MICHAEL JACKSON - "This Is It" Souvenir CD and Booklet Review

Yesterday I went to see the Michael Jackson movie This Is It.  I won't take a lot of your time to tell you how wonderful it is.  Check out my review or better yet; go see it and then tell us what you think.  During the movie I was introduced to some songs that he had performed but they were new to me.  I enjoyed MJ's music during the 80s and early 90s.  I have several MJ CDs and probably wouldn't have bought this soundtrack; except for one reason: They were releasing This Is It and Earth Song.

This evening was our monthly girls night out and before the movie we went over to Walmart to pick up a few things and kill some time.  I decided to go to electronics and see if they had the soundtrack and they did.  I saw a $10 and $14.88 CD.  I "think" the $10 was being advertised as a Walmart exclusive.  It was the songs performed in the movie and nothing more.  I chose the $14.88 Souvenir Edition because not only did it include a 36-page book with photos from the movie but it also has a second CD.

Disc One has:

1. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
2. Jam
3. They Don't Care About Us
4. Human Nature
5. Smooth Criminal
6. The Way You Make Me Feel
7. Shake Your Body (Down To the Ground)
8. I Just Can't Stop Loving You
9. Thriller
10. Beat It
11. Black Or White
12. Earth Song
13. Billie Jean
14. Man In the Mirror
15. This Is It
16. This Is It (Orchestra Version)

Disc Two has:

1. She's Out Of My Life (Demo)
2. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Demo)
3. Beat It (Demo)
4. Planet Earth (Poem)

I'm actually listening to Disc One as I write.  They're playing Jam and I don't know it or remember it.  This CD has so many of his greatest hits on it that it will take you back in time.  You will either recall the videos on MTV and VH-1 that made the song popular, the film footage in the movie or another moment that the song was a part of your life.  The singer has died but the music is going to live on.  I love that the soundtrack was dedicated to his children.

The soundtrack case isn't your typical CD jewel case.  It's done like a small hardback book.  You open it up and there's a folder at the front with disc 1 and then a folder at the back with disc 2.  The front folder has a picture of the This Is It neon sign and MJ and the back folder has MJ in the cherry picker.  Between the two folders are the 36-pages with photos.  Because this is designed like a book you could sit it out on a table and people would think it was a book.   I also like that the CDs weren't snapped into these tight disc holders because I tend to break them while trying to release them. 

The This Is It soundtrack would make a great addition to your music library if you like Michael Jackson.  Even if you have other albums/CDs with his music you will want this to get the never-before-released songs.

It's my bet that the 2-Disc soundtrack is going to be available in most stores that sell music and the price will run about $15.  You can also purchase it at sonystyle.com/thisisit for $14.99 plus $7.95.  You get a discount if you place a bundle package order with the CD and either the DVD or Blu-Ray.  The DVD is $19.99 and the Blu-Ray is $29.99.  Sony will ship out the CD immediately and send the video once it's released.  Ordering the bundle package will save you about $10.