HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I | ||||
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Studio album / greatest hits album by | ||||
Released | June 20, 1995 [1] | |||
Recorded |
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Length | 148:51 | |||
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Producer | ||||
Michael Jackson chronology | ||||
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Singles from HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I | ||||
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HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I is a double album by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, released on June 20, 1995. It consists of the greatest hits album, HIStory Begins, in addition to his ninth studio album, HIStory Continues. HIStory Begins was his first hits compilation not to be released on the Motown label and his first to contain material originally released through Epic Records, spanning from 1979 through 1991. HIStory Continues comprises new material written and produced by Jackson and collaborators. It was Jackson's fifth album released through Epic Records, and the first on his label MJJ Productions. The album includes appearances by Janet Jackson, Shaquille O'Neal, Slash, and the Notorious B.I.G. Its genres span R&B, pop, and hip hop with elements of hard rock and funk rock. The themes include environmental awareness, isolation, greed, suicide, injustice, and Jackson's conflicts with the media.
Starting in the late 1980s, Jackson and the tabloid press had a difficult relationship. In 1993, the relationship between Jackson and the press collapsed when he was accused of child sexual abuse. Although he was not charged with any crime, Jackson was subject to intense media scrutiny while the criminal investigation took place. Several of the album's 15 new songs pertain to the child sexual abuse allegations made against him in 1993 and Jackson's perceived mistreatment by the media, mainly the tabloids. Because of this, HIStory Continues has been described as Jackson's most "personal" album. Jackson embarked on the HIStory World Tour, which was his third and final concert tour as a solo artist. The tour grossed $165 million (equivalent to $313 million in 2023), making it the highest-grossing solo concert tour of the 1990s.
HIStory debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, and in nineteen other countries. Seven singles were released, including "Scream", a duet between Jackson and his sister Janet, which reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100. "You Are Not Alone" became the first song in history to debut at number one on the Hot 100; it was also Jackson's final US number-one single. Further singles included the protest songs "Earth Song" and "They Don't Care About Us", the latter of which drew accusations of antisemitism; Jackson said the song's lyrics had been misinterpreted and included an edited version on later pressings of the album.
HIStory has sold over 20 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time, and one of the best-selling multi-disc albums of all time. In August 2018, it was certified 8× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). HIStory Begins received widespread acclaim, but critical response to the new material, HIStory Continues, was mixed. Despite this, HIStory was nominated for five Grammy Awards at the 1996 Grammy Awards, including Jackson's third Album of the Year nomination. It won Best Music Video – Short Form for "Scream". Jackson also won an American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist at the 1996 American Music Awards.
Starting in the late 1980s, Jackson and the tabloid press had a difficult relationship. In 1986, tabloids claimed that Jackson slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber and had offered to buy the bones of Joseph Merrick (the "Elephant Man"), both of which Jackson vehemently denied. [2] [3] These stories inspired the derogatory nickname "Wacko Jacko", which Jackson despised. He stopped leaking untruths to the press, [4] and the media began creating their own stories. [4] In 1989, Jackson released "Leave Me Alone", a song about the victimization he felt by the press. [5]
In 1993, the relationship between Jackson and the press collapsed when he was accused of child sexual abuse. Although he was not charged, Jackson was subject to intense media scrutiny while the criminal investigation took place. Complaints[ whose? ] about the coverage and media included misleading and sensational headlines; [6] paying for stories of Jackson's alleged criminal activity [7] and confidential material from the police investigation; [8] using unflattering pictures of Jackson; [9] and using headlines that strongly implied Jackson's guilt. [9] In 1994, Jackson said of the media coverage: "I am particularly upset by the handling of the matter by the incredible, terrible mass media. At every opportunity, the media has dissected and manipulated these allegations to reach their own conclusions." [10]
