Michael Jackson - HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I CD

HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I songs The finest example of perfect disco pop, and a record that should be prescribed to musical snobs and manic depressives. The album is a true ambassador of what pop music can be. Jackson whoops and dances through a suite of unforgettable melodies that should be danced to with a smile on your face. Each track offers at least one musical hook, whether it is the beauty of 'Human Nature' (who can resist the 'dada dada da da da') or the 'whoo whoo' of 'Billie Jean'. It's all too good. Principally recorded at Westlake Audio, Los Angeles, California. Additional Tracks Personnel: Vincent Price (rap vocals, spoken vocals); Steve Lukather (guitar, electric bass); Dean Parks, Eddie Van Halen, Paul Jackson, Jr. , David E. Williams (guitar); Larry Andrew Williams (flute, saxophone); Gary Grant, Jerry Hey (trumpet, flugelhorn); William Frank "Bill" Reichenbach Jr. (trombone); David Paich (piano, synthesizer); Greg Phillinganes (Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards, synthesizer, hand claps); Bill Wolfer (keyboards, synthesizer); Tom Bahler (keyboards, Synclavier); Michael Boddicker (synthesizer, vocoder); Greg "Frosty" Smith, Rod Temperton, Steve Porcaro, David Foster, Brian Banks (synthesizer); Jeff Porcaro, Leon "Ndugu" Chancler (drums); James Ingram (hand claps, background vocals); Louis Johnson, Steven Ray (hand claps); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Becky Lopez, Howard Hewett, Janet Jackson, Julia Waters, La Toya Jackson, Maxine Willard Waters, Oren Waters, Bunny Hull (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Bruce Swedien. Audio Remasterer: Bernie Grundman. Recording information: Westlake studios. Editor: Stuart Brawley. Photographers: Stephen Vaughan; Dick Zimmerman; Sam Emerson; Ralph Nelson; Lester Cohen. Arrangers: David Paich; James Ingram ; Quincy Jones; Rod Temperton; Steve Lukather; Steve Porcaro. Personnel includes: Michael Jackson (vocals, percussion); Paul McCartney (vocals); Vincent Price (spoken vocals); Steve Lukather (guitar, bass); Eddie Van Halen, Dean Parks, Paul Jackson (guitar); Larry Williams (flute, saxophone); Jerry Hey (trumpet, flugelhorn); Bill Reichenbach (trombone); David Paich (piano, synthesizer); Greg Phillinganes (Fender Rhodes piano, synthesizer, programming); Steve Porcaro (synthesizer, programming); David Foster, Rod Temperton (synthesizer); Tom Bahler (Synclavier); Louis Johnson (bass); Ndugu Chancler, Jeff Porcaro (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Brian Banks (programming); LaToya Jackson, Julia Waters, Maxine Waters, Oren Waters, Becky Lopez, Janet Jackson (background vocals).

HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I album for sale Track Listing of songs: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough; Rock with You; Working Day and Night; Get on the Floor; Off the Wall; Girlfriend; She's Out of My Life; I Can't Help It; It's the Falling in Love; Burn This Disco Out; [Untitled Track]; [Untitled Track]; Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough; [Untitled Track]; [Untitled Track]; Working Day and Night; Interview with Quincy Jones; Interview with Rod Temperton; Interview with Quincy Jones;

HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I CD music Digitally remastered by Bernie Grundman (Bernie Grundman Mastering, Los Angeles, California). 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 album was later reissued with a number of previously unreleased bonus tracks and interview clips.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine Additional Tracks Recorded at Westlake Audio Studios, Los Angeles, California. Originally released on Epic (40600). Personnel includes: Michael Jackson (vocals); Stevie Wonder (vocals, keyboards); The Winans (vocals); David Williams, Eric Gale, Steve Stevens, Bill Bottrell, Dann Huff, Michael Landau, Paul Jackson Jr. (guitar); Larry Williams (saxophone, keyboards, programming); Kim Hutchcroft (saxophone); Gary Grant, Jerry Hey (trumpet); John Barnes (piano, keyboards); Kevin Maloney (piano); Jimmy Smith (Hammond organ); Christopher Currell, Michael Boddicker, David Paich, Greg Phillinganes, Rhett Lawrence, Glen Ballard, Randy Kerber, Denny Jaeger (keyboards); Nathan East (bass); Ollie E. Brown (drums, percussion); John Robinson, Ndugu Chancler, Miko Brando, Humberto Gatica, Bruce Swedien (drums); Paulinho da Costa (percussion); Douglas Getschal, Cornelius Mims, Eric Persing, Steve Porcaro, Casey Young (programming).

HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I buy CD music The 1990s may not have been kind to Michael Jackson on a commercial level, due to fickle music tastes and assorted personal controversies, but NUMBER ONES reinforces Jackson's place in pop culture history. Unlike its preceding compilation, HIStory, this anthology trims the fat, although occasionally going overboard in leaving off certified chart-toppers like the Paul McCartney duet "Say Say Say" in lieu of lesser-known, latter-day fare like "Earth Song." That said, casual fans of the Gloved One will still feast on plenty, ranging from dance classics like "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock with You" from 1979's stellar OFF THE WALL to the singles that powered the industry-shifting THRILLER and BAD. Among the hits featured here are "Beat It," (with its tour de force Eddie Van Halen solo), the scathing "Dirty Diana" (with Steve Stevens substituting for Van Halen), and catchy title cuts from the aforementioned albums. Meanwhile, Alien Ant Farm fans get to reacquaint themselves with the original "Smooth Criminal," and R. Kelly fans get to experience Jacko croon "One More Chance," the single new song that was penned and produced by Kelly. 17 #1's + 1 New Song "One More Chance". W/4 Diff.Covers (LTD) Photographers: Stephen Harvey; Dick Zimmerman; Sam Emerson. Personnel: Michael Jackson (vocals, background vocals); Siedah Garrett (vocals); Donnie Lyle (guitar). Audio Mixer: Serban Ghenea.

HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I songs Track Listing of songs: Jam; Why You Wanna Trip on Me; In the Closet; She Drives Me Wild; Remember the Time; Can't Let Her Get Away; Heal the World; Black or White; Who Is It; Give in to Me; Will You Be There; Keep the Faith; Gone Too Soon; Dangerous;

HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I album for sale Track Listing of songs: Unbreakable; Heartbreaker; Invincible; Break of Dawn; Heaven Can Wait; You Rock My World; Butterflies; Speechless; 2000 Watts; You Are My Life; Privacy; Don't Walk Away; Cry; Lost Children, The; Whatever Happens; Threatened;