Rating:
Genre:
R&B
Release Date: 10/16/2001
The downside to a success like
Thriller is that it's nearly impossible to follow, but
Michael Jackson approached
Bad much the same way he approached
Thriller -- take the basic formula of the predecessor, expand it slightly, and move it outward. This meant that he moved deeper into
hard rock, deeper into schmaltzy
adult contemporary, deeper into hard
dance -- essentially taking each portion of
Thriller to an extreme, while increasing the quotient of immaculate studiocraft. He wound up with a sleeker, slicker
Thriller, which isn't a bad thing, but it's not a rousing success, either. For one thing, the material just isn't as good. Look at the singles: only three can stand alongside album tracks from its predecessor (
"Bad," "The Way You Make Me Feel," "I Just Can't Stop Loving You"), another is simply OK (
"Smooth Criminal"), with the other two showcasing
Jackson at his worst (the saccharine
"Man in the Mirror," the misogynistic
"Dirty Diana"). Then, there are the album tracks themselves, something that virtually didn't exist on
Thriller but bog down
Bad not just because they're bad, but because they reveal that
Jackson's state of the art is not hip. And they constitute a near-fatal dead spot on the record -- songs three through six, from
"Speed Demon" to
"Another Part of Me," a sequence that's utterly faceless, lacking memorable hooks and melodies, even when
Stevie Wonder steps in for
"Just Good Friends," relying on nothing but studiocraft. Part of the joy of
Off the Wall and
Thriller was that craft was enhanced with tremendous songs, performances, and fresh, vivacious beats. For this dreadful stretch, everything is mechanical, and while the album rebounds with songs that prove mechanical can be tolerable if delivered with hooks and panache, it still makes
Bad feel like an artifact of its time instead a piece of music that transcends it. And if that wasn't evident proof that
Jackson was losing touch, consider this -- the best song on the album is
"Leave Me Alone" (why are all of his best songs paranoid anthems?), a tune tacked on to the end of the CD and never released as a single, apart from a weirdly claustrophobic video that, not coincidentally, was the best video from the album. [The 2001 reissue adds three songs that had never been released in America (
"Streetwalker," "Todo Mi Amore Eres Tu," and
"Fly Away,") interviews with producer
Quincy Jones, and a new booklet]
~Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Glen Ballard - Synthesizer
Kevin Maloney - Muted Piano
Jerry Hey - Rhythm Arrangements
Quincy Jones - Synthesizer Arrangements
Eric Persing - Synthesizer Programming
Bill Bottrell - Guitar
Graham Lyle - Rhythm Arrangements
Letta Mbulu - Chant
Steve Porcaro - Synthesizer Programming
Harrison Funk - Photography
Terry Britten - Rhythm Arrangements
Stevie Wonder - Soloist
Voncielle Faggett - Vocals (Background)
Michael Jackson - Claves
Nathan East - Bass
Randy Waldman - Synthesizer
Greg Phillinganes - Keyboards
Mats Holm - Technical Support
Michael Thomas Jackson - Vocals
Michael Winans - Guest Appearance
John Barnes - Piano
Quincy Jones - Original Recording Producer
Randy Kerber - Synthesizer
Michel Rubini - Effects
Andraé Crouch - Choir, Chorus
Ollie E. Brown - Clapping
Siedah Garrett - Vocals
Glen Ballard - Rhythm Arrangements
Gary Grant - Trumpet
Michael Jackson - Synthesizer Arrangements
Humberto Gatica - Engineer
Greg Gorman - Photography
Michael Thomas Jackson - Vocals (Background)
Raoul Roach - Staff
Karen Faye - Make-Up
Michael Jackson - Vocals (Background)
Humberto Gatica - Drums
Dan Burns - Technical Support
Ollie E. Brown - Drums
Perry Morgan - Guest Appearance
Marvin Winans - Vocals (Background)
Sandra Crouch - Vocals (Background)
Larry Andrew Williams - Synthesizer Programming
Sandra Crouch - Guest Appearance
John Barnes - Vocal Arrangement
Cornelius Mims - Drum Programming
Ronald Winans - Performer
Michael Jackson - Vocal Arrangement
Mary Coller - Assistant
Michael Thomas Jackson - Vocal Arrangement
John Barnes - String Arrangements
Gary Olazabal - Engineer
John Barnes - Synthesizer Arrangements
Carvin Winans - Performer
Larry Andrew Williams - Saxophone
John "J.R." Robinson - Drums
Carvin Winans - Vocals (Background)
Christopher Currell - Effects
Rose Banks - Choir, Chorus
Caiphus Semenya - Arranger
Matthew Rolston - Photography
Glen Ballard - Synthesizer Arrangements
Francine Howard - Vocals (Background)
David Daoud Coleman - Art Direction
Madeline Randolph - Staff
Marvin Winans - Guest Appearance
Siedah Garrett - Duet
Alfie Silas - Choir, Chorus
Linda "Peaches" Green - Guest Appearance
Linda "Peaches" Green - Choir, Chorus
