When Thriller was released on compact disc in the mid-1980s, it retained the same nine-song tracklist. For over 18 years, the definitive answer was nine.
The most expansive release, Thriller 40 , kept the original nine songs on Disc 1 and added a second disc with 10 previously unreleased tracks, demos, and outtakes (e.g., "Behind the Mask," "What a Lovely Way to Go," "She’s Trouble"). That totals across the two discs.
If you ask most music fans or look at the standard, universally recognized Thriller album, the answer is . Those nine tracks—tight, polished, and diverse—changed pop music forever. No matter how many bonus discs or anniversary editions appear, the heart of Thriller will always be those original nine masterpieces.
On its original LP and cassette format, Thriller featured . The analog limitations of vinyl meant the album was carefully sequenced across two sides: