Michael Jackson: Bad (picture disc) [LEGACY/EPIC/SONY]

Why you'll love it

This picture disc puts the Bad artwork right on the vinyl. The album produced a record five No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and has sold over 35 million copies worldwide.

This edition

• Picture disc
• Original 10-track album
• Clear display sleeve

About the album

Newsweek compared following up Thriller to following up the Bible, and Jackson's answer was to get tougher. He wrote and co-produced all but two of the songs, wanted a harder, more aggressive sound, and worked with Quincy Jones for the third and final time, splitting the sessions between his home studio in Encino and Westlake Studios.

The team layered new digital synthesizers, from the Synclavier to the Fairlight, over guitars, horns and drums. "Bad" struts, "The Way You Make Me Feel" bounces, "Man in the Mirror" builds to a gospel peak, and Steve Stevens brings the rock guitar to "Dirty Diana." Siedah Garrett duets on "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," Stevie Wonder joins him on "Just Good Friends," and "Smooth Criminal" still makes a dance floor lean. It topped the charts in two dozen countries beyond the US and was the fastest-selling album in the world in its first week.

It became the best-selling album of both 1987 and 1988, and the Bad tour, his first solo world tour, grossed $125 million. Now the cover is on the record itself, which saves everyone the bother of looking at the sleeve.

Also at Kops: more Michael Jackson on vinyl · browse Pop

Tracklist

Listen

On Epic / Legacy, a reissue of the 1987 album.