Jackson began taking painkillers, Valium, Xanax and Ativan to deal with the stress of the allegations. [11] A few months after the allegations became news, Jackson stopped eating. [12] Soon after, Jackson's health deteriorated to the extent that he canceled the remainder of his Dangerous World Tour and went into rehabilitation. [13] [14] Jackson booked the whole fourth floor of a clinic and was put on Valium IV to wean him from painkillers. [13] [14] The media showed Jackson little sympathy. Also in 1993, the Daily Mirror held a "Spot the Jacko" contest, offering readers a trip to Disney World if they could correctly predict where Jackson would appear next. [13] The same year, a Daily Express headline read "Drug Treatment Star Faces Life on the Run", while a News of the World headline accused Jackson of being a fugitive; these tabloids also falsely alleged that Jackson had traveled to Europe to have cosmetic surgery that would make him unrecognizable on his return. [13] In early November 1993, talk show host Geraldo Rivera set up a mock trial with a jury of audience members, though Jackson had not been charged with a crime. [15]
HIStory was Jackson's first studio album since his 1991 album Dangerous and his first new material after being accused of child sexual abuse. [16] The album comprises two discs. The first, HIStory Begins, is a compilation of songs from Jackson's albums Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), Bad (1987) and Dangerous (1991). The second, HIStory Continues, comprises new material recorded from January 1994 to March 1995, [17] although one of the songs (a cover of the Beatles' "Come Together") had been recorded as early as 1986. [18] Jackson co-wrote and co-produced a majority of the new songs; other writers include Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Dallas Austin, the Notorious B.I.G., Bruce Swedien, R. Kelly and René Moore, and other producers include David Foster and Bill Bottrell. [18] Some reviewers commented on the unusual format of a new studio album being accompanied by a "greatest hits" collection, with Q magazine saying "from the new songs' point of view, it's like taking your dad with you into a fight." [19]
Similarly to Thriller and Bad, HIStory contains lyrics that deal with paranoia. Several of the album's 15 new songs pertain to the child sexual abuse allegations made against him in 1993 [20] and Jackson's perceived mistreatment by the media, mainly the tabloids. [21] Because of this, the album has been described as being Jackson's most "personal". [22] Two of the album's new tracks are covers. [20] The genres of the songs on the album span R&B, pop, and hip hop with elements of hard rock ("D.S.") and funk rock ("Scream"), and ballads. [20] [22] [23] [24] The lyrics pertain to isolation, greed, environmental concerns, injustice. "Scream" is a duet with Jackson's sister Janet; with "spitting" [20] lyrics about injustice. [22]
The lyrics for the R&B ballad "You Are Not Alone", written by R. Kelly, pertain to isolation. [22] Two Belgian songwriters, brothers Eddy and Danny Van Passel, claimed to have written the melody in 1993. In September 2007, a Belgian judge ruled the song had been plagiarized from the Van Passel brothers, and it was banned from radio play in Belgium. [25] [26] "D.S.", a hard rock song, has lyrics about a "cold man" named "Dom S. Sheldon". Critics interpreted it as an attack on Thomas Sneddon, who had led the prosecution in Jackson's trial. [20] [23] [27] [28]
"Money" was interpreted as being directed at Evan Chandler, the father of the boy who accused Jackson of child sexual abuse. [20] The lyrics of "Childhood" pertain to Jackson's childhood. [29] Similar to "Scream", the lyrics to "They Don't Care About Us" pertain to injustice, as well as racism. In "This Time Around", Jackson asserts himself as having been "falsely accused". [20] The song includes a guest rap by the Notorious B.I.G. (a.k.a. Biggie Smalls). [30] "Earth Song" was described as a "slow blues-operatic", [22] and its lyrics pertain to environmental concerns. On HIStory, Jackson covered Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" and the Beatles' "Come Together". [22]
"2 Bad" was influenced by hip-hop, with a sample of Run–D.M.C.'s "King of Rock" and another guest rap verse by Shaquille O'Neal. The similarity in lyrics and name have led to some seeing it as a spiritual successor to Jackson's 1987 track, "Bad". [31] "Stranger in Moscow" is a pop ballad that is interspersed with sounds of rain, [20] in which Jackson references a "swift and sudden fall from grace". [22] "Tabloid Junkie" is a hard funk song [32] with lyrics instructing listeners to not believe everything they read in the media and tabloids. [22] [23] The album's title track, "HIStory" contained multiple samples, including Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. [33] "HIStory" was not released as a single from HIStory, but its remix was from Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix in 1997.
