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It has been suggested that Greatest Hits - HIStory Volume I be merged into this article or section. () |
| HIStory – Past, Present and Future, Book I | |||||
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| Compilation album (half studio, half compilation) by Michael Jackson | |||||
| Released | June 20, 1995 | ||||
| Recorded | 1978–1995 | ||||
| Genre | R&B/Pop | ||||
| Length | Disc one: 71:38 Disc two: 77:12 |
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| Label | Epic Records EK-59000 |
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| Producer | Michael Jackson James Harris Janet Jackson Terry Lewis Dallas Austin David Foster Bill Bottrell R. Kelly Teddy Riley |
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| Professional reviews | |||||
| Michael Jackson chronology | |||||
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HIStory - Past, Present and Future, Book I is a double album by American musician Michael Jackson released in June 1995. The first disc, (HIStory Begins) contains fifteen hit singles, fourteen of which were U.S. Top 10 singles (nine of which were number-one hits) plus the worldwide top 5 hit "Heal the World". The second disc, (HIStory Continues) contains a new studio album's worth of material. HIStory debuted at #1 in several countries, including the UK and the U.S, and was nominated for several 1996 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. "Scream's" expensive science fiction-inspired music video won a Grammy Award for Best Short-Form Music Video.
Contents |
Track listing
Disc one: HIStory Begins
- "Billie Jean" (Jackson) – 4:54
- "The Way You Make Me Feel" (Jackson) – 4:57
- "Black or White" (Jackson/Bottrell) – 4:15
- "Rock with You" (Temperton) – 3:40
- "She's out of My Life" (Bahler) – 3:38
- "Bad" (Jackson) – 4:07
- "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" featuring Siedah Garrett (Jackson) – 4:12
- "Man in the Mirror" (Ballard/Garrett) – 5:19
- "Thriller" (Temperton) – 5:57
- "Beat It" (Jackson) – 4:18
- "The Girl Is Mine" featuring Paul McCartney (Jackson) – 3:41
- "Remember the Time" (Riley/Jackson/Belle) – 3:59
- "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (Jackson) – 6:05
- "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (Jackson) – 6:04
- "Heal the World" (Jackson) – 6:24
Disc two: HIStory Continues
- "Scream" featuring Janet Jackson (Harris/Lewis/Jackson/Jackson) – 4:38
- "They Don't Care About Us" (Jackson) – 4:44
- "Stranger in Moscow" (Jackson) – 5:44
- "This Time Around (Michael Jackson song)|This Time Around" featuring The Notorious B.I.G. (Moore/Austin/Swedien/Jackson/Wallace) – 4:20
- "Earth Song" (Jackson) – 6:46
- "D.S." (Jackson) – 4:49
- "Money" (Jackson) – 4:41
- "Come Together" (Lennon/McCartney) – 4:02
- "You Are Not Alone" (Kelly) – 6:01
- "Childhood (Theme from Free Willy 2)" (Jackson) – 4:28
- "Tabloid Junkie" (Harris/Lewis/Jackson) – 4:32
- "2 Bad" featuring Shaquille O'Neal (Harris/Lewis/Jackson/O'Neal) – 4:49
- "HIStory" featuring Boyz II Men on background vocals (Harris/Lewis/Jackson) – 6:37
- "Little Susie" (Jackson) – 6:13
- "Smile" (Chaplin) – 4:56
Overview
HIStory was the first album where Jackson showcased his instrumental abilities, playing keyboard, synthesizer, guitar, drums and percussion on the album. He was also more involved in the production of this album, collaborating with producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Dallas Austin, Bill Bottrell and R. Kelly. For the first time on an album, Jackson used coarse language in his lyrics, the majority of which are still not allowed on network television in the United States. Michael also experimented with genres and themes to his songs on HIStory ranging from orchestral to "Gothic pop". Sony Music backed the album's promotion with a $30 million promotion and marketing campaign, the largest budget ever set for an album at the time. The campaign included numerous singles with music videos, television and radio advertising, an 82 concert world tour, and finally a remix album. Reviews were mixed and Jackson was ridiculed in the press for his promotional campaign of erecting statues of himself around Europe and floating a replica of his body down the River Thames.
Album Sales
Released on Jun 20, 1995, HIStory shipped 3.5 million copies in the U.S through to Oct 12, 1999, earning it a 7x platinum certification from the RIAA (as it’s a double-disc album and exceeds 100 minutes in length, each album is counted separately and therefore is counted twice towards it‘s certification). Nielsen Soundscan scanned 2.5 million over the counter sales of the album. In the U.K, the BPI certified it at 5x platinum, denoting 1.5 million shipments there. To date, HIStory is estimated to have sold 18 million copies world-wide and is the best-selling multiple-disc album ever released by a solo artist and is the second best-selling overall, behind Pink Floyd's The Wall.
Singles
- Scream"/"Childhood" - Released as a double A-side single
- "You Are Not Alone"
- "Earth Song"
- "They Don't Care About Us"
- "Stranger in Moscow"
- "HIStory/Ghosts"
A remix of "HIStory" from the Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix album was released with "Ghosts" as a double A-side single.
