Michael Jackson- HIStory

Album: HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
Artist: Michael Jackson
1995 Epic
CD: E2K 59000

Michael Jackson: solo and background vocals, percussion (CD1, CD2), keys/synths, guitars, drums (CD2)
Siedah Garrett: duet vocals, solo and background vocals (7)
Paul McCartney: duet vocals, solo and background vocals (11)
Janet Jackson: duet vocals (16)

Christa Larson: background vocals (CD1)
Julia Waters: background vocals (CD1)
Maxine Waters: background vocals (CD1)
Oren Waters: background vocals (CD1)
James Ingram: background vocals (CD1)
Bunny Hull: background vocals (CD1)
Becky Lopez: background vocals (CD1)
Jim Gilstrap: background vocals (CD1)
Augie Johnson: background vocals (CD1)
Mortonette Jenkins: background vocals (CD1)
Paulette McWilliams: background vocals (CD1)
Zedric Williams: background vocals (CD1)
Andrae Crouch: background vocals (CD1), additional background vocals (CD2, including 20)
Sandra Crouch: background vocals (CD1), additional background vocals (CD2, including 20)
The Andrae Crouch Singers: background vocals (CD1), additional background vocals (CD2, including 20)
The Winans: background vocals (CD1)
The John Bahler Singers: background vocals (CD1)
L.T.B.: rap, voiceover (CD1)
Vincent Price: rap (CD1)
Andres McKenzie: voiceover (CD1)
Ashley Farrell: voiceover (CD1)
Jeremy Lubbock: conductor (CD1, CD2)
Jerry Hey: conductor, trumpets, flugelhorn (CD1), horns (CD2)
Marty Paich: conductor (CD1)
Geralrd Vinci: concertmaster (CD1)
David Paich: keys/synths (CD1, CD2, including 18, 20), piano (CD1, 20), bass (CD2, including 18)
Greg Phillinganes: keys/synths (CD1, CD2), Rhodes (CD1), synth bass (CD2)
Steve Porcaro: keys/synths (including 18, 24), synth programming (including 18, 20, 24) (CD1, CD2)
Rod Temperton: keys/synths (CD1)
David Foster: keys/synths (CD1, CD2, including 20, 25), piano (CD2), percussion (25)
Teddy Riley: keys/synths (CD1)
Brian Banks: keys/synths, synth programming (CD1)
Greg Smith: keys/synths (CD1)
Bill Wolfer: keys/synths, synth programming (CD1)
Michael Boddicker: keys/synths, synth programming (including 25) (CD1, CD2), children's choir conductor, additional synth programming, sound design (CD2)
Brad Buxer: keys/synths (CD1, CD2, including 17, 18, 21, 25), percussion (CD1, 17), piano (CD2), synth programming (including 17, 25), intro soundscapes & sound effects (CD2), programming (18)
John Barnes: keys/synths (CD1, CD2), piano (CD1)
Jason Martz: keys/synths (CD1)
Glen Ballard: keys/synths (CD1)
Randy Kerber: keys/synths (CD1)
Kevin Gilbert: synth programming (CD1)
Anthony Marinelli: synth programming (CD1)
Larry Williams: synth programming, saxophones, flute (CD1), horns (CD2)
Wayne Cobham: synth programming (CD1)
David "Hawk" Wolinski: Rhodes (CD1)
Christopher Currell: Synclavier, guitar, percussion (CD1)
Tom Bahler: Synclavier (CD1)
Jimmy Smith: Hammond B3 Midi organ solo (CD1)
Slash: guitars (CD1, CD2, including solo in 21 and additional guitar on 17)
Eddie Van Halen: guitar (CD1)
Dean Parks: guitar (CD1)
Eric Gale: guitar (CD1)
David Williams: guitar (CD1)
Bill Bottrell: guitars (including 20), percussion (CD1, CD2), keys/synths, drums (CD2)
Tim Pierce: guitar (CD1)
Marlo Henderson: guitar (CD1)
Larry Carlton: guitar (CD1)
Dann Huff: guitar (CD1)
Steve Lukather: guitars (CD1, CD2, including 18), bass (CD1)
Paul Jackson: guitar (CD1)
Louis Johnson: bass (CD1, CD2)
Terry Jackson: bass (CD1)
Bobby Watson: bass (CD1)
Nathan East: bass (CD1)
Bryan Loren: synth bass (CD1), drums, percussion (CD1, CD2), additional background vocals (CD2)
Jeff Porcaro: drums (CD1)
Ndugu Chancler: drums (CD1)
John Robinson: drums (CD1)
Ollie E Brown: percussion (CD1)
Paulinho Da Costa: percussion (CD1)
How Now Brown Cow: percussion (CD1)
Randy Jackson: percussion (CD1)
Richard Heath: percussion (CD1)
Douglas Getschall: drum programming (CD1)
Bruce Cannon: effects (CD1)
Bruce Swedien: effects (CD1), drums, percussion (including 19), intro soundscapes & sound effects (CD2)
Gary Grant: trumpets, flugelhorn (CD1), horns (CD2)
Kim Hutchcroft: saxophones, flute (CD1), horns (CD2)