As an introduction for "Little Susie", Jackson used his own variation of "Pie Jesu" from Maurice Duruflé's Requiem. Some[ who? ] speculate, the inspiration behind the song likely came from an artist called Gottfried Helnwein. An urban legend states that "Little Susie" was written about a girl called Susie Condry who was murdered in 1972. However, no evidence of this event can be found. Jackson admired Helnwein's work and had purchased some of his paintings. One of them, "Beautiful Victim", inspired the song. Helnwein later painted a portrait of Jackson. [34] There appears to be a similarity between the "Beautiful Victim" painting and the artwork included for the song in HIStory. [34]
On June 15, 1995, The New York Times said that "They Don't Care About Us" contained antisemitic slurs in the lines "Jew me, sue me, everybody do me / Kick me, kike me, don't you black or white me". [35] In a statement, Jackson responded:
"The idea that these lyrics could be deemed objectionable is extremely hurtful to me, and misleading. The song, in fact, is about the pain of prejudice and hate and is a way to draw attention to social and political problems. I am the voice of the accused and the attacked. I am the voice of everyone. I am the skinhead, I am the Jew, I am the black man, I am the white man. I am not the one who was attacking. It is about the injustices to young people and how the system can wrongfully accuse them. I am angry and outraged that I could be so misinterpreted." [35]
Jackson's manager and record label said the lyrics opposed prejudice and had been taken out of context. [35] The following day, David A. Lehrer and Rabbi Marvin Hier, leaders of two Jewish organizations, stated that Jackson's attempt to make a song critical of discrimination had backfired. They felt the lyrics might be ambiguous and were unsuitable for young audiences because they might not understand the song's context. They acknowledged that Jackson meant well and suggested that he write an explanation in the album booklet. [36] In his review of HIStory, Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrote that the song "gives the lie to his entire catalogue of brotherhood anthems with a burst of anti-Semitism". [37]
On June 17, Jackson promised that future copies of the album would include an apology. [38] On June 23, Jackson announced that he would alter the offending wording on future copies of the album. He reiterated his acceptance that the song was offensive to some. [39] [40] It was reported that "Jew me" and "Kike me" would be substituted with "do me" and "strike me", however, the offending words were instead covered up with loud, abstract noises drowning them out. [39] [41] Remixes of the song that were later released instead use repeated words ("Jew me, sue me" being replaced with "Sue me, sue me"). [42] An apology was included in later issues of the album: [41]
"There has been a lot of controversy about my song, "They Don't Care About Us." My intention was for this song to say "No" to racism, anti-Semitism and stereotyping. Unfortunately, my choice of words may have unintentionally hurt the very people I wanted to stand in solidarity with. I just want you all to know how strongly I am committed to tolerance, peace and love, and I apologize to anyone who might have been hurt."
— Michael Jackson
Spike Lee defended Jackson's use of the word, by mentioning the double standard from the media. "While The New York Times asserted the use of racial slurs in 'They Don't Care About Us', they were silent on other racial slurs in the album. The Notorious B.I.G. says 'nigga' on "This Time Around," another song on the HIStory album, but it did not attract media attention, as well as, many years before, use in lyrics of word 'nigger' by John Lennon." [43]
HIStory's music videos displayed different themes and elements, while some of them encouraged awareness of poverty and had a positive effect on their shooting locations. The promo video for "They Don't Care About Us" was directed by Spike Lee; Jackson said that Lee chose to direct the video because the song "has an edge, and Spike Lee had approached me. It's a public awareness song and that's what he is all about. It's a protest kind of song... and I think he was perfect for it." [44] Jackson also collaborated with 200 members of the cultural group Olodum, who played music in the video. [45] The resulting media interest exposed Olodum to 140 countries, bringing them worldwide fame and increasing their status in Brazil. [46] Lúcia Nagib, of The New Brazilian Cinema, said of the music video:
"When Michael Jackson decided to shoot his new music video in a favela of Rio de Janeiro... he used the favela people as extras in a visual super-spectacle... All the while there is a vaguely political appeal in there... The interesting aspect of Michael Jackson's strategy is the efficiency with which it gives visibility to poverty and social problems in countries like Brazil without resorting to traditional political discourse. The problematic aspect is that it does not entail a real intervention in that poverty." [47]
In 2009, Billboard described the area as "now a model for social development" and stated that Jackson's influence was partially responsible for this improvement. [48] For the first time in Jackson's career, he made a second music video for a single. [49] This second version was filmed in a prison with cellmates; the video shows Jackson handcuffed and contains real footage of police attacking African Americans, the Ku Klux Klan, genocide, execution, and other human rights abuses. [49] Jackson's music video for "Earth Song" received praise for its environmental recognition. In 1995, the video received a Genesis Award for Doris Day Music Award, given each year for animal sensitivity. [50] In 2008, a writer for the Nigeria Exchange said that "'Earth Song' drew the world's attention to the degradation and bastardization of the earth as a fall out of various human activities". [51]
