recognised when legends such as Fred Astaire & Gene Kelly call him and congratulate his performance.
January 31, 1993 : Michael performs a medley of “Jam”, “Bilie Jean”, “Black Or White” and “Heal The World” at the Superbowl Halftime Show in the Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena (California) before an audience of 100 000 in the stadium and 133 millions on TV.
September 7, 1995 : Michael & Janet attend the MTV Video Music Awards in New York City with Lisa Marie & Rene . MJ opens the ceremony with a 20 minutes long medley (including “Billie Jean”, “Dangerous” & “You Are Not Alone”) and accepts an award with Janet for Scream.
November 13, 2001 : CBS broadcasts an edited version of Michael’s concerts at the Madison Square Garden and gets great ratings. Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Special (September 7+ 10, 2001)
LIVE PERFORMANCES IN CONCERTS
Victory Tour 1984
Bad World Tour 1987-1989
Dangerous World Tour 1992-1993
Brunei Royal Concert on July 16, 1996
History World Tour 1996-1997
June 25 + 27, 1999 : Michael performs two charity concerts “Michael Jackson & Friends” in Seoul which airs live on Korean TV and in Munich which airs live on German TV .
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 