William "Bill" Reichenbach: trombone (CD1), horns (CD2)
R Kelly: keys/synths (including 24), additional background vocals (CD2)
Boyz II Men: additional background vocals (CD2)
Nathan Morris: additional background vocals (CD2)
Wanya Morris: additional background vocals (CD2)
Shawn Stockman: additional background vocals (CD2)
Michael McCary: additional background vocals (CD2)
Carol Dennis: additional background vocals (CD2)
Jackie Gouche: additional background vocals (CD2)
Gloria Augustus: additional background vocals (CD2)
Linda McCrary: additional background vocals (CD2)
Leah Frazier: child soloist (28)
Markita Prescott: child soloist (29)
The Notorious B.I.G.: rap (19)
Shaquille O'Neal: rap (27)
Elmer Bernstein: conductor (CD2)
Bill Ross: conductor (CD2)
Suzie Katayama: conductor (CD2)
BIG "Jim" Wright: piano, organ (CD2)
Jonathan Mackey: piano (CD2)
Jimmy Jam: keys/synths (including 16, 26), synth programming, drum programming, drums, percussion (including 16), synth bass (CD2)
Terry Lewis: keys/synths (including 16, 26), synth programming, drum programming, drums, percussion (including 16), synth bass (CD2)
Dallas Austin: keys/synths (CD2, including 19)
Rene [Moore]: keys/synths (including 19), percussion (including 19), drums (CD2)
Simon Franglen: keys/synths, synth programming, Synclavier programming, drums, percussion (CD2)
Lafayette Carthon: keys/synths (CD2)
Chuck Wild: keys/synths (including 17, 21), synth programming (including 17), drums, percussion, intro soundscapes & sound effects, additional synth programming, sound design (CD2)
Rob Arbitter: keys/synths (CD2)
Gary Adante: keys/synths (CD2)
Randy Waldman: keys/synths (CD2)
Peter Mokran: synth programming (including 24), drum programming (CD2)
Andrew Scheps: synth programming (including 24), drum programming, Synclavier programming, intro soundscapes & sound effects (CD2)
Rick Sheppard: synth programming (CD2)
Rob Hoffman: synth programming, guitars (CD2)
Bobby Brooks: synth programming, drums, percussion, additional synth programming, sound design (CD2)
Jeff Bova: synth programming (CD2), keys/synth (17, not credited)
Chris Palmero: synth programming (CD2)
Jason Miles: synth programming (CD2), keys/synth (17, not credited)
Arnie Schulze: synth programming (CD2)
Gregg Mangiafico: synth programming (CD2)
Nile Rodgers: guitars (CD2)
Trevor Rabin: guitar (CD2, including 17, 21)
Paul Jackson Jr.: guitars (CD2)
Jeff Mirinov: guitars (CD2)
Michael Thompson: guitars (CD2, including 19, 20)
Jen Leigh: guitars (CD2)
Buddy Williams: drums, percussion (CD2)
Omar Hakim: drums, percussion (CD2)
Steve Ferrone: drums (including 20), percussion (CD2)
Colin Wolfe: bass (CD2, including 19)
Wayne Pedzwater: bass (CD2)
Keith Rouster: bass (CD2, including 19)
Doug Grigsby: bass (CD2)
Guy Pratt: bass (CD2, including 20)
Paul Peabody: violin solo (CD2)
Matt Forger: intro soundscapes & sound effects (CD2)
Annette Sanders: children's choir conductor (CD2)
Maxi Anderson: children's choir conductor (CD2)
Tracy Spindler, Natalia Harris, Jonathon Ungar, Brandi Stewart, Reeve Carney, Caryn Jones, Brian Jones: children's choir (25)
Kimberly Johnson, Crystal Pounds, Rhonda Hoskins, Crystal Grant, Caleena Campbell, Nikisha Grier, Chauna Bryant, Jania Foxworth, Crystal Jackson, Kandy Johnson, Charity Young, Angela Fisher, Coy Mattison: children's choir (17)
Alan Shearman: background voiceovers (CD2)
Anna Mathias: background voiceovers (CD2)
Gregory Martin: background voiceovers (CD2)
Dawn McMillan: background voiceovers (CD2)
Phillip G Proctor: background voiceovers (CD2)
Susan Silo: background voiceovers (CD2)
Jesse Corti: background voiceovers (CD2)
Hattie Winston: background voiceovers (CD2)
Maurice La Marche: background voiceovers (CD2)
Rodger Bumpass: background voiceovers (CD2)
Daniel Medvedev: narrative by Russian boy (CD2)
Ed Wiesnieski: KGB narrative (CD2)
Scott Pittinsky: additional synth programming, sound design (CD2)
Roberta Swedien: additional synth programming, sound design (CD2)
Darryl Ross: additional synth programming, sound design (CD2)


