You'll Hear It: Full Album Deep Dives with Jazz Musicians9 Feb

"Bad" – Michael Jackson

The Impossible follow-up: Michael Jackson's 1987 album Bad. Five years after Thriller changed everything, Michael returned with a record that would become one of the best-selling of all time, win two Grammys, feature some of the greatest musicians in the world (hey, Stevie Wonder!) ... and somehow still gets called a letdown.

We've covered two of Michael's albums produced by Quincy Jones: Off the Wall and Thriller. What about Bad? Could it actually be better than its predecessor? Jazz pianists Peter Martin and Adam Maness deliver their final verdict on this 80s pop sensation.

Along the way, you'll hear behind-the-scenes stories about the making of the album. Plus - we break down the tracks (with keyboards) to highlight the music theory behind this album's most compelling moments.

“Annie, are you OK?” Sometimes the best hooks come from the strangest places - find out where in the YHI newsletter: https://youllhearit.com/newsletter

00:00 - Intro: "Smooth Criminal" - Michael Jackson
01:30 - Michael Jackson's Bad (1987)
6:40 - Quincy's Smaller Role on Bad
7:50 - The Quincey Jones Brain Trust
11:00 - "Bad" - Tough Guy Michael
15:00 - Too Much Programming?
18:40 - That Organ Solo? Jimmy Smith!
22:40 - The Tragedy Behind Bad
23:45 - "The Way You Make Me Feel" - Sweet Michael
29:15 - How WE Really Feel (About Bad vs Thriller)
30:30 - "Speed Demon" - A Nostalgic Track
31:55 - Can We Be Honest?
32:50 - "Liberian Girl" - The Mid-Album Dip
35:30 - "Just Good Friends" - Stevie Can't Save It
41:00 - "Another Part of Me" - Pure Joy
45:00 - How "Man in the Mirror" Got Its Name
45:55 - "Man in the Mirror" - The Apex
53:00 - Why We Don't See Songs Like This Today
57:30 - "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" - Rejected By Babs
1:01:00 - "Dirty Diana" - Phil Collins Vibes
1:02:50 - "Smooth Criminal" - That's MJ's Heartbeat!
1:06:25 - "Leave Me Alone" - The Shuffle
1:09:15 - Apex Moments: Phillinganes and That "Woo!"
1:10:55 - Final Verdict: Bad vs Thriller
1:14:05 - Open Studio Plays "Smooth Criminal"

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(1269)

What Do Jazz Pianists Listen to When Nobody’s Watching? (Mailbag Episode)

Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin dig into the You'll Hear It mailbag, answering your questions and checking out the tunes you always wanted them to hear. Plus, a trivia round inspired by you...

21 Sep 59min

Black Messiah - D'Angelo and the Vanguard

D'Angelo's Black Messiah is one of the greatest albums of the 21st century. You can hear his musical influences all over it: Prince's arrangements, the Bee Gees' falsettos, Jimi Hendrix's guitar, Sly'...

14 Sep 1h 23min

The Ultimate Ahmad Jamal Playlist

Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin play each other their favorite Ahmad Jamal tunes to build the ULTIMATE Ahmad Jamal playlist. Learn to play tracks from You'll Hear It. Join the You'll Hear I...

7 Sep 55min

Waltz for Debby – Bill Evans Trio

Waltz for Debby is the sound that all "boring coffeehouse jazz" tries to imitate, but none can replicate. Featuring Bill Evans on piano, Scott LaFaro on bass and Paul Motian on drums, this 1962 live a...

24 Aug 35min

The Ultimate Stank Face Challenge

Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin take turns playing each other songs, and the goal is to get the biggest involuntary reaction out of the other guy. Along the way, they break down what's actu...

17 Aug 38min

In Rainbows – Radiohead

Jazz pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin unpack Radiohead's 2007 masterpiece 'In Rainbows', track-by-track. Hear about the harmonies, odd time signatures, Thom Yorke's singing technique and the prod...

10 Aug 58min

Best New Jazz In July 2026: Domi & JD Beck, Terri Lyne Carrington, Charles Lloyd and more

New albums all hand-picked from jazz pianist Adam Maness for your listening pleasure. 00:00 - Intro01:51- Epiphanie - Domi & JD Beckhttps://store.bluenote.com/products/domi-jd-beck-who-asked?srsltid=A...

7 Aug 22min

Songs in the Key of Life – Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life is all killer, no filler. Every track is a masterpiece. It's almost TOO easy for two jazz pianists in the business of reviewing history's greatest albums. So w...

3 Aug 43min