Recording sessions : January 1985-July 1987
Studios : Hayvenhurst home studios, Westlake, Los Angeles;
Label : CBS Epic Records
Release date : August 31, 1987
Peak on Billboard 200 : 1
Original track listing
Bad
The Way You Make Me Feel
Speed Demon
Liberian Girl
Just Good Friends” (with Stevie Wonder)
Another Part of Me
Man in the Mirror
I Just Can’t Stop Loving You (with Siedah Garrett)
Dirty Diana
Smooth Criminal
Leave Me Alone
ALTERNATIVE VERSIONS*
*Worked by MJ during his lifetime. Covers and remixes by other artists are not included.
Liberian Girl (demo) : Recorded in 1983/1984 (MJ speaks about it in the “Hayvenhurst” home video in 1983). The song was re recorded during the “Bad” album sessions but original demo remains unreleased.
Another Part Of Me (Captain Eo version) : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. Used in Captain Eo in 1986. Different version released in 1987 (Bad) but Captain Eo version remains unreleased.
Speed Demon (demo) : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. A snipped leaked in 2018. Full demo (low quality) leaked on June 18, 2020 but remains unreleased.
Al Capone (demo) : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. Released in 2012 (Bad 25).
Smooth Criminal (demo) : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. The song was re recorded in 1987 during the Westlake sessions and released on the “Bad” album but original demo remains unreleased.
Dirty Diana (demo) : The song was written in 1983. Demo recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. The song was re recorded in 1987 during the Westlake sessions but original demo remains unreleased.
Hot Fever (demo) : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. The song was re recorded in 1987 during the Westlake sessionswith the title The Way you Make Me Feel and released on the “Bad” album but original demo remains unreleased.
The Way You Make Me Feel (short film soundtrack version) : Mixed done in 1986 for the short film. Remains unreleased.
Bad (short film soundtrack version) : Mixed done in 1986 for the “Bad” short film. Remains unreleased.
Bad (Pepsi version) : Recorded in 1987 & used in Pepsi commercials in 1987. Remains unreleased. A longer version leaked in 2020 but remains unreleased.
Todo Mi Amor Eres Tu (Spanish version of I Just Can’t Stop Loving You) : Recorded & released in 1987.
Je Ne Veux Pas La Fin De Nous (French version of “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”) : Recorded in 1987, leaked in 2007 & released in 2012 (Bad 25)
I Just Can’t Stop Loving You (Uncut Session) : with unreleased ad-libs. Leaked in 2019 but remains unreleased.
OUTTAKES FROM THE ALBUM RECORDING SESSIONS
We Are Here To Change The World : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. Used in Captain Eo in 1986. A shorter version was released in 2004 (The Ultimate Collection Box Set) but Captain Eo version remains unreleased.
Groove Of Midnight (demo) : Written by Rod Temperton. Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. A snippet leaked in 2003. Full demo remains unreleased.
Streetwalker (demo) : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. Leaked in 2020 but remains unreleased.
Streetwalker : Recorded in 1987 & released in 2001 (Bad Special Edition).
Cheater (demo) : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. Released in 2004 (The Ultimate Collection Box Set). The song was reworked during the Invincible sessions.
Fly Away (demo) : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. Released as a duet with Rebbie Jackson in 1998 (Yours Faithfully) and as a solo demo in 2001 (Bad Special Edition).
Don’t Be Messin’ Around (1st demo) : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. Released posthumously in 2012 (Bad 25).
Don’t Be Messin’ Around (2nd demo/alternate vocal take) : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. Leaked in 2020 but remains unreleased.
I’m So Blue (demo) : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. Released in 2012 (Bad 25).
Song Groove/Abortion Papers (demo) : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. Released in 2012 (Bad 25).
Do You Know Where Your Children Are : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. Leaked in 2010. The 2010 leak remains unreleased. Original demo + new remix released posthumously in 2014 (Xscape)
Free (demo) : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. Released in 2012 (Bad 25).
Price Of Fame (demo) : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. Released in 2012 (Bad 25).
Price Of Fame (Pepsi version) : Recorded in 1986. Leaked in 2017. Remains unreleased.