Produced by Quincy Jones (1, 2, 4-9, 10, 11, 13, 14), M Jackson (3, 15, 16-30), Bottrell (3, 23), Teddy Riley (12), Jimmy Jam (16, 26-8), Terry Lewis (16, 26-8), J Jackson (16), Dallas Austin (19), David Foster (20, 25, 30), R Kelly (24), B Swedien (27), Rene (27)
Co-produced by M Jackson (1, 2, 6-8, 10, 11, 13, 14), B Swedien (15, 19), Rene (19), Bottrell (20)
Executive producer: M Jackson (3, 12, 15, CD2)
Recorded & mixed by B Swedien (CD2)
Additional recording & mixing by Bottrell, Riley, Dave Way (CD1), Eddie De Lena, Steve Hodge, WJR (CD2)
Technical directors: Forger, Matt Sundberg (CD2)
Additional engineering by Bottrell, Forger (CD1, CD2), Humberto Gatica, Don Landee, Claudio Ordenes, Craig Johnson, Gary Olazabal, Brian Malouf, Way, Jean-Marie Horvat, Richard Cottrell, Gilbert (CD1), De Lena, Sundberg, Dan Wallin, Scheps, Hodge, Mokran, Hoffman, Brooks, Felipe El Gueta, John Van Nest, Harry Maslin (CD2)
Assistant engineers: Hoffman, Brian Vibberts, Tony Duino-Black, Gus Garces, Carl Nappa, Jeff DeMorris, Jeff Taylor, Trini Alvarez Jr., Glen Marchese, Chris Theis, Jim Champagne, Joshua Shapera, Ron Lowe, Carl Glanville, Ryan Arnold, Jamie Seyberth, Stephanie Glyden, Ben Wallach, Rick Dasher, Gabriel Sutter, Bill Easystone, Peter Germansen, David Nottingham, Chris Roberts, Julie Last (CD2)
Production coordinator: Rachel Smith (CD2)
Mastered by Bernie Grundman (CD1, CD2)
Computer programming & technical direction assistance: Craig Johnson (CD2)
Liner notes: Elizabeth Taylor, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (from "Moonwalk"), Steven Spielberg, M Jackson
Art direction: Nancy Donald, David Coleman, Stephen Walker
Cover image by Kleiser-Walczak Construction Co.; sculpture by Diana Walczak