Two other music videos from HIStory have been influential. Jackson's "Stranger In Moscow" music video influenced the advertising campaign for International Cricket Council Champions Trophy 2004, which featured "a series of smart outdoor ads and a classy TV spot". [52] The television commercial was inspired by "Stranger In Moscow"s video where "the maiden in black splash about in the rain, with kids playing cricket for company". [52] "Scream" was a creative influence on other music videos such as "No Scrubs" (1999) by TLC. [53] This influence was also present on the 2008 release of "Shawty Get Loose" by rapper Lil Mama. [54]
Sony Music spent $30 million to promote the album, [55] one of the most expensive promotional campaigns ever for an album. The music press were anticipating how well it would sell. One analyst for SoundScan expressed the opinion that the press was out of touch with the public when it came to Jackson; the public liked him, while the press did not. [56] He believed that "naysayers" in the media would be left surprised with the commercial reception. [56]
Also, during this period of time, Jackson did a series of personal appearances, becoming the first time that he faced the public eye following the allegations. On June 14, 1995, Jackson did the interview TV special "Primetime Live" along with his then wife Lisa Marie Presley and the interviewer Diane Sawyer. The special was watched by an audience 60 million in the United States and 500 millions worldwide. However, it received mixed reviews by critics. On September 7, 1995, he opened the MTV Video Music Awards with a 15 minutes medley. [57] [58] [59]
"Smile", "This Time Around" and "D.S." were released as promotional singles in 1995 and December 1997. Due to lack of radio airplay, "Smile" and "D.S." did not chart on any music charts worldwide. "This Time Around", was released as a radio-only single in the United States in December 1995. The song peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and at number 18 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart solely off radio airplay. [60]
To promote the album, Jackson embarked on the HIStory World Tour, which grossed $165 million (equivalent to $268 million in 2019). [61] It was Jackson's third and final concert tour as a solo artist. The tour, beginning in Prague, Czech Republic on September 7, 1996, attracted more than 4.5 million fans from 58 cities in 35 countries around the world. The average concert attendance was 54,878 and the tour lasted 82 tour dates. Jackson performed no concerts in the United States, besides two concerts in January 1997 in Hawaii at the Aloha Stadium, to a crowd of 35,000 each; he was the first artist to sell out the stadium. [62] [63] VIP seats cost, on average, $200 per person. [63] Each concert lasted an estimated two hours and ten minutes. [63] The tour concluded in Durban, South Africa on October 15, 1997. [64]
The album cover depicts a 10-foot sculpture of Jackson in a "warrior-like" pose, created in 1994 by Diana Walczak. [65] To promote the tour, Epic placed ten 30-foot replicas of the statue in locations around the world, [66] including the River Thames in London, Alexanderplatz in Berlin, Eindhoven in the Netherlands, and the pedestal of the destroyed Stalin Monument in Prague. [67] The statues were built over three months by a team of 30, made from steel and fiberglass, and weighed around 20,000 pounds each. [66] Another statue, built from wood and plaster, was placed at the Los Angeles Tower Records store. [68] In 2016, the original statue was installed at the Mandalay Bay casino in Las Vegas. [65]
Six singles were released from HIStory. "Scream"/"Childhood" was the first single released in May 1995. "Scream" was sung and performed by Jackson and his sister Janet Jackson. The single had the best ever debut at number five—where it peaked, on the Billboard Hot 100. [69] The song received a Grammy nomination for "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals". [69] [70] The music video for "Scream" is one of Jackson's most critically acclaimed songs and music videos, receiving numerous awards. With a US$9 million music video production budget, "Scream" is the most expensive music video ever made as of 2015. [71]
"You Are Not Alone" was the second single released from HIStory. Having debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 2, 1995, [72] it became the first song to debut at number one on the chart, succeeding the record previously held from Jackson's "Scream" single. [69] "You Are Not Alone" was released in August 1995, and it topped the charts in various international markets, including the United Kingdom, [30] France, and Spain. [73] The song was seen as a major artistic and commercial success. [70]
"Earth Song" was the third single released in November 1995. "Earth Song" did not chart on Billboard 100. Internationally, the song topped four countries' charts, as well as charting within the top-ten in nine other nations. [74] The song topped the UK Singles Chart for six weeks over Christmas in 1995 and sold one million copies there, making it his most successful United Kingdom single, surpassing the success of "Billie Jean". [70]
"This Time Around" was released as the album's fourth single on December 26, 1995, with a guest rap by the Notorious B.I.G. It was the album's first promotional single, and was released in the United States only. Tag lines for a December 1995 HBO special were heavily marketed on the copies of this single, but the special was canceled after Jackson had fallen ill.
