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For the song, see HIStory/Ghosts
HIStory/Ghosts

"HIStory"/"Ghosts" is a A-side and B-side single from Michael Jackson's 1997 remix album Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix....
.


HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (often abbreviated to HIStory) is a double album
Double album

A double album is an sound album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold . A double album is typically, though not always, released because the recording is longer than the capacity of the medium....
 by Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson is an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 and began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group....
, released on June 20, 1995, and is Jackson's ninth. The first disc, named "HIStory Begins" consists of a selection of Jackson's greatest hits from the singer's past fifteen years, while the second, named "HIStory Continues" features new songs, with the exception of "Come Together
Come Together

"Come Together" is a song by The Beatles written primarily by John Lennon and credited to Lennon/McCartney. The song is the lead-off track on The Beatles' September 1969 album Abbey Road ....
", which was recorded in 1987.






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Encyclopedia


For the song, see HIStory/Ghosts
HIStory/Ghosts

"HIStory"/"Ghosts" is a A-side and B-side single from Michael Jackson's 1997 remix album Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix....
.


HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (often abbreviated to HIStory) is a double album
Double album

A double album is an sound album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold . A double album is typically, though not always, released because the recording is longer than the capacity of the medium....
 by Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson is an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 and began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group....
, released on June 20, 1995, and is Jackson's ninth. The first disc, named "HIStory Begins" consists of a selection of Jackson's greatest hits from the singer's past fifteen years, while the second, named "HIStory Continues" features new songs, with the exception of "Come Together
Come Together

"Come Together" is a song by The Beatles written primarily by John Lennon and credited to Lennon/McCartney. The song is the lead-off track on The Beatles' September 1969 album Abbey Road ....
", which was recorded in 1987. HIStory has been cited as the best-selling multiple disc album ever released, with worldwide sales of 18 million (36 million in terms of units). It is the top grossing album of Jackson's career behind Thriller
Thriller (album)

Thriller is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. The album was released on November 30, 1982 by Epic Records as the follow-up to Jackson's critically and commercially successful 1979 album Off the Wall ....
.

The first disc of greatest hits was reissued in 2001 as a single disc under the name HIStory: Greatest Hits.

History


Recording

Recording started in September 1994 and would carry through the early spring of 1995. Jackson wrote the majority of the songs attacking the press for "scandalizing" him and gave messages to fans to not "feed into the tabloids". One of the songs included "Scream
Scream/Childhood

"Scream"/"Childhood" is the debut single from Michael Jackson's HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I album?where "Scream" is track one and "Childhood" is track ten....
", a duet between Michael and sister Janet
Janet Jackson

Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Born in Gary, Indiana and raised in Encino, Los Angeles, California, she is the youngest child of the Jackson family of musicians....
, who had agreed to do a duet with her brother after she felt that she "had made it to the top" and she didn't fear that she'd "had to ride Michael's coattails". Other songs that attacked the tabloids included "Tabloid Junkie" and "This Time Around". The Michael and Janet duet was the first of several tunes Jackson produced with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis

James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis are an American Contemporary R&B and pop music songwriting and record production team....
 ("2 Bad", "HIStory", "Tabloid Junkie") but not without additional help from the likes of Dallas Austin
Dallas Austin

Dallas Austin is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Some of his most notable clients include Michael Jackson ,TLC , Boyz II Men, Pink , Monica , Madonna , Gwen Stefani, Stacie Orrico, Another Bad Creation, Fishbone, Sugababes, Anastacia and Japanese singer, Namie Amuro....
 ("This Time Around"), R. Kelly
R. Kelly

Robert Sylvester Kelly better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter, occasional rapper, and record producer....
 (the lone ballad, "You Are Not Alone
You Are Not Alone

"You Are Not Alone", released in August 1995, is the second single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory. The Rhythm and blues ballad was officially written by R....
"), Charles Chaplin ("Smile") and Jackson himself ("They Don't Care About Us
They Don't Care About Us

"They Don't Care About Us" is the fourth single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory. The song remains one of the most controversial pieces Jackson ever composed....
", "Earth Song
Earth Song

"Earth Song" is the third single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. It is a ballad that incorporates elements of blues, gospel and opera....
", "Stranger in Moscow
Stranger in Moscow

"Stranger in Moscow" is the fifth and final single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory. The song was released worldwide in November 1996 but was not released in the US until August 1997....
", "D.S.", "Money", "Little Susie" with Jackson-arranged variation of Maurice Duruflé
Maurice Duruflé

Maurice Durufl? was a France composer, organist, and pedagogue....
's Requiem
Requiem (Duruflé)

The Requiem, op. 9, by Maurice Durufl? was commissioned in 1947 by the France music publisher Durand and is written in memory of the composer's father....
 as prelude). Jackson, in fact, dominated the production of the album though not fully incorporating serious issues into his music including racism, the ecology and his own personal travails ("D.S.", in particular, was an attack on the district attorney of Jackson's case, Thomas Sneddon, in which he is heard singing in the chorus despite the lyrics reading "Dom Sheldon", possibly used to escape a lawsuit). Like on previous albums, Jackson wanted to feature guest stars. Other than his sister Janet, rapper The Notorious B.I.G.
The Notorious B.I.G.