Tracks:
Disc 1: HIStory Begins (71:37)
1. "Billie Jean" (from Thriller, 1982) [M Jackson] (4:54)
2. "The Way You Make Me Feel" (from Bad, 1987) [M Jackson] (4:58)
3. "Black or White" (from Dangerous, 1991) [M Jackson; rap lyrics & intro: Bottrell] (4:16)
4. "Rock with You" (from Off the Wall, 1979) [Rod Temperton] (3:40)
5. "She's Out of My Life" (from Off the Wall) [Tom Bahler] (3:38)
6. "Bad" (from Bad) [M Jackson] (4:07)
7. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (from Bad) [M Jackson] (4:13)
8. "Man in the Mirror" (from Bad) [Garrett/Glen Ballard] (5:19)
9. "Thriller" (from Thriller) [Temperton] (5:58)
10. "Beat It" (from Thriller) [M Jackson] (4:18)
11. "The Girl is Mine" (from Thriller) [M Jackson] (3:42)
12. "Remember the Time" (from Dangerous) [Riley/M Jackson/Bernard Belle] (4:00)
13. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (from Off the Wall) [M Jackson] (6:06)
14. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (from Thriller) [M Jackson] (6:03)
15. "Heal the World" (from Dangerous) [M Jackson; prelude: Marty Paich] (6:25)

Arrangements by M Jackson
Vocal arrangements by M Jackson, Jones, Temperton, John Barnes, A Crouch, Bahler
Rhythm arrangements by M Jackson, Temperton, Jones, David Paich, Teddy Riley, Greg Phillinganes, Ballard, Currell
Synth arrangements by M Jackson, Jones, D Paich, Temperton, Foster, Riley, Ballard, Jerry Hey
String arrangements by Ben Wright, Johnny Mandel, Hey
Orchestral arrangements by M Paich
Horn arrangements by M Jackson, Hey
Introduction directed by M Jackson (3)


Disc 2: HIStory Continues (77:14)
16. "Scream" [James Harris III/Lewis/M Jackson/J Jackson] (4:38)
17. "They Don't Care About Us" [M Jackson] (4:44)
18. "Stranger in Moscow" [M Jackson] (5:44)
19. "This Time Around" [song & lyrics: M Jackson; mus: Austin/B Swedien/Rene] (4:21)
20. "Earth Song" [M Jackson] (6:48)
21. "D.S." [M Jackson; contains an excerpt of "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Rabin/Jon Anderson/Chris Squire/Trevor Horn] (4:49)
22. "Money" [M Jackson] (4:42)
23. "Come Together" [John Lennon/McCartney] (4:03)
24. "You Are Not Alone" [Kelly] (5:45)
25. "Childhood (Theme from "Free Willy 2")" [M Jackson] (4:28)
26. "Tabloid Junkie" [M Jackson/Harris/Lewis] (4:33)
27. "2 Bad" [song & lyrics: M Jackson; mus: B Swedien/Rene/Austin; includes a sample of "King of Rock" by Darryl McDaniels/Joseph Ward Simmons/Lawrence Smith] (4:50)
28. "HIStory" [M Jackson/Harris/Lewis; includes a sample of "Beethoven Lives Upstairs", and of "Pictures at an Exhibition" by Modeste Mussorgsky/arr. by Maurice Ravel] (6:38)
29. "Little Susie" [M Jackson; includes audio clips of "Requiem, Op. 9, Pie Jesu" by Duruflé, and "Sunrise, Sunset" by Jerry Bock] (6:15)
30. "Smile" [lyr: John Turner/Geoffrey Parsons; mus: Charlie Chaplin] (4:56)

