On this day in music history: October 17, 1987 - Bad by Michael Jackson hits #1 on the Billboard R&B singles chart for 3 weeks, also topping the Hot 100 for 2 weeks on October 24, 1987. Written by Michael Jackson, it is the seventh R&B and pop (eleventh overall) chart topper for The King Of Pop. The title track from Michael Jacksons seventh album is originally conceived as a duet between the pop superstar and Prince. Portrayed as fierce rivals in the mainstream media, Jackson and producer Quincy Jones will conceive the idea of the two megastars collaborating together. Jones will contact Prince about the idea, but will decline the invitation, feeling the song will be a hit without him. The single features a number musicians that have played on previous Michael Jackson albums including Greg Phillinganes, Michael Boddicker (synthesizers), John Robinson (drums), David Williams (guitar), Jerry Hey, Gary Grant (trumpets), Kim Hutchcroft, Larry Williams (saxophones) and Paulinho Da Costa (percussion) Veteran jazz organist Jimmy Smith will add the crowning touch to the track, playing the Hammond B-3 organ solo on the track. The song will also be backed by an elaborate eighteen minute long short film directed by Martin Scorsese, debuting in a half hour long special on CBS on the albums release date of August 31, 1987. The film also features one of the first appearances by a then unknown actor named Wesley Snipes. Released as the second single on September 7, 1987, it will be another immediate smash. Bad will parodied by comedian Weird Al Yankovic in 1988 as Fat, even parodying Jacksons short film which will win Yankovic a Grammy Award for Best Short Form Video in 1989. The video will be parodied a second time for the anthology film Moonwalker in 1988. Titled Badder, the clip will feature child actors and dancers filling the roles originally played by Jackson and the other cast in the original.
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 00:20:17 +0000
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