Bad
Released: 1987

Bad

by Michael Jackson

The 158th greatest album of all time

Bad, released in 1987, is Michael Jackson's seventh solo studio album, produced by Quincy Jones and Jackson. The record blends pop, dance-pop, pop rock, contemporary R&B, and pop soul with a tougher, more streetwise sound than its predecessor; it pairs kinetic uptempo tracks like the title song 'Bad', 'Smooth Criminal', 'The Way You Make Me Feel', and 'Dirty Diana' with introspective balladry such as 'Man in the Mirror'. Musically it emphasizes punchy rhythms, layered vocals, and a mix of synthesized and rock-oriented instrumentation, and it marked a visible evolution in Jackson's image and songwriting themes.