"They Don't Care About Us" was the fifth single. "They Don't Care About Us" peaked at number thirty on the Billboard 100, and it charted within the top-ten of Billboard's Hot Dance Music and Hot R&B Singles Charts. [60] The song charted better in other countries compared to the United States, managing to chart within the top-ten in fourteen countries. "They Don't Care About Us" topped the German Singles chart for three weeks, [75] while peaking at number two in Spain, number three in Austria, Sweden, and Switzerland, as well as charting at number four in France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. [76]
"Stranger in Moscow" was released as the sixth and final single in November 1996. The song was well received by critics. In the United States, the song peaked at number ninety one on the Billboard Hot 100. [77] Outside of the United States, the song was a success, topping in Spain and Italy, while peaking within the top-ten in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and New Zealand, among others. [78] [79]
"Smile" was originally intended to be the album's seventh and final single, and was to be released in CD and 12" format on December 28, 1997. However, the release was canceled due to unknown reasons, and most of the copies were subsequently destroyed. Only a few copies were sent out for airplay.
HIStory debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts selling over 391,000 copies in its first week. [80] [81] In its second week, the album stayed at the top with 263,000 copies sold, a decline of 33%. [82] In its third week, it slipped to number 2 with 142,000 copies sold, a 46% decline. [83] However, the album spent just six weeks at the top 10, selling over one million copies in total. [84] Controversy with the album came with Jackson having to rerecord some lyrics in "They Don't Care About Us" after he was accused of antisemitism, and contributor R. Kelly was accused of having plagiarized one of the album's songs, "You Are Not Alone", leading to its banning on Belgian radio.
According to SoundScan by March 1998, the album had sold more than 2.2 million units. [85] According to SoundScan, the set fell short of many observers' expectations. [86] [87] The album has further sold 730,000 copies through BMG music club as of February 2003. [88] The album was certified eight times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on August 23, 2018, in the United States. [89] Because HIStory is a double disc album, its CDs are therefore counted separately for certification purposes, meaning the album achieved platinum status in the United States after 500,000 copies were shipped, not one million.
However, the album was a massive success in other countries. In Europe, before it was released, three million copies were shipped, breaking records as the most shipped album ever. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry certified HIStory six times platinum, denoting six million shipments within the continent, including 1.5 million in Germany and 1.2 million shipments in the United Kingdom. [90] [84] In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number one and sold 100,000 copies in just two days. It was certified 4× platinum by the BPI. [91] Eventually, it sold 1.6 million copies. [92] In Australia, an advance order of 130,000 copies was the largest initial shipment in Sony Australia's history. In first two days HIStory sold 30,000 units in Spain and 75,000 units in Italy. [93] In Spain, HIStory was the 20th best selling album of 1995 and the 12th best selling album by a foreign artist. [94] In Chile, the album topped the charts and broke all sales records in the country when it sold 25,000 units within 72 hours of its release on June 16. [95]
HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I has sold over 20 million copies worldwide, [96] making it simultaneously one of the best-selling multiple-disc releases and one of the best-selling albums of all time. [97] The greatest hits disc was reissued as a single disc on November 13, 2001, under the title Greatest Hits: HIStory, Volume I and had sold four million copies worldwide by 2010. [98] The second disc was released separately in some European countries in 2011.
