"Bad" – Michael Jackson

The Impossible follow-up: Michael Jackson's 1987 album Bad. Five years after Thriller changed everything, Michael returned with a record that would become one of the best-selling of all time, win two Grammys, feature some of the greatest musicians in the world (hey, Stevie Wonder!) ... and somehow still gets called a letdown. We've covered two of Michael's albums produced by Quincy Jones: Off the Wall and Thriller. What about Bad? Could it actually be better than its predecessor? Jazz pianists Peter Martin and Adam Maness deliver their final verdict on this 80s pop sensation. Along the way, you'll hear behind-the-scenes stories about the making of the album. Plus - we break down the tracks (with keyboards) to highlight the music theory behind this album's most compelling moments. “Annie, are you OK?” Sometimes the best hooks come from the strangest places - find out where in the YHI newsletter: 00:00 - Intro: "Smooth Criminal" - Michael Jackson 01:30 - Michael Jackson's Bad (1987) 6:40 - Quincy's Smaller Role on Bad 7:50 - The Quincey Jones Brain Trust 11:00 - "Bad" - Tough Guy Michael 15:00 - Too Much Programming? 18:40 - That Organ Solo? Jimmy Smith! 22:40 - The Tragedy Behind Bad 23:45 - "The Way You Make Me Feel" - Sweet Michael 29:15 - How WE Really Feel (About Bad vs Thriller) 30:30 - "Speed Demon" - A Nostalgic Track 31:55 - Can We Be Honest? 32:50 - "Liberian Girl" - The Mid-Album Dip 35:30 - "Just Good Friends" - Stevie Can't Save It 41:00 - "Another Part of Me" - Pure Joy 45:00 - How "Man in the Mirror" Got Its Name 45:55 - "Man in the Mirror" - The Apex 53:00 - Why We Don't See Songs Like This Today 57:30 - "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" - Rejected By Babs 1:01:00 - "Dirty Diana" - Phil Collins Vibes 1:02:50 - "Smooth Criminal" - That's MJ's Heartbeat! 1:06:25 - "Leave Me Alone" - The Shuffle 1:09:15 - Apex Moments: Phillinganes and That "Woo!" 1:10:55 - Final Verdict: Bad vs Thriller 1:14:05 - Open Studio Plays "Smooth Criminal"

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"Bad" – Michael Jackson is an episode from You'll Hear It - Music Advice by Peter Martin.

This episode is 79:35 long.

This episode was published on Feb 9, 2026.

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