King of Pop: Book Three: The Solo Years: The Definitive Song-by-Song History of Michael Jackson - Softcover

Stone, Raphael A

Softcover

ISBN 13: 9798171948306

Publisher: Independently published, 2026

Synopsis

A track-by-track history of Michael Jackson's recorded work, Book Three of three — from Off the Wall to Invincible, and the legacy of a body of work — with the stories behind the songs, the performances that made them legend, and their place in the culture that made, and was made by, them.

About this title

From the Back Cover

The Definitive Song-by-Song History of Michael Jackson's Solo Career

King of Pop, Book Three: The Solo Years delivers an exhaustive, track-by-track critical history of Michael Jackson's solo Epic Records catalogue, spanning from the landmark Off the Wall (1979) to his final studio album, Invincible (2001). Combining hard discographical facts with unhedging critical judgment, this volume accords Jackson's recorded legacy the sustained, serious attention typically reserved for classic rock or classical canons.
Inside This Volume

• Complete Solo Catalogue Coverage: Detailed breakdowns of every track across six iconic studio albums (Off the Wall, Thriller, Bad, Dangerous, HIStory, and Invincible).
  
• Five-Part Track Analysis: Each song is evaluated through its production facts, narrative content, musical composition, biographical significance, and cultural impact.
  
• Rigorous Studio & Historical Fact: Full discographical details, session personnel, synth configurations, and stage mechanisms sourced with meticulous chapter notes.
  
• Academic & Legacy Synthesis: Examines the academic field of "Michael Jackson Studies," analyzing critical frameworks surrounding race, gender, media surveillance, and physical transformation.
  
• Posthumous Assessment: Features a dedicated epilogue covering Jackson's 2009 passing, the legal record, and subsequent posthumous releases.
  

An essential reference for musicologists, pop culture historians, and serious listeners, Raphael A. Stone's masterwork looks past tabloid spectacle to focus on the craft, the history, and the music itself.

Edition details

• Publisher: Independently published
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 13: 9798171948306
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 158