Arrangements by M Jackson, J Jackson, Jam, Lewis
Orchestral arrangements by Foster, Elmer Bernstein, Ross
Orchestral realization by S Porcaro
String arrangements by M Jackson
Sequencer arrangements by M Jackson, Buxer
Keyboard arrangements by M Jackson
Horn arrangement by M Jackson, Hey
Orchestrations by Emily Bernstein, Buxer, Geoff Grace


Notes: HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (there was never a Book II) was a 2CD album, with the first half being greatest hits from Jackson's four prior solo albums (Off the Wall, Thriller, Bad and Dangerous) and the second half being a new album. Most of the album credits are just for one of the two discs, but information is available elsewhere at a track level for many tracks. The album has sold over 20 million copies worldwide. It made #1 for 2 weeks in the US, selling >391,000 copies in its first week. By 2009, it had sold 2.5 million copies (5 million units) in the US. It was, at the time, the most shipped album in Europe, which included 1.5 million shipments in Germany and 1.2 million in the UK. It made #1 in the UK, reaching 100,000 sales in just 2 days. It went quadruple Platinum in the UK, with 1.6 million copies sold. It went #1 in Chile, breaking sales records. Full chart details are on Wikipedia. It was nominated for 6 Grammys across 1996/7, winning one. Six singles were released from the album:
(30) was planned as a seventh single, but was cancelled.

Michael Jackson (1958-2009) and this album are problematic. Jackson was one of the most successful artists of his time. Thriller was the best selling album in the US in 1983 and in 1984. (The album was released at the end of Nov 1982, but didn't sell enough in that year to get the top spot. That was held by Asia's debut.) Overall, he is the highest selling individual music artist of all time worldwide, according to the RIAA. His cultural influence went wider still: for example, he popularised the moonwalk and revolutionised the music video. However, he can, at best, be described as eccentric. He was credibly accused of child sexual abuse, although he was found innocent in a 2005 criminal trial. I think many today think he was guilty, but that wasn't the reaction when the first accusations came out in 1993.

In 1993, Evan Chandler accused Jackson of sexually abusing his 13-year-old son, Jordan Chandler, who Jackson had befriended. Jordan described sexual contact with Jackson to a psychiatrist and the Los Angeles police. A criminal investigation was begun into Jackson into Aug 1993, with Jordan and his parents filing a lawsuit the next month. Jackson would settle out of court for around $23 million. The Chandlers subsequently stopped cooperating with the criminal investigation, which was wound up in Sep 1994. Jackson's public standing was hit and he lost various commercial activities. However, a contemporary poll found 75% in the US believed he was innocent. Further allegations came out in 1997 and then in 2003, leading to the 2005 criminal trial, and then more after his death in 2013. ((24) was written by R Kelly, later found guilty of sexual abuse of minors himself. A Belgian court ruled in 2007 that the song's melody was plagiarised from Eddy and Danny Van Passel.)

This is the background for HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. Jackson always asserted his innocence. In the new material, he reacted against the media's accusations and investigations (see 16, 24, 26). A lyric from (26): "Just because you read it in a magazine / Or see it on the TV screen / Don't make it factual". He sings of his "fall from grace" on (18). (21) is a song attack a fictional character called Dom S Sheldon, which is taken to be about the District Attorney, Thomas Sneddon, who investigated him. The song ends with a gunshot, seemingly a shooting of "Sheldon". (22) is interpreted to be about Evan Chandler. From the portenous title onwards, the whole album is an exercise in self-aggrandisement. The cover is an image of a giant Jackson statue. The first disc reminds you of his past glories. The liner notes fall over themselves to quote the great and good speaking well of Jackson and to remind you of his huge successes.

Rabin appears on at least 2 tracks, including "D.S.", which samples "Owner of a Lonely Heart" (in a subtle way). This is the best-selling album Rabin ever played on. The Toto guys long worked with Jackson, and that includes occasional Yes collaborator Steve Porcaro. The David Foster here is the Canadian record producer, not the member of Badger.

CD1 was reissued as a single disc in Nov 2001 as Greatest Hits: HIStory, Volume I and had sold four million copies worldwide by 2010. CD2 was released separately in some European countries in 2011. (HP, 28 Aug 2022)

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