E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (album)

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (album)

E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial is an audiobook and soundtrack album for the 1982 blockbuster film of the same name directed by Steven Spielberg. Composed by John Williams, the album was narrated by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was produced by composer Quincy Jones and distributed by MCA Records. Epic Records, Jackson’s record label, demanded that the album not be released until after Thriller, which MCA refused.

About E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (album) in brief

Summary E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (album)E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial is an audiobook and soundtrack album for the 1982 blockbuster film of the same name directed by Steven Spielberg. Composed by John Williams, the album was narrated by American recording artist Michael Jackson, produced by composer Quincy Jones and distributed by MCA Records. Jackson began work on the audiobook in June 1982, around the same time he began recording his sixth studio album Thriller. Epic Records, Jackson’s record label, demanded that the album not be released until after Thriller, which MCA refused. Epic took legal action against MCA which forced the album’s withdrawal. The album reached number 37 on the Billboard 200 and number 82 on the UK Albums Chart. It was well-received critically and won Jackson a Grammy Award for Best Recording for Children. The 20-page storybook includes stills from the movie and the lyrics to the song \”Someone in the Dark\”, which Jackson sings on the album.

The recording, on a 12-inch vinyl LP, features original music byJohn Williams, integrated sound effects from the film, as well as the voice of E. T in the background. During the recording of the narration, Jackson became so upset that he wept. Jones and Spielberg both felt that trying to record the part again would not change the pop star’s emotional reaction, and decided to leave Jackson’s crying in the finished recording. In 1982, a journalist for Billboard wrote that it was one of the most ambitious projects that MCA had taken on to date. The accompanying poster to the album is a 22 inches × 22 inches full-color poster. The storybook contains a photograph of the extraterrestrial placing hands on Jackson’s shoulders, while one of his fingers glows.