January : “Imagination” is the fourth studio album by La Toya. The album is released on by Private-I Records (an extension of Epic Records). Private-I Records goes bankrupt shortly after the album’s release. Because of the record company’s financial problems, the promotion is poor and it fails to chart. Three singles are released, the first being “Baby Sister”, which was released in Japan, followed by “He’s a Pretender” and a remix of the title track.
January 06 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Smooth Criminal”.
January 07 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Smooth Criminal”.
January 08 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Hot Fever”.
January 13 : “What Have You Done For Me Lately” is released as the 1st single from “Control” and becomes Janet first TOP 10 hit on the Hot 100 Billboard peaking at #4.
January 20 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Price Of Fame”.
January 21 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Price Of Fame”.
January 22 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Tomboy”.
January 23 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Price Of Fame”.
January 24 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Price Of Fame”.
January 27 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Price Of Fame”.
Michael arrives half-way through the American Music Awards ceremony in company of Elizabeth Taylor where he, Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie and Ken Kragen are presented with awards for “We Are The World”.
Katherine, LaToya, Rebbie & Janet also attend the ceremony (Janet makes her first public appearance with her new boyfriend Rene Elizondo Jr).
Rebbie, Janet & LaToya present awards. For the show’s conclusion, Michael joins many celebrities including Diana Ross, Janet & LaToya to sing “We Are The World”.
January 28 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Liberian Girl”.
January 29 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Tutning Me Off”.
January 30 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the “song for Epic”. Bill Bottrell on X (December 6, 2024) : “Epic wanted M to do a trio with Tina Turner and Bruce Springsteen. Pretty lame idea, but M was a good soldier and told them I’ll try something. M went away for a few days and John B and I wrote a hook and no lyric and made a quick demo. M got to tell Epic he tried and all was done.” Remains unreleased.
January 31 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the “song for Epic”.
February : Michael is asked to be best man at the wedding of Diana Ross & Arne Naess but he cancels at the last minute and stops speaking to Diana.
February 02 : Michael gives a 5 minutes interview about Quincy Jones for CBS 60 minutes programme.
February 03 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the “song for Epic”.
February 04 : The album “Control” is released and becomes a huge success peaking at #1 on Billboard 200 .
Janet gives many TV, Radio & magazine interviews to promote the album.
February 06 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the “song for Epic”.
February 09 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the “Al Capone”.
February 17 : The video for “What Have You Done For Me Lately” is premiered on BET.
Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the “Al Capone”.
February 18 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Price Of Fame”.
February 19 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Don’t Be Messin”.
February 20 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Don’t Be Messin”.
February 21 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Price Of Fame”.
February 22 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Hot Fever”.
February 23 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Hot Fever”.
February 24 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Turning Me Off”.
February 25 : Michael, Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones & Stevie attend the Grammy Awards where “We Are The World” wins four awards.
February 28 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Bad Girl”.
March 08 : Heart transplant recipient Donna Ashlock visits Michael at Hayvenhurst. She stays for lunch and watches a movie with Michael.
March 09 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Turning Me Off”.
“Reaction”, Rebbie’s second album is released by Columbia Records. The album spawns two mildly successful singles, “Reaction” and “You Send the Rain Away”, a duet with Robin Zander. ”
March 13 : Janet performs “What Have You Done For Me Lately” on American Banstand.
Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “The Choir Song”.
March 14 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “The Choir Song”.
March 19 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Free”.
March 23 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Florida Groove”.
March 29 : In Los Angeles, Janet performs “What Have You Done For Me Lately” on The Soul Train Show
March 31 : Janet & Rene Elizondo Jr officially start dating.
Janet appears on the cover of Jet magazine.
April 10 : BBC UK airs Janet performance of “What Have You Done For Me Lately” on Top Of The Pops.
April 11 : Janet performs “What Have You Done For Me Lately” on The Solid Soul Show.
Michael sends a signed and dated letter to Colin Chilvers detailing the original “Smooth Criminal”short film concept. Michael’s original concept for Moonwalker was far different to the one we know and love. The original title was ‘The Smooth Criminal Story’ and was to based around the song title of the same name and would sit neatly inside Moonwalker as an extended piece. In entering the world of film for the second time, this time as the creator, producer and brains behind the project and in 1985 under the business ‘Smooth Pictures’, Michael began developing a story that was unique for its time and would have been amazing to watch. As a starting point, Michael had placed himself as a kitchen worker in a cabaret club. (Yes, Michael Jackson as a chef!). The owner of the club, ‘Annie’ is a performer at the club and also its owner who was supporting of her kitchen worker’s dreams of becoming a star. However those dreams are put on hold when, for un-stated reasons the police burst in to Annie’s club searching for Michael. Annie is knocked down in the process. (-Annie, are you ok?)
April 15 : “Nasty” is released as the 2nd single from “Control”. It will peak at #3 on Hot 100 Billboard.
Janet premieres the video at the Hayvenhurst home movie theatre for Michael & the family. The video is directed by Mary Lambert and choreographed by Paula Abdul and Anthony Thomas.
April 20 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Fly Away”.
April 21 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Fly Away”.
April 22 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Fly Away”.
