Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection

by

Michael Jackson

Edit

First off, I can't say enough about the quality of this music. Michael Jackson was a very gifted individual and all of his music - including everything on this set - is soulful, catchy, and beautiful. It already has and will continue to stand the test of time.

Now about the sound quality of the tracks included in this set:

The original release of "Ben" on CD had a few flaws in my opinion. The title track and "Greatest Show on Earth" actually sounded scratchy/glitchy in areas. It was fairly subtle but it bothered me every time I listened to it. The makers of this 3-disc set have almost perfected these tracks. Although there is still one spot in "Ben" the song where I can hear a small flaw, the rest of the track and "Greatest Show on Earth" have been cleaned up - no more glitchy scratchy sounds. And the flaw in Ben that still remains is concealed quite well. I only noticed it because I was listening hard for it - the particular glitch was much worse in the original CD release.

I also had a complaint about the original CD release of "Forever, Michael." The overall sound quality just wasn't as good as Michael's other childhood solo albums. "We're Almost There" was the worst. While a good song, it sounded like it was recorded with cheap equipment. Again, the makers of this set seem to have worked hard to improve the sound quality to the best of their ability. "Forever, Michael" still doesn't sound as good as the other albums included here, but it's definitely an improvement from the original CD release. It sounds clearer and less gritty.

I didn't notice any differences in "Got to Be There," and I never owned the original CD releases of "Music and Me," "Looking Back to Yesterday," and "Farewell My Summer Love" if they even existed. So the only comment I can make on those albums is that they sound great to me - no flaws that I can notice.

About packaging:

The CDs are tucked into the back of a small hardcover book detailing Michael's young solo career. The book is written by Mark Anthony Neal who is an established writer and an instructor of African-American studies at Duke University. Although he doesn't appear to have known Michael Jackson, he is well-versed in the subject of Michael's young solo career and offers interesting insight and information in this book. Many nice photographs are included as well as images of the original album covers.

My only complaint about the packaging of this set involves the slots included for the CDs. Rather than including a plastic setting or case in the back of the book for all three CDs, the makers of this set only included cardstock envelopes bound into the book. There isn't even any protective cloth - just cardstock. One CD was even stuck at the bottom of its little folder/envelope and I scratched it getting it out. It's a minor scratch but it bothers me that they didn't take the time to provide a safe casing for these CDs. I moved all three CDs to my CD binder, where they will remain forever (when I'm not playing them of course).

Since I bought this set for the music, I give it 5 stars. Great music. Great sound quality. However, if I had bought it for the packaging, I would have given it 3 stars. Great little book but BAD casing.

Like other reviews here put it: the music is wonderful. remastering is mostly done well.

HOWEVER -- the physical discs are not given any consideration, whatsoever. better take them out carefully and burn 'em, baby. First time. Yet another badly-designed package by a major label. I've written to the labels, given details and asked for some compensation for damaged CDs in sets by Columbia, Sony, etc.

Not one has responded, nor have they changed the way they package these overpriced box sets.

Sorry, MJJ lovers, better off grabbing the original LPs if you have the wherewithall + a turntable.