February 21, 2008,

KING OF POP (CATALOG): In its original run, Michael Jackson's "Thriller" was on The Billboard 200 for 122 weeks, 37 of which were spent at No. 1.

With the re-entry of a silver anniversary edition, the rechristened "Thriller 25" (Legacy/Epic) is in its 112th week on the Top Pop Catalog Albums chart and is No. 1 on that tally for the first time.

"Thriller" debuted on The Billboard 200 the week of Dec. 25, 1982. The album made its first appearance on the catalog chart the week of Nov. 14, 1992, entering at No. 42. It didn't reach the top 10 until the week of Feb. 27, 1993, when it leapt 26-2. It remained No. 2 the following week but never equaled or surpassed that ranking until this week.

The re-entry of "Thriller" puts the classic album back on the catalog chart for the first time since the week of May 12, 2007.

There aren't many 49-year-old performers who can say they have been on the Billboard charts for almost 40 years, but Michael can. As a member of the Jackson 5, he made his chart debut the week of Nov. 15, 1969, when "I Want You Back" bowed on The Billboard Hot 100. That gives Michael a career chart span of 38 years, three months and two weeks.

Fred Bronson