April 23 : For the second time, Michael accompanies Elizabeth Taylor to the opening of the Hollywood Park Race Track in Inglewood.
May : Michael, Elizabeth, Lionel Richie & Mikhail Baryshnikov attend the LA Bullet Opening Night party in Los Angeles.
May 2 : Janet performs “What Have You Done For Me Lately” on Solid Gold.
May 6 : Michael attends a press conference at New York ’s Red Parrot where Pepsi announces a new contract for a reported $15 million and later he receives a Guinness Book of World Records plaque for having received the largest fee ever for a product endorsement.
Michael & Emmanuel Lewis stay at the Hemsley Palace Hotel in NYC. For the first time, Michael is seen in public with a surgical mask.
May 09 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Do You Know Where You Children Are”.
May 10 : Michael & Emmanuel attend the Sunday matinee of Broadway’s Big Deal.
Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Do You Know Where You Children Are”.
May 13 : On their last evening in New York , Michael & Emmanuel watch The Little Shop Of Horrors.
May 15 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Do You Know Where You Children Are”.
May 16 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Do You Know Where You Children Are”.
May 19 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the songs “Fly Away” and “Speed Demon”.
May 20 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Speed Demon”.
May 21 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the songs “Florida Groove” and “Trash Can Song”.
May 22 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Speed Demon”.
May 23 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Florida Groove”.
May 24 : Janet is on the cover of UK’s NME magazine.
May 26 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Speed Demon”.
May 27 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Speed Demon”.
May 28 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on a “new song”.
May 30 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Sunset Driver”.
May 31 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Sunset Driver”.
June : Michael undergoes his 4th rhinoplasty and he also asks Steven Hoefflin to create a cleft in his chin.
Michael & Corey Feldman go to Disneyland .
June 18 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Speed Demon”.
June 19 : Los Angeles Times : “A baby giraffe has been removed from the backyard of singer Michael Jackson’s home in Encino on orders of state game officials pending a hearing on the singer’s application to add the animal to his private zoo. The fate of the 6-month-old giraffe, which was brought to California from Missouri without a permit, will be determined at the June 27 hearing in Sacramento, said Lt. Donald Wilkins of the state Fish and Game Department. “Michael loves animals,” said Norman Winters, the singer’s publicist, “and he loves to play with them when he’s home.” Winters said the giraffe, if allowed, would join a chimpanzee, llamas, exotic deer, snakes and other animals already in the private zoo at Jackson’s estate. Under threat of seizure, the giraffe was moved to a state-licensed holding facility last week until the five-member Fish and Game Commission determines its fate, Wilkins said.”
June 20 : He’ll Never, Ever Tell
Michael invites the Sherman Brothers, Disney’s famous songwriting team and two men who work at Disney (Mike Bonifer and Cardon ) to Haybenhurst for a lunch and a tour of the property. They also get to meet Bubbles. “As we are walking downstairs to his recording studio, where we’ll see the lyrics for Smooth Criminal hand-written on the score sheet he’ll be recording later that evening”.
July : While Michael is still working at the Hayvenhurst studio with John Barnes, Matt Forger and Bill Bottrell, another team led by Quincy Jones and Bruce Swedien start working on songs such as “Bad” at the Westlake studio.
July 4 : Michael attends the annual 4th of July picnic & barbecue at the Skywalker Ranch, George Lucas’s Estate, located in a secluded, yet open area near Nicasio, California, in Marin County.
July 8 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Florida Groove” aka “Streetwalker”.
July 9 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Florida Groove” aka “Streetwalker”.
July 10 : Recording session at Westlake Studios. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Smooth Criminal”.
July 11 : Recording session at Westlake Studios . MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Smooth Criminal”.
July 12 : Recording session at Westlake Studios. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Smooth Criminal”.
July 14 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Fly Away”.
July 15 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio + Westlake studios. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Smooth Criminal”.
July 16 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio + Westlake studios. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Smooth Criminal”.
July 18 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” (basic track).
July 19 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” (OD’s).
July 20 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” (background vocals).
July 21 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” (lead vocals).
July 22 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” (soprano vocals).
July 28 : “When I Think Of You” is released as the third single from “Control” along with a video. It is Janet first ever Number 1 the hot 100 US Billboard.
The video is directed by Julian Temple and choreographed by Paula Abdul.
Janet’s nephews TJ & Taryll make a cameo in the video.
July 30 : Michael attend the funeral of film director Vincento Minnelli with his daughter Liza & widow Lee at the Forrest Lawn Cemetary in Glendale, California.
Late July : Michael attends a showcase for acts signed at Joe Jackson’s management company at the Roxy in Los Angeles and he poses for a picture with Joe.
August : Quincy asks Prince to record the song “Bad” as a duet with Michael but Prince refuses.
August 21 : BBC UK airs Janet performance of “What Have You Done For Me Lately” on Top Of The Pops.
August 24 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Don’t Be Messin’Round”.
August 25 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Don’t Be Messin’Round”.