- "Smile"
"Smile", a cover version of a Charlie Chaplin song, was due to be released as HIStory's seventh and final single in October 1997[1] . However its release was subsequently cancelled by Sony. (There are a few promotional CD singles and 12" Vinyls floating around, which have been sold on eBay, ranging in price from £550-£850)
Credits
Production credits
"Scream" produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson
"They Don't Care About Us", "Stranger in Moscow", "D.S.", "Money" and "Little Susie" produced by Michael Jackson
"This Time Around" produced Dallas Austin and Michael Jackson, co-produced by Bruce Swedien and Rene
"Earth Song" produced by Michael Jackson and David Foster, co-produced by Bill Bottrell
"Come Together" produced by Michael Jackson and Bill Bottrell
"You Are Not Alone" produced by R. Kelly and Michael Jackson
"Childhood" and "Smile" produced by Michael Jackson and David Foster
"Tabloid Junkie" and "History" produced by Michael Jackson and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
"2 Bad" produced by Michael Jackson, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Bruce Swedien and Rene
Album Credits
- Backing vocalists: R. Kelly; Boyz II Men: Nathan Morris, Wayne Morris, Shawn Stockman, Michael McCrary; Bryan Loren; Andrae and Sandra Crouch and the Andrae Crouch Singers; Carol Dennis; Jackie Gouche; Gloria Augustus; and Linda McCrary
- Child soloists:
- "HIStory": Leah Frazier
- "Little Susie": Markita Prescott
- Rap performances by The Notorious B.I.G. and Shaquille O'Neal
- Arrangements by Michael Jackson, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Dallas Austin, Bruce Swedien, R. Kelly, Rene, Jeremy Lubbock, Brad Buxer and Johnny Mandel
- Vocal arrangements by Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
- Orchestral arrangements by David Foster, Elmer Bernstein and Bill Ross
- String arrangements by Michael Jackson
- Keyboard arrangements by Michael Jackson
- Orchestras conducted by Elmer Bernstein, Jeremy Lubbock, Bill Ross and Susie Katayama
- Horn arrangement by Michael Jackson and Jerry Hey
- Piano performances by David Foster, Brad Buxer, BIG "Jim" Wright, and Jonathan Mackey
- Keyboards and synthesizers: Michael Jackson, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, David Foster, Steve "Yada" Porcaro, David Paich, Bill Bottrell, Dallas Austin, R. Kelly, Rene, Brad Buxer, Simon Franglen, Greg Phillinganes, Lafayette Carthon, Michael Boddicker, Chuck Wild, Rob Arbitter, Gary Adante, John Barnes and Randy Waldman
- Synthesizer programming: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Simon Franglen, Steve Porcaro, Brad Buxer, Peter Mokran, Michael Boddicker, Chuck Wild, Andrew Scheps, Rick Sheppard, Rob Hoffman, Bobby Brooks, Jeff Bova, Chris Palmero, Jason Miles, Arnie Schulze and Gregg Mangiafico
- Drum programming: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Peter Mokran and Andrew Scheps
- Synclavier programming: Andrew Scheps and Simon Franglen
- Guitars: Slash, Nile Rodgers, Trevor Rabin, Paul Jackson Jr., Steve Lukather, Bill Bottrell, Jeff Mirinow, Michael Jackson, Rob Hoffman, Michael Thompson and Jen Leigh
- Drums and percussion: Michael Jackson, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Bill Bottrell, Buddy Williams, Bruce Swedien, Simon Franglen, Rene, Chuck Wild, Bobby Brooks, Bryan Loren, Omar Hakim and Steve Ferrone
- Bass: David Paich, Colin Wolfe, Louis Johnson, Wayne Pedzwater, Keith Rouster, Doug Grigsby and Guy Pratt
- Synth bass: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Greg Phillinganes
- Horns: Larry Williams, Jerry Hey, Gary Grant, Bill Reichenbach and Kim Hutchcroft
- Organ: BIG "Jim" Wright
- Violin solo: Paul Peabody
Technical credits
- Executive producer: Michael Jackson
- Recorded and mixed by Bruce Swedien
- Additional Recording and mixing by Eddie De Lena, Steve Hodge and W.J.R.
- Technical directors: Matt Forger and Brad Sundberg
- Production coordination: Rachel Smith
- Mastered by Bernie Grundman
- Computer programming and technical direction assistance by Craig Johnson
- Additional synthersizer programming and sound design by Michael Boddicker, Chuck Wild, Scott Pittinsky, Bobby Brooks, Roberta Swedien and Darry Ross
Certifications
| Country | Certification | Shipments |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 7x Platinum | 3,500,000 |
| United Kingdom | 5x Platinum | 1,500,000 |
| Germany | 7x Platinum | 1,500,000 |
| France | 4x Platinum | 1,200,000 |
| Canada | 5x Platinum [2] | 500,000 [2] |
| Australia | 7x Platinum | 490,000 |
| Netherlands | 3x Platinum | 240,000 |
| Switzerland | 3x Platinum | 150,000 |
| Brazil | Platinum | 350,000 |
| Austria | 2x Platinum | 80,000 |
| Norway | Platinum | 40,000 |
| Israel | Platinum | 40,000 |
| Finland | 2x Platinum | 60,000 |
Chart Positions
Album - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Billboard 200 | 1 |
| Preceded by Cracked Rear View by Hootie & the Blowfish |
Billboard 200 Number-one album July 8 - July 15, 1995 |
Succeeded by Pocahontas (soundtrack) by Various artists |
Notes
- ^ [[Taraborrelli, J. Randy (1991). The Magic and the Madness. Headline. ISBN 1-55972-064-6. ]]
- ^ a b [1]
