After the success of Thriller, Michael Jackson went back into the studio with Quincy Jones. The result, Bad, originally appeared in 1987 as his seventh studio album. The production is tighter and harder than its predecessor, with synthesizers and drum machines up front and Jackson's voice high in the mix. Five singles reached number one in the United States: "I Just Can't Stop Loving You", "Bad", "The Way You Make Me Feel", "Man in the Mirror", and "Dirty Diana". "Smooth Criminal" also became one of his best-known songs, helped by the dance sequence in the film Moonwalker. The accompanying Bad World Tour was Jackson's first tour as a solo artist and ran from 1987 to 1989.

This edition is a 3-LP from the 25th Anniversary Edition, with demos, previously unreleased songs, and remixes.