Bad (album)
Seventh studio album by Michael Jackson, released in 1987.
Bad is the seventh studio album by American singer Michael Jackson, released on August 31, 1987, by Epic Records. It was Jackson's third and final collaboration with producer Quincy Jones, and the album captures Jackson with greater artistic freedom, as he composed and co-produced all but two of its tracks. The album features appearances from Siedah Garrett and Stevie Wonder.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Michael Jackson
- Released
- 31 August 1987
- Studio
- Westlake (Los Angeles)
- Genre
- Dance-pop; R&B
- Length
- 43:28 (LP version); 48:08 (CD version)
- Label
- Epic
- Producer
- Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson (co., Co-producer)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Following the enormous success of Thriller (1982), Jackson faced greater expectations than ever before. He adopted an edgier sound, incorporating new digital synthesizer technology and elements of hard rock and funk. However, his new public image, particularly his altered facial appearance, generated backlash and a decline in popularity in the US. The Bad tour, Jackson's first solo world tour, grossed $125 million to become one of the highest-grossing concert tours at the time.
Bad took two years to produce between 1985 and 1987. Jackson began recording demos in 1983 while working with his brothers on Victory (1984). He wrote around sixty songs and recorded thirty-three, wanting to release them all on a three-disc set, but Jones encouraged him to narrow it to an eleven-track album. The album's title, Bad, signified Jackson's shift from a youthful image to a tougher, more streetwise persona, using the street slang word meaning 'great,' 'tough,' and 'courageous.'
Reader's Guide
Bad received acclaim from critics, particularly for Jackson's vocals and its musical arrangements, though some felt it failed to match Thriller. It remained atop the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart for six consecutive weeks and produced a record five number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100: 'I Just Can't Stop Loving You,' 'Bad,' 'The Way You Make Me Feel,' 'Man in the Mirror,' and 'Dirty Diana,' while 'Smooth Criminal' was a Top 10 hit. Worldwide, it became the fastest-selling album in its first week, topped the charts in twenty-four other countries, and was the best-selling album of both 1987 and 1988.
Bad is one of the best-selling albums of all time, with official sales of over 35 million copies worldwide. The album earned Grammy Awards for Best Engineered Recording – Non Classical and Best Music Video (for 'Leave Me Alone'), and was nominated for Album of the Year. Jackson received the special Award of Achievement at the 1989 American Music Awards for the album's commercial successes. It has been included in numerous lists of the greatest albums of all time and is praised as part of Jackson's influence on contemporary music.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bad | 4:07 | |
| 2 | The Way You Make Me Feel | 4:58 | |
| 3 | Speed Demon | 4:02 | |
| 4 | Liberian Girl | 3:52 | |
| 5 | Just Good Friends (featuring Stevie Wonder) | Terry Britten, Graham Lyle | 4:07 |
| Total length | 21:06 | ||
Track listing from the source article.
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