The Essential Michael Jackson is a greatest hits compilation album by American singer Michael Jackson. It was released on July 19, 2005, by Sony Music's catalog division Legacy Recordings as part of The Essential series. The two-disc compilation features thirty-eight hit songs by Michael Jackson, from his days at Motown Records with The Jackson 5 in the late 1960s and early 1970s to his 2001 hit "You Rock My World". On August 26, 2008, The Essential Michael Jackson 3.0 was released in the US as a limited edition containing an additional disc of seven songs performed by Jackson. A re-titled release in the UK was planned on July 6, 2009 as The Hits, but was cancelled upon Jackson's death. As of 2018, the album was certified 4× platinum in the US.

British singer/songwriter Howard Jones was a glinting jewel caught in the avalanche of synthesized music that overwhelmed the pop scene in the '80s. Jones had a true gift for crafting gleaming melodic hooks that make his hits some of the most memorable of the era. He used synthesizers not because they were "in," but because he could use them to create a delicious soundscape that couldn't be created without them. (Later in his career, he proved that he didn't need the electronics to write compelling pop music.) This 12" Album was released in support of his 1984 effort Humans Lib. It includes remixes of four of the hits from that record, including a previously unreleased extended mix of "Pearl in the Shell" and a "new version" of the now-classic "New Song," which features a reworked bass run and a new piano solo.

Formed in 1969 as Silent Eruption, their members hailed from Ghana, Curaçao, Guyana, and Jamaica. Precious Wilson, who joined Eruption in 1974, would add an element to the band's sound that would take them to dizzying heights of success all over the world. After winning a contest held by the label, the band recorded 'Let Me Take You Back In Time' for RCA UK in 1975, but without success. While on tour in Germany, Eruption was discovered by the talent scout of producer Frank Farian who had just achieved his major international breakthrough with Boney M. Eruption signed a contract with the German-based label Hansa. Eruption broke big in 1978 with a disco cover version of the Ann Peebles classic 'I Can't Stand The Rain'.

Silent Circle is a German euro disco band formed in West Germany in 1985. The band consists of vocalist Martin Tychsen (Jo Jo Tyson), keyboardist & composer Axel Breitung, and drummer Jurgen Behrens (CC Behrens). Silent Circle first performed in 1979 but soon parted ways. In the early '80s, the trio reformed and decided to form a more solid group. Hence, that marked the beginning of Silent Circle. Their first single, "Hide Away - Man is Comin'!", gained considerable limelight followed by a number of other successful singles like "Touch in the Night", "Stop the Rain", "Love is Just a Word" and "Time for Love". In 1986, they released their first album No. 1, consisting of 11 songs. The album was launched under the Blow-Up label of Intercord Company.

After a six-year gap between albums – during which time she was involved in a drawn-out legal back-and-forth with her former label – English-Albanian singer Rita Ora finally issued her sophomore effort, the aptly titled Phoenix. Despite the behind-the-scenes drama that threatened to derail her burgeoning career, Ora maintained public presence with a series of well-performing singles, many of which are included here. Much like contemporary releases from Jess Glynne and Dua Lipa, the strength of Ora's effortless, R&B-inspired vocals carries Phoenix, despite varying musical styles and recording periods, which stretched over two years from 2016 to 2018.

The breakout star from the burgeoning Romanian dance scene that has also spawned the likes of Alexandra Stan and Edward Maya, permanently scantily clad Inna has been pivotal in restoring some musical pride to a country whose only previous notable contribution to the pop landscape was the Cheeky Girls. Produced by regular cohorts Play & Win, her second album, I Am the Club Rocker, picks up where her debut, Hot, left off, with 13 sun-soaked Europop tracks that appear destined to blare out of various Club 18-30 hotspots until the inevitable 6-a.m. stagger back to the hotel.