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [99] |
Christgau's Consumer Guide | [100] |
Entertainment Weekly | B [23] |
Q | [19] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [101] |
Rolling Stone | [22] |
HIStory received mixed reviews. In a glowing review, Jon Pareles of The New York Times praises HIStory Continues as "meticulous, sumptuous, [and] musically ingenious". [102] James Hunter of Rolling Stone gave HIStory four-out-of-five stars and found that it "unfolds in Jackson's outraged response to everything he has encountered in the last year or so." He described "This Time Around" as a "dynamite jam" that was "ripe for remixes", and "Scream" and "Tabloid Junkie" as "adventurous". According to Hunter, "Earth Song" had "noble sentiments" and sounded "primarily like a showpiece". [22] However, Hunter felt HIStory Continues was an "odd, charmless second chapter" compared to Jackson's earlier hits. [22] Fred Shuster of the Daily News of Los Angeles described "This Time Around", "Money" and "D.S." as "superb slices of organic funk that will fuel many of the summer's busiest dance floors". [103] Chris Willman of the Los Angeles Times also highlighted "This Time Around" as "a tough, rhythm-guitar-driven track" that is one of the album's standout songs. [104]
Jim Farber of the New York Daily News gave the album a mixed review, criticising the new material for having too many melodies and arrangements that sound like "shuffled versions" of songs off Jackson's previous three albums. [21] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic gave HIStory three-out-of-five stars, commenting that it was a "monumental achievement" of Jackson's ego. [99] Erlewine remarked that on the HIStory Begins CD, it contains "some of the greatest music in pop history" but that it leaves some hits out, citing "Say Say Say" and "Dirty Diana" — commenting that "yet it's filled with enough prime material to be thoroughly intoxicating". [99] Erlewine noted that HIStory Continues is "easily the most personal album Jackson has recorded" and that its songs' lyrics referencing the molestation accusations create a "thick atmosphere of paranoia". [99] He cited "You Are Not Alone" and "Scream" as being "well-crafted pop that ranks with his best material", but concludes that "nevertheless, HIStory Continues stands as his weakest album since the mid-'70s." [99] David Browne of Entertainment Weekly , gave "HIStory Begins" an "A−" grade but the album's new material a "C−", which "winds up a B" for the entire album. [23] Browne commented that the music "rarely seems to transport him (and thereby us) to a higher plane." [23]
HIStory was nominated for six Grammy Awards at the 1996 and 1997 ceremonies respectively, winning one award. "You Are Not Alone" was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male and for Song of the Year. "Scream" was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals and "Scream" won Best Music Video - Short Form and "Earth Song" was nominated for the same award the following year. The album itself was nominated for Album of the Year. At the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards, "Scream" received ten nominations, winning in three categories. [105] In 1998, the album was ranked at number 96 in BBC's Music of the Millennium, a list of 100 albums chosen by Channel 4 viewers, The Guardian readers and HMV customers as the best of the millennium. [106]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Billie Jean" (Single version) (from Thriller , 1982) | Michael Jackson |
| 4:54 |
2. | "The Way You Make Me Feel" (Album version #2) (from Bad , 1987) | M. Jackson |
| 4:58 |
3. | "Black or White" (from Dangerous , 1991) |
|
| 4:16 |
4. | "Rock with You" (Album version #2) (from Off the Wall , 1979) | Rod Temperton | Jones | 3:40 |
5. | "She's Out of My Life" (from Off the Wall) | Tom Bahler | Jones | 3:38 |
6. | "Bad" (7" single mix) (from Bad) | M. Jackson |
| 4:07 |
7. | "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (7" edit) (from Bad) | M. Jackson |
| 4:13 |
8. | "Man in the Mirror" (from Bad) |
|
| 5:19 |
9. | "Thriller" (from Thriller) | Temperton | Jones | 5:58 |
10. | "Beat It" (from Thriller) | M. Jackson |
| 4:18 |
11. | "The Girl Is Mine" (duet with Paul McCartney) (from Thriller) | M. Jackson |
| 3:42 |
12. | "Remember the Time" (from Dangerous) |
|
| 4:00 |
13. | "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (from Off the Wall) | M. Jackson |
| 6:06 |
14. | "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (from Thriller) | M. Jackson |
| 6:03 |
15. | "Heal the World" (from Dangerous) | M. Jackson |
| 6:25 |
Total length: | 71:37 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Scream" (duet with Janet Jackson) |
|
| 4:38 |
2. | "They Don't Care About Us" | M. Jackson | M. Jackson | 4:44 |
3. | "Stranger in Moscow" | M. Jackson | M. Jackson | 5:44 |
4. | "This Time Around" |
| 4:21 | |
5. | "Earth Song" | M. Jackson |
| 6:48 |
6. | "D.S." | M. Jackson | M. Jackson | 4:49 |
7. | "Money" | M. Jackson | M. Jackson | 4:42 |
8. | "Come Together" |
| 4:03 | |
9. | "You Are Not Alone" | R. Kelly |
| 5:45 |
10. | "Childhood" | M. Jackson |
| 4:28 |
11. | "Tabloid Junkie" |
|
| 4:33 |
12. | "2 Bad" |
|
| 4:50 |
13. | "HIStory" |
|
| 6:38 |
14. | "Little Susie / Pie Jesu" | M. Jackson | M. Jackson | 6:15 |
15. | "Smile" |
| 4:56 | |
