JACKSON, MICHAEL

In the early 1990s, Michael Jackson seemed to have lost some of his superstar status. His new album project – the artist's eighth solo album and the first production in a long time without the legendary Quincy Jones – was initially titled “Decade.” However, Jackson, who also served as co-producer, later decided on the album name “Dangerous” – perhaps to pay tribute to the slightly changed style, which Epic Records was relatively skeptical about. Jackson's strategy paid off, though: the album immediately reached number 1 on the Billboard 200 and sold over 25 million copies worldwide by September 1994. Global sales now stand at just under 40 million records! Between November 1991 and December 1993, a total of nine singles were released from the album, including the hits “Black Or White”, “Remember The Time”, “Heal The World” and “In The Closet.”

Jackson brought guest musicians such as Heavy D, Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, Slash and Wreckx-n-Effect into the studio to record “Dangerous.” The album combines New Jack Swing, R&B, and pop with elements of industrial, funk, hip-hop, electronic, gospel, classical and rock. Lyrically, Jackson, who wrote or co-wrote 12 of the album's 14 songs, focused mainly on socially critical issues such as racism, poverty and multiculturalism. The artistic transformation Jackson underwent on “Dangerous” is also evident in a broader range of sounds: he combined catchy pop hooks and choruses with raw, urban underground sounds – a musical risk considering the intended mainstream audience. But the synthetic basslines, scratching, and drum machines also went down well with older listeners. The success of “Dangerous” quickly calmed the minds at Epic Records: the album's production costs were just under $10 million!

Lovingly mastered from the original tapes at MoFi's California studio and housed in mini-LP-style gatefold packaging, this strictly numbered Hybrid SACD presents this all-time classic in stunning audiophile quality for the very first time: Jackson's characteristic vocal range and the dizzying heights of his falsetto singing now come into their own with incredible transparency and presence. The spacious soundstage and clear separation of instruments, coupled with a jet-black background and wide dynamics, make “Dangerous” an absolute delight.