Michael meets Leonard Bernstein during a concert by the New York Philharmonic at Royce Hall in Los Angeles thanks to singer David Pack, who organized Bernstein’s wish to meet Michael for his birthday. That same evening, Michael attends a dinner at Bernstein’s for his 68th birthday. They pose for pictures together with Quincy Jones.
August 26 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Don’t Be Messin’Round”.
August 30 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on a “new song”.
September : Janet is on the cover of Ebony magazine.
Michael attends the concert of the Norwegian group A-Ha in Hollywood with good friend Sophia Loren and arrives in a surgical mask.
September 5 : Janet attends the MTV Video Music Awards with Rene. She presents an award.
September 10 : Janet & Rene are on a promotional tour in Toronto, Canada.
September 11 : Michael attends Jermaine’s concert in Los Angeles with Janet & LaToya. He is disguised as “Uncle Willy”.
September 12 : Captain EO, Michael’s 17 minute 3-D musical fantasy is premiered at Epcot Center in Disneyworld (Florida) and the day after in Disneyland ( California ).
September 16 : Michael appears on the cover of National Enquirer in an oxygen chamber (the photo was sent by Frank Dileo).
October : Michael records the song “Bad” as a solo vocalist.
October 1 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on a “new song”.
October 3 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Leave Me Alone”.
October 4 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Streetwalker”.
October 11 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Streetwalker”.
October 14 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Leave Me Alone”.
October 15 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Leave Me Alone”.
October 25 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Don’t Be Messin’Round”.
October 26 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Come Together”.
October 27 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Come Together”.
October 28 : “Control” is released as the fourth single from “Control”. It will peak at #5 on Hot 100 Billboard.
The music video is directed by Mary Lambert and features a live performance recorded at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles with Terry Lewis, Jimmy Jam, Jellybean Johnson & Jerome Benton.
It’s choreograped by Paula Abdul & Anthony Thomas.
Janet Dubois from Good Times plays Janet’s mother in the video.
October 29 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Come Together”.
October 30 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on the song “Come Together”.
November : Michael & Elizabeth Taylor attend a Liza Minnelli concert at the Universal Amphitheater in Hollywood.
Michael & Run-DMC work together on an anti-drug song.
Michael is spotted at Disneyland Los Angeles where he sees Captain EO.
Janet goes to Europe with Rene & Anthony Thomas for a promotional tour :
-London (England) : they tape a performance of Control on Top Of The Pops
-Paris (France) : they tape a performance of “Nasty” on TF1 (aired on November 17)
-Amsterdam : They tape a performance of “Control” on Dutch TV show Top Pop
-Madrid (Spain) : they tape a performance of “When I Think Of You” & Nasty at TVE Studios (aired on December 17)
-Berlin (Germany) : they tape a performance of “Control” on at TV Puls (aired on November 20)
-Munich (Germany) : Janet & Rene tape a performance of “Control” in Studio Hall 10 on the Bavaria Film grounds in Geiselgasteig, a district located in the town of Grünwald, just south of Munich, Germany. The performance airs on November 18, 1986 on German TV show Formel Eins.
-Italy : Janet gives an interview
Hilversum (Netherlands) : they tape Control & When I Think Of You on Countdown Cafe (aired on November 18)
Back in the US Janet performs Control on the Soul Train Show.
November 3 : Rebbie performs on “American Bandstand”.
November 04 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on a “rap song”.
November 05 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on a “rap song”.
November 07 : Recording session at Michael’s Hayvenhurst home studio. MJ, Bill Bottrell, John Barnes and Matt Forger work on a “rap song”.
Mid-November : Michael checks in the Hemsley Palace Hotel in NYC where he rehearses the choreography for the “Bad” short film with dancers Jeffrey Daniel, and Gregg Burge. While in town, Michael also visits the Cascio family at their New Jersey home.
November 19-mid december : Michael films a 16 minutes short film for the song “Bad” directed by Martin Scorsese and featuring Wesley Snipes. Scenes are filmed in Dobbs Ferry , a tiny hamlet in upstate New York and in a subway of Brooklyn . The song and video tell the story of Daryl, a black youth from the ghetto who returns home from his private school.
Elizabeth Taylor, Quincy Jones & Sean Lennon visit Michael on the set.
December : Rumours circulate about Michael having an affair with his make-up artist Karen Faye.
December 1 : Print proof for the original Bad album cover.
December 14 : Michael attends the event organized by the Friends of the Hebrew University in Israel in Los Angeles, during which Steven Spielberg is presented with the prestigious Scopus Award, recognizing his professional excellence and humanitarian actions. Barbra Streisand, Whoopi Goldberg and Quincy Jones are also among the guests.
December 19 : Michael, Jonathan Spence & Frank Dileo attend a performance of “The Little Shop Of Horror” at the Beekman Theatre in NYC.
December 26 : Jermaine’s mistress, Margaret Maldonado gives birth to a baby boy named Jeremy Jackson while Jermaine’s wife Hazel is pregnant from him…
December 31 : Janet performs “Control” on New Years Simulcast 1986-87 from Tokyo, Los Angeles, New York, London. She is live from Tokyo. LaToya performs on the same show her duet “Yes I’m Ready” with Jed. Janet & LaToya are briefly interviewed together on the show.
Jackson Dynasty 