Bad

Bad is the seventh studio album by Michael Jackson, released on August 31, 1987 on Epic Records. It was recorded between January 1985 and July 1987, mostly at Westlake Studios in Los Angeles, and produced by Quincy Jones and Jackson in their third and final collaboration.^[1]

Following Thriller, the best-selling album of all time, Jackson reportedly aimed for 100 million sales and a harder-edged sound. He wrote about 60 songs and recorded 33, wanted a three-disc set, and was steered by Jones toward eleven tracks. He wrote all but two of them: the duet "Just Good Friends" and "Man in the Mirror".^[1]

The album produced five consecutive number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, a record for a single album, and has sold more than 35 million copies worldwide.^[1] Critics praised Jackson's vocals and the arrangements, though some measured it against Thriller.^[1] Its themes range from celebrity and romance to world peace and self-improvement, and the title reflects a shift to a tougher, streetwise public image.^[1]