On This Date (38 Years Ago): Michael Jackson – Bad Release

August 31, 1987 – Michael Jackson released his seventh studio album, Bad. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, holding the top spot for six weeks, and went on to become one of the most iconic albums of the 1980s.

Highlights:

• Produced 10 singles, with 5 hitting #1 on the Billboard Hot 100—setting a new record.

• Earned six Grammy nominations, winning two awards.

• Ranked in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and VH1’s 100 Greatest Albums of the MTV Generation.

• Jackson wrote 9 of the 11 tracks and co-produced the album with Quincy Jones.

Legacy:Bad cemented Jackson’s status as the “King of Pop,” blending pop, R&B, and rock into a polished, daring sound. Classics like Bad, Smooth Criminal, The Way You Make Me Feel, and Man in the Mirror remain cultural touchstones.

Rolling Stone Review:

“Even without a milestone like Billie Jean, Bad is a better record [than Thriller]. Songs like Bad and Man in the Mirror stand among Jackson’s very best.”