Sam Emerson - Cover Photo
Maxi Anderson - Choir, Chorus
Marvin Winans - Performer
Greg Gorman - Cover Photo
Andy Engel - Slipcover Concept
Maxi Anderson - Vocals (Background)
Per Morten Abrahamsen - Technical Support
Bernie Grundman - Remastering
David Coleman - Art Direction
Michael Thomas Jackson - Executive Producer
Michael Thomas Jackson - Soloist
Andrew Gouche - Vocals (Background)
Bill Bray - Staff
Jean Johnson - Guest Appearance
Quincy Jones - Rhythm Arrangements
Bill Bottrell - Drums
Michael Thomas Jackson - Producer
Debbie Johnson - Assistant Engineer
Michael Jackson - Finger Snaps
Larry Williams - Synthesizer Programming
Bernie Grundman - Mastering
Brian Malouf - Engineer
Sam Emerson - Photography
Steve Stevens - Soloist
Bill Bottrell - Engineer
Brad Sundberg - Assistant Engineer
Rose Banks - Vocals (Background)
Larry Andrew Williams - Soloist
Larry Andrew Williams - Synthesizer
Bruce Swedien - Compilation
Larry Williams - Saxophone
Michael Jackson - Percussion
Paulinho Da Costa - Percussion
Geary Faggett - Choir, Chorus
Arthur Noxon - Technical Support
Tony Lane - Art Direction
Greg Loskorn - Technical Support
Jerry Hey - Horn Arrangements
Rhett Lawrence - Synthesizer
Linda "Peaches" Green - Vocals (Background)
Stuart Brawley - Editing
Christopher Currell - Guitar
Michael Jackson - Rhythm Arrangements
Francine Howard - Guest Appearance
Casey Young - Synthesizer Programming
John "4 Daddman" Robinson - Drums
David Daoud Coleman - Design
Michael Thomas Jackson - Percussion
Ron Winans - Vocals (Background)
Andrew Gouche - Guest Appearance
Sam Spinnachio - Technical Support
Larry Andrew Williams - MIDI Sax
Francine Howard - Choir, Chorus
Steve Stevens - Guitar
David Paich - Synthesizer
Nancy Donald - Art Direction
Greg Phillinganes - Soloist
Michael Boddicker - Synthesizer
Alfie Silas - Vocals (Background)
Quincy Jones - Vocal Arrangement
Bernie Grundman - Original Mastering
Michael Winans - Performer
Andraé Crouch Choir - Guest Appearance
Bruce Swedien - Mixing
Trond Braaten - Technical Support
Laura Livingston - Assistant Engineer
Casey Young - Synclavier
Bruce Swedien - Executive Producer
David E. Williams - Guitar
Bruce Swedien - Announcer
Perry Morgan - Vocals (Background)
Larry Williams - Drum Programming
Craig Hella Johnson - Engineer
Siedah Garrett - Guest Appearance
Larry Williams - MIDI Sax
David Paich - Synthesizer Arrangements
Sandra Crouch - Choir, Chorus
Michael Thomas Jackson - Duet
Stevie Wonder - Vocals
Perry Morgan - Choir, Chorus
Andraé Crouch - Choir Director
Leon "Ndugu" Chancler - Drums
Kim Hutchcroft - Saxophone
Jolie Jones Levine - Production Coordination
Michael Thomas Jackson - Rhythm Arrangements
Terry Britten - Synthesizer Arrangements
Bruce Swedien - Engineer
Christopher Currell - Synclavier
Voncielle Faggett - Choir, Chorus
Andraé Crouch - Guest Appearance
Glenn Phoenix - Technical Support
Larry Stessel - Production Director
Stevie Wonder - Duet
Andraé Crouch - Vocal Arrangement
Miko Brando - Drums
Jimmy Allen Smith - Soloist
Bruce Swedien - Drums
Ollie E. Brown - Percussion
Terry Britten - Vocal Arrangement
Geary Faggett - Vocals (Background)
John Barnes - Synthesizer
John Barnes - Rhythm Arrangements
Paul Jackson, Jr. - Guitar
Joe Gastwirt - Preparation
Quincy Jones - Producer
Michael Thomas Jackson - Clapping
Siedah Garrett - Vocals (Background)
Michael Jackson - Vocals
David Coleman - Design
Voncielle Faggett - Guest Appearance
Seth Riggs - Vocal Consultant
Miko Brando - Staff
Ronald Winans - Vocals (Background)
Greg Phillinganes - Synthesizer
Michael Thomas Jackson - Finger Snaps
Graham Lyle - Vocal Arrangement
Geary Faggett - Guest Appearance
Andrew Gouche - Choir, Chorus
Claudio Ordenes - Assistant Engineer
Larry Andrew Williams - Drum Programming
Jolie Jones Levine - Contractor
Michael Landau - Guitar
Graham Lyle - Synthesizer Arrangements
Jean Johnson - Choir, Chorus
Andraé Crouch - Vocals (Background)
Carvin Winans - Guest Appearance
Michael Thomas Jackson - Synthesizer Arrangements
Ken Caillat - Engineer
Eric Gale - Guitar
Christopher Currell - Rubboard
Michael Jackson - Producer
Jean Johnson - Vocals (Background)
Jimmy Allen Smith - Organ (Hammond)
Christopher Currell - Keyboards
Matt Forger - Engineer
Michael Winans - Vocals (Background)
Richard Markowitz - Technical Support
Claudio Ordenes - Engineer
Christopher Currell - Rhythm Arrangements
Dann Huff - Guitar
Craig Hella Johnson - Technical Director
Jerry Hey - Trumpet
Christopher Currell - Finger Snaps
Monster X - Design
Maxi Anderson - Guest Appearance
Rose Banks - Guest Appearance
Stevie Wonder - Synthesizer
Jerry Hey - Synthesizer Arrangements
;)
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