1982's Thriller made Michael Jackson the biggest pop star the Earth had ever seen - and with that stature came a colossal amount of financial clout. But it was when Jackson annexed the publishing rights of his heroes, the Beatles from the clutches of his then-friend Paul McCartney that the true extent of Jackson's ruthless business acumen was revealed.
Jackson, a Beatles aficionado since childhood, had leapt at the chance to befriend Paul McCartney, with whom he’d embarked on a number of major collaborations.
From Thriller’s lead single, The Girl is Mine to McCartney’s Pipes of Peace standout, chart-topping hit, Say, Say, Say and album cut, The Man, Michael and Paul’s collaborations seemed, to all exterior observers, reflective of a conscious passing of the baton.
Here was one of the very architects of popular music’s cultural impact, whole-heartedly endorsing the talents of the 1980’s ascending pop demigod.