Loving You (demo) : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. Original demo + new remix by Timbaland released in 2014 (Xscape)
Throwin’ Your Life Away (demo) : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. Damien Shields: “these are the copyright registration papers, filed on September 26, 1988 by Karen Langford. Attached to this registration was a black TDK cassette tape of the song with “Dolby B 09/08/88 Michael Jackson 1) “Throwin’ Your Life Away” Ruff Mix of MJ 424” written in blue marker. Neff-U used a digital copy of this version when he did the 2010 remix. Like I said, he didn’t have access to the multi-track, but he tried to work with what he had. The results were underwhelming and the song ultimately wasn’t in contention for the Michael album”. A snippet leaked in 2018. The full demo (low quality) leaked in June 2020. but remains unreleased.
Deep In The Night (demo) : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. A snippet leaked online.The full demo remains unreleased.
Make Or Break (demo) : Written by Michael Jackson and John Barnes. Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. Described by Matt Forger as having a “very driving, terrific hook, but never got finished”. Remains unreleased.
Tomboy (demo) : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. Contains a melody identical to the “I bet you remember” line in Remember the Time. Features Roger Troutman as guest musician. Damien Shields: “Tomboy, I don’t know. I heard a version at the US Copyright Office, but the version I heard was instrumental. It had a VERY “Captain EO” vibe to it, and a melody line in the music strikingly similar to (basically the same as) the “I bet you remember” line in Remember The Time”. Remains unreleased.
What You Do To Me (demo) : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. Damien Shields : “You Do To Me has lyrics/vocals. It’s a mid-tempo love song. Similar breezy vibe to Free and I’m So Blue. Chorus lyrics: “You just don’t know, you just don’t know, what you do to me, do to me, do to me, do-do-do, do to me.” Remains unreleased.
Crack Kills (demo) : Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. Planned to have been recorded with rappers Run-D.M.C. for Jackson’s Bad album, but the collaboration never came into fruition. The song was recorded with a full vocal in November 1986 and revisited in early 1987 during the Bad sessions. Remains unreleased.
Changes (demo) : Written by Michael Jackson. Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. Described as “an upbeat piano-driven demo with rolling drum programming” and “incredibly catchy”. Features a “really rough” scratch vocal with MJ mumbling and humming a melody over the music. Revisited during the HIStory sessions, with a gospel performance from the Andraé Crouch choir and a few ad-lib solos added. Damien Shields : “Changes feels like church. Piano + gospel choir with a totally mumbled, low-effort scratch vocal”. Remains unreleased.
Rocker : Damien Shields : “Rocker reminds me of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” – a really aggressive spitting type of verse vocal with an anthemic chorus. The verses on Rocker are just MJ spitting out random nonsensical sounds and phrases. The chorus has lyrics, but without the verses it’s not a complete song. I wish MJ would have finished it. Alas”. Remains unreleased.
Someone Put Your Hand Out (demo) Recorded in 1985 during the Hayvenhurst sessions with John Barnes, Bill Bottrell & Matt Forger. A 37 seconds snippet leaked in 2008. Full demo leaked in 2020 but remains unreleased.
Come Together : Recorded in 1985-1987, used in the movie Moonwalker in 1988. Released in 1995 (History).
OTHER SONGS FROM THIS ERA
Eaten Alive (demo) : Original version of the song written by the Gibb brothers, but was reworked by Jackson who was granted co-writer credits A demo version was recorded by Jackson but remains unreleased.
Eaten Alive : Eaten Alive” is a 1985 song recorded by Diana Ross. The song was released as the first single on September 1, 1985, taken from her Eaten Alive album. The song was written by Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb and Michael Jackson the latter also co-producing with Barry and his team. Jackson and Barry Gibb can be heard singing in the background of the song with Jackson at times co-singing lead with Ross. In the song’s original copyright registration from 11 March 1985 it was credited to Barry Gibb and Maurice Gibb. It was not until Michael Jackson heard the demo of it that he suggested the chorus could be improved.
Get It : Duet with Stevie Wonder recorded in September 1987. Released on November 6, 1987 (Characters)
You Were There : November 13 : Michael sings “You Were There” during the taping of the Sammy Davis Jr 60th Anniversary TV Special at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Studio version remains unreleased.
2300 Jackson Street : Recorded in 1989. Released on May 28, 1989 (2300 Jackson Street). It is the only song on the album featuring Michael and Marlon Jackson, as they had left the group before further recording sessions. The song also features Rebbie and Janet.
Singles and short films
Bad : Singles and videos (1987-1989)
Concerts
Previous era : We Are The World (1985)
Next era : « Dangerous » (1991)
Jackson Dynasty 