The Definitive Collection (Michael Jackson album)

The Definitive Collection is a compilation album by American singer Michael Jackson released by Universal Motown on August 25, 2009 (four days before what would have been his 51st birthday), and the third album to be released since his death, being released exactly two months later.

Chart performance
The Definitive Collection charted on number 39 on the Billboard 200 and number 17 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.

Reception
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic said: "Released roughly three days after Michael Jackson's passing, The Definitive Collection is a 19-track collection of highlights from his Motown recordings, including the hits he had with his brothers in the Jackson 5. This emphasizes Michael's solo hits over the Jackson 5's—there are ten cuts of him alone, nine with his brothers (and one of those is an alternate 'minus mix' of 'I'll Be There')—which skews this a little bit toward puppy love over bubblegum, something that may be a little too syrupy for some listeners, but there's no denying that for fans lacking a collection of Michael's earliest hits, this is a useful compilation, gathering 'I Want You Back', 'ABC', 'The Love You Save', 'Who's Lovin' You', 'Never Can Say Goodbye', 'Got to Be There', 'Rockin' Robin', 'Ben', and 'Dancing Machine' in one place."