mr_why
Moderator
They're both great albums in different ways. It's daft to compare when there had been so much change from 79-82 with disco forced back underground and then MTV completely changing the game and expanding music markets beyond racial boundaries. Production changed dramatically too with new sounds and 'gated drumming' coming in. They both have serious dancefloor moments imo. Every DJ from the worst wedding to the coolest party has at some point dropped wanna be starting something. I know Terrence Parker often cuts up Billie Jean and twists the shit out of that riff.
Actually really good point - Off The Wall (no matter how amazing) was an "end of an era" album. MTV before Thriller never even played black artists!
....And still nobody mentions the Bad album, which then went into that rockier-pop territory and made him a total global star - and was much bigger in Europe. Before MJ died Bad was a bigger seller in the UK than Thriller for example. Over time Thriller (as it appears on every best album list) has gained ground.
Quick Wiki Check: Thriller: 6th best selling ever UK album (4.5m) and Bad 9th best selling UK album (4.2m)