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
Demos/Alternate Versions :
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.
Another Part Of Me (Captain Eo version) : Recorded in 1985 with John Barnes & used in Captain Eo in 1986. Different version released in 1987 (Bad) but Captain Eo version 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.
Speed Demon (demo) : Short snipped leaked in 2018. Full demo (low quality) leaked on June 18, 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.
Al Capone (Smooth Criminal demo) : Recorded in 85-87 & released in 2012 (Bad 25).
Smooth Criminal (demo) : Recorded in 85-87. A snippet leaked in 2020 but the full demo remains unreleased.
Outtakes/unreleased tracks from the album’ sessions :
We Are Here To Change The World : Recorded in 1985 with John Barnes, used in Captain Eo in 1986 & released in 2004 (The Ultimate Collection Box Set).
Groove Of Midnight (demo) : Recorded in 1987, a snippet leaked in 2003. Full demo remains unreleased.
Streetwalker (demo) : Recorded in 1985-1986. Leaked in 2020 but remains unreleased.
Streetwalker : Recorded in 1987 & released in 2001 (Bad Special Edition).
Cheater (1st demo) : Recorded in 85-57 & released in 2004 (The Ultimate Collection Box Set).
Fly Away (demo) : Recorded in 85-87, 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 85-87 & released in 2012 (Bad 25).
Don’t Be Messin’ Around (2nd demo/alternate vocal take) : Recorded in 85-87. Leaked in 2020 but remains unreleased.
I’m So Blue (demo) : Recorded in 1985-87 & released in 2012 (Bad 25).
Song Groove/Abortion Papers (demo) : Recorded in 85-87 & released in 2012 (Bad 25).
Do You Know Where Your Children Are : Recorded in 85-87 and leaked in 2010. The 2010 leak remains unreleased. Original demo + new remix released in 2014 (Xscape)
Free (demo) : Recorded in 85-87 & released in 2012 (Bad 25).
Price Of Fame (demo) : Recorded in 1986 & released in 2012 (Bad 25).
Price Of Fame (Pepsi version) : Recorded in 1986. Leaked in 2017. Remains unreleased.
Loving You (demo) : Recorded in 85-87. Original demo + new remix by Timbaland released in 2014 (Xscape)
Come Together : Recorded in 1987, used in the movie Moowalker in 1988. Released in 1995 (History)
Throwin’ Your Life Away (demo) : A short snippet leaked in 2018. The full demo (low quality) leaked in June 2020 but remains unreleased.
Deep In The Night (demo) : Recorded in 1985–1987. Run time: 4:00. Snippet leaked online.The full demo remains unreleased.
Someone Put Your Hand Out (demo) : Recorded in 1987. A 37 seconds snippet leaked in 2008. Full demo leaked in 2020 but remains unreleased.
Others songs from this era :
We Are The World (demo) : Recorded in 1985 with John Barnes & released in 2004 (The Ultimate Collection Box Set).
Earth Song (1st demo) : Demo recorded in 1988. A snippet leaked in 2020 but full demo remain unreleased.
Songs known to exist but never released/leaked :
Chicago 1945 : Evolved into “Al Capone”, which intern evolved into “Smooth Criminal”
Make Or Break : Demo recorded at Hayvenhurst in 1985/1986 with John Barnes.
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.
Awards
Interviews
Previous era : Victory Era (1983-1984)
Next era : « Dangerous » era (1989-1993)
