Thriller (Michael Jackson album) people on the cover of magazines doesn't sell copies ... Just wait. Someday those magazines are going to be "begging" me for an interview. Maybe I'll give them one, and maybe I won't." Jackson reunited with "Off the Wall" producer Quincy Jones to record his sixth studio album, his second under the Epic label. The pair worked together on 30 songs, nine of which were included on the album. "Thriller" was recorded at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California, with a production budget of $750,000 (US$1,926,319.15 in 2017 dollars). The recording commenced on April 14, 1982 at noon with
Thriller (Michael Jackson album) from Bollywood to prisons in the Philippines. For a black artist in the 1980s to that point, Jackson's success was unprecedented. According to "The Washington Post", "Thriller" paved the way for other African-American artists to achieve mainstream recognition, such as Prince. Christgau credited "The Girl Is Mine" for giving radio exposure to the idea of interracial love. "Time" wrote: "Jackson is the biggest thing since the Beatles. He is the hottest single phenomenon since Elvis Presley. He just may be the most popular black singer ever." "Thriller" has continued to receive positive reviews. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that