Total length: | 77:14 |
Adapted from the album's liner notes and AllMusic. [18] [107]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Argentina (CAPIF) [171] | Platinum | 60,000^ |
Australia (ARIA) [172] | 8× Platinum | 560,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria) [173] | 2× Platinum | 100,000* |
Belgium (BEA) [174] | 5× Platinum | 250,000* |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [175] | Gold | 350,000 [176] |
Canada (Music Canada) [177] | 5× Platinum | 500,000^ |
Chile | — | 25,000 [178] |
Czech Republic [179] | Platinum | |
Colombia | — | 120,000 [180] |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [181] | 11× Platinum | 220,000‡ |
Finland (Musiikkituottajat) [182] | Platinum | 61,352 [182] |
France (SNEP) [183] | Diamond | 1,400,000 [184] |
Germany (BVMI) [185] | 3× Platinum | 1,500,000^ |
Italy (FIMI) [186] sales since 2009 | Gold | 35,000* |
Japan (RIAJ) [187] | 2× Platinum | 400,000^ |
Mexico (AMPROFON) [188] | Gold | 100,000^ |
Netherlands (NVPI) [189] | 3× Platinum | 350,000 [190] |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [191] | 9× Platinum | 135,000^ |
Norway (IFPI Norway) [192] | Platinum | 50,000* |
Poland (ZPAV) [193] | Platinum | 100,000* |
Singapore (RIAS) [194] | Platinum | 10,000* |
South Korea | — | 300,000 [195] [196] |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [197] | 3× Platinum | 300,000^ |
Sweden (GLF) [198] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [199] | 3× Platinum | 150,000^ |
Taiwan (RIT) [200] | 4× Platinum+Gold | 239,365 [200] |
United Kingdom (BPI) [201] | 4× Platinum | 1,500,000 [202] |
United Kingdom (BPI) [203] Greatest Hits: History Volume 1 | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA) [204] | 8× Platinum | 4,000,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [205] Greatest Hits: History Volume 1 | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
Summaries | ||
Europe (IFPI) [206] | 6× Platinum | 6,000,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
A Time to Love is the twenty-third studio album by Stevie Wonder, his first since Conversation Peace in 1995. Originally to have been completed in 2004, it was finally released to stores on October 18, 2005, following an exclusive digital release on Apple's iTunes Music Store on September 27.
Janet Jackson is the debut studio album by American singer Janet Jackson, released in September 1982 by A&M Records. Janet Jackson is described as a dance and contemporary R&B record. Songwriters Angela Winbush and René Moore contributed to much of the album's lyrics. Moore and Winbush share production credits with Foster Sylvers, Jerry Weaver, and Bobby Watson. On release Janet Jackson charted on the Billboard 200 and in New Zealand. Three singles from the album had little impact on Billboard Hot 100 charts, among them "Young Love", "Come Give Your Love to Me" and "Say You Do", though these singles achieved success on the R&B charts. Jackson performed "Young Love" and "Say You Do" on American TV shows American Bandstand and Soul Train in 1982. The cover artwork of Jackson's body submerged in water was based on a photo of Elizabeth Taylor. Worldwide, the album has sold 300,000 copies.
Triumph is the fourteenth studio album by the Jacksons, released on September 26, 1980, by Epic Records.
Cross Road is the first official greatest hits album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on October 11, 1994, by Mercury Records. The album contains hits from all previously released albums from their debut, Bon Jovi (1984) to Keep the Faith (1992). The album also features two new tracks: the hit singles "Always" and "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night", as well as a new, updated rendition of "Livin' on a Prayer" entitled "Prayer '94" available only on the North American versions.
"Earth Song" is a song by the American singer Michael Jackson. It was written by Jackson and produced by Jackson, David Foster and Bill Bottrell. It was released by Epic Records on November 7, 1995, as the third single from Jackson's ninth studio album, HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995).
"They Don't Care About Us" is a song by American singer Michael Jackson, released on April 16, 1996, as the fifth single from his ninth album, HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995). It is a protest song and remains one of the most controversial pieces Jackson ever composed. In the United States, media scrutiny surrounding allegations of antisemitic lyrics were the catalyst for Jackson issuing multiple clarifications, an apology, defense from director Spike Lee and re-releasing an edited version of the song. Jackson countered allegations of antisemitism, arguing that reviews had misinterpreted the context of the song, either unintentionally or deliberately.
Dream Street is the second studio album by American musician Janet Jackson, released in September 1984, by A&M Records. More pop than her debut album's "bubblegum soul" feel, the album was not the runaway success that Janet's father Joseph thought it would be, peaking at No. 147 on the Billboard 200 in 1984. The album did have one modest hit for Jackson, the Top 10 R&B single, "Don't Stand Another Chance", produced by brother Marlon. Also, the video for the song "Dream Street", her first music video, was shot during the shooting of the TV show Fame.
