MJ-Bad

Bad is the studio album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was released on August 31, 1987 by Epic/CBS Records, nearly five years after his previous studio album, Thriller, which went on to become the world's best-selling album ever. Bad itself went on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide, and shipped eight million units in the United States alone. It is the first, and currently only, album ever to feature five Billboard Hot 100 #1 singles.[3]

This album saw Jackson have even more freedom over his album than he did with the two previous albums, Off the Wall and the world's best selling album of all time, Thriller, as he wrote and composed 9 of the album's 11 tracks, and produced another, "Man in the Mirror". The album, which saw the squeaky-clean pop idol adopt a street-tough image, continued Jackson's commercial success in the late '80s and won two Grammys, one for Best Music Video - Short Form for Leave Me Alone, and one for Best Engineered Album - Non Classical.[4] Bad was ranked number 43 in the 100 Greatest Albums of All Time of the MTV Generation in 2009 by VH1.[5] It was ranked number 202 in Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.[6]

Jackson began recording demos for the anticipated follow-up to Thriller as he would spend hours in the studio a few months after the 1984 Victory Tour with The Jacksons. Recording took place between January 5, 1987 and July 9, 1987[7] (except for "Another Part of Me" which was recorded for Captain EO in 1986). Jackson wrote a reported sixty songs for the new album and recorded thirty, wanting to use them all on a three-disc set. Longtime producer Quincy Jones cut these down to a ten-track single LP. When the album was released on CD, a bonus 11th track, "Leave Me Alone" was included. It was later released as a single.

Jackson wrote nine of the eleven tracks himself. Terry Britten (writer of Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do With It") and Graham Lyle wrote "Just Good Friends". Siedah Garrett and Glen Ballard wrote "Man in the Mirror". Stevie Wonder sings co-lead vocal on "Just Good Friends", and Steve Stevens contributes the guitar solo for "Dirty Diana".

However, while recording the tracks for Bad, there was some debate between Jackson and Jones on which songs would be put on the album. For example, they both had a hard time deciding on either "Streetwalker" or "Another Part of Me" (which was recorded for Captain EO in 1986) to be put on the album. Jackson wanted "Streetwalker", whereas Jones wanted "Another Part of Me". Ultimately, it was decided by Jackson's manager Frank Dileo. According to Quincy Jones from "Bad: Special Edition", there was a meeting among the three. In the meeting, Jackson played "Streetwalker" first, and Dileo was not impressed. But Dileo started to dance when "Another Part of Me" came on. This is what eventually put "Another Part of Me" onto the album.

"Bad" was originally intended as a duet between Jackson and Prince. A rivalry had developed between the two over the years, and Jackson's plan was to leak stories to the media about rising tensions between himself and Prince, culminating in the release of the song. Prince turned down the project, explaining to Jones that the song "would be a hit without (him) on it".

"I Just Can't Stop Loving You" was supposed to feature a famous female singer. Reportedly Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston all were busy and their schedules wouldn't allow them to complete the song in time for its release. So Jones chose R&B singer-songwriter Siedah Garrett.

By the time Jackson released this album, its predecessor, Thriller, had already sold millions, raising expectations for Bad. Bad became the first of Jackson's albums to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 where it remained for the next six consecutive weeks. The RIAA certified Bad for having sold eight million copies in the U.S. alone.[8] In the U.K, the album sold 500,000 copies in just five days and is currently certified 11x platinum, for sales of 3.5 million, making it Jackson's second biggest-selling album in the UK. Globally, it is Jackson's overall fourth best-selling recording, behind Thriller, Dangerous and HIStory with 30 million units sold.[9]

Jackson set another record with this album, becoming the first, and currently only, artist to have five songs to hit number one from one album.[10] In July 2006, it was announced by the The Official UK Charts Company that Bad was the ninth biggest selling album in British history.[11] It turned out to be the last collaborative effort by Jackson and Jones, as Jackson moved on to write and produce more of his own records, particularly with Teddy Riley, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and Rodney Jerkins.

Rolling Stone stated that "even without a milestone recording like "Billie Jean", Bad is still a better record than Thriller."[12] The magazine further went on to say that the "filler" content in Bad - including songs such as "Speed Demon", "Dirty Diana" and "Liberian Girl" - is written by Jackson himself, making Bad "richer, sexier and better than Thriller's forgettables."[12]

In 2001, a special edition of the album was released with three new songs and a new booklet containing lyrics and previously-unpublished photos.

In 2003, the album was ranked number 202 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.