Victory is the fifteenth studio album by the Jacksons, released by Epic Records on July 2, 1984. The only album to include all six Jackson brothers together as an official group, Victory peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200 albums chart. Its most successful single, "State of Shock", peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.
Unison is the ninth studio album by Canadian singer Celine Dion and her first English-language album. Released on 2 April 1990 by Columbia Records and Epic Records, it features a mix of dance songs and ballads influenced by 1980s soft rock. The album was produced by David Foster, Christopher Neil, Tom Keane and Andy Goldmark. Upon its release, Unison received generally positive reviews from music critics, who complimented Dion's voice and technique, as well as the album's content.
Celine Dion is the eleventh studio album by Canadian singer Celine Dion and her second English-language album. It was released by Columbia Records and Epic Records on March 30, 1992 and features the Grammy and Academy Award-winning song "Beauty and the Beast" and other hits, such as "If You Asked Me To" and "Love Can Move Mountains". The album was produced by Walter Afanasieff, Ric Wake, Guy Roche, and Humberto Gatica. It reached numbers one in Quebec and three in Canada, where it was certified Diamond for shipments of over one million copies. At the 35th Annual Grammy Awards, Celine Dion was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The album has sold over five million copies worldwide.
These Are Special Times is the seventeenth studio album and sixth English-language album by Canadian singer Celine Dion, and also her first English-language Christmas album. It was first released in Europe on 30 October 1998, by Columbia Records. In the United States, it was released on 3 November 1998 through Epic Records. The album features cover versions of popular Christmas songs and original material, including "I'm Your Angel" and "The Prayer". Dion worked with David Foster and Ric Wake, who produced most of the album. These Are Special Times was released after two of Dion's most successful third and fourth English albums, Falling into You (1996) and Let's Talk About Love (1997).
Can't Hold Back is the sixth studio album by American rock musician Eddie Money. The album was released on August 8, 1986, by Columbia Records. It contains one of Money's biggest hits, "Take Me Home Tonight" which helped bring both himself and Ronnie Spector back to the spotlight. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA in August 1987.
I'm Ready is the second studio album by singer Tevin Campbell, released on October 26, 1993. With this album, Campbell showed his skill as a soul singer. I'm Ready was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best R&B Album category.
T.E.V.I.N. is the debut studio album by American R&B singer Tevin Campbell. It was released by Qwest Records on November 19, 1991. The album was certified platinum by Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 1994.
Q's Jook Joint is an album by Quincy Jones, released in 1995 by Qwest Records. The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard jazz albums chart on December 30, 1995. Q's Jook Joint won the Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical in 1997.
Dangerous is the eighth studio album by American singer Michael Jackson. It was released by Epic Records on November 26, 1991, more than four years after Jackson's previous album, Bad (1987). Co-produced by Jackson, Bill Bottrell, Teddy Riley, and Bruce Swedien, the album was Jackson's first since Forever, Michael (1975) without longtime collaborator Quincy Jones. Guest appearances include Heavy D, Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, Slash and Wreckx-n-Effect. The album incorporates R&B, pop and new jack swing, a growing genre at the time. Elements of industrial, funk, hip hop, electronic, gospel, classical and rock are also present. Jackson wrote or co-wrote 12 of the album's 14 songs, discussing topics like racism, poverty, romance, self-improvement, multiculturalism and the welfare of children and the world.
Good to Be Back is the twelfth studio album by American singer Natalie Cole. Released in April 1989 by EMI USA, it contains the hit singles "Miss You Like Crazy" and "I Do".
The Sweetest Days is the third studio album by American singer and actress Vanessa Williams. It was released on December 6, 1994, by Wing Records and Mercury Records. The album peaked at number 57 on the US Billboard 200 and at number 25 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
"Behind the Mask" is a 1979 song by the Japanese synth-pop group Yellow Magic Orchestra. The composer, Ryuichi Sakamoto, wrote the first version for a television commercial. A new version with lyrics by Chris Mosdell was released on the 1979 Yellow Magic Orchestra album Solid State Survivor. In the US and the UK, "Behind the Mask" was released as a single from the 1980 album X∞Multiplies.
"Body" is the third single released off the album Victory by The Jacksons. Marlon Jackson sang the song’s main verses while the rest of the group sang the chorus.
Key sound: Dystopian world rap
The hard-funk workout of Tabloid Junkie features some good production ideas that suggest Jackson could mastermind one more chart comeback for James Brown
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