Christopher George Latore Wallace , popularly known by Biggie Smalls , and his primary stage name, The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper....
 put down a rap verse in "This Time Around", soul group Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men

Boyz II Men is an Grammy Award-winning American Contemporary R&B/soul music singing group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1988 as a quintet which originally included Marc Nelson, Boyz II Men found fame as a quartet, with the members being Nathan Morris, Michael McCary, Shawn Stockman, and Wanya Morris, on Motown Records during the...
 sung background vocals on "HIStory" and basketball star and sometime rapper Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal

Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal , frequently referred to simply as "Shaq", is an United States professional basketball player, rapper, and actor....
 put down a verse on "2 Bad". While fourteen of the songs were new recordings, Jackson included an older recording of his cover of The Beatles
The Beatles

The Beatles were a rock music and pop music band from Liverpool, England that formed in 1960. During their career, the group primarily consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr ....
' "Come Together
Come Together

"Come Together" is a song by The Beatles written primarily by John Lennon and credited to Lennon/McCartney. The song is the lead-off track on The Beatles' September 1969 album Abbey Road ....
", which he had recorded during the Bad
Bad (album)

Bad is the seventh album by Michael Jackson. It was released on August 31, 1987 by Epic Records. The record was released nearly five years after his last studio album Thriller ....
 period. It was altered slightly before being included on the album.

HIStory was originally to be called "Decade", which would include several previous Jackson hits and several new songs from the later part of his career. This was shelved and HIStory was eventually expanded into a two-disc set.

Promotion

To promote the album, Jackson embarked on the successful HIStory World Tour
HIStory World Tour

Michael Jackson's HIStory World Tour was his third solo world concert tour of Europe, Africa, Asia, Australasia and the United States. The tour commenced on 7 September, 1996 in Prague and concluded on 15 October, 1997 in Durban....
, which was attended by more than four and a half million people. Jackson also made a promotional "teaser" music video showing him marching with thousands of military personnel as well as shipping statues of himself on boats around Europe and $30 million was spent on its promotion by Sony
Sony

is a multinational corporation list of conglomerates corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, and one of the world's largest media conglomerates with revenue exceeding US$99.1 billion ....
.

Controversy

HIStory remains Jackson's most controversial album as seen by a number of events.
  • The music video
    Music video

    A music video is a short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music, most commonly a pop music or rock music song with lyrics. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings....
     for "You Are Not Alone" was controversial in that it featured an almost nude Jackson and his then-wife Lisa Marie Presley
    Lisa Marie Presley

    Lisa Marie Presley is an United States singer-songwriter. She is the only child of musician Elvis Presley and his ex-wife, actress Priscilla Presley....
    . Additionally, two Belgian songwriters, brothers Eddy and Danny Van Passel, claimed to have written the melody in 1993. In September of 2007 a Belgian judge ruled the song was plagiarized from the Van Passel brothers and the song was subsequently banned from airwaves in Belgium.
  • Controversy arose when a verse in "They Don't Care About Us" ("Jew me/sue me/everybody do me/kick me, kike me/don't you black or white me") raised suspicion that the singer was anti-Semitic, charges Jackson denied. To make up for it, he edited the verse on later issues of the album.
  • HIStory and Blood on the Dance Floor are the only albums by Jackson using vulgar lyrics in some parts of several songs, such as "Scream
    Scream/Childhood

    "Scream"/"Childhood" is the debut single from Michael Jackson's HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I album?where "Scream" is track one and "Childhood" is track ten....
    " and "This Time Around." Blood on the Dance Floor did not have as much swearing, but some songs were more sexually suggestive.
  • The original music video for "They Don't Care About Us" showed Jackson singing the song in a prison
    Prison

    A prison, penitentiary, or correctional facility is a place in which individuals are physically confined or internment and usually deprived of a range of personal Freedom ....
    . MTV
    MTV

    MTV is an United States cable television network based in Media of New York City. Launched on August 1, 1981, the original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJ ....
     took the video off its playlist because it showed scenes of violence
    Violence

    Violence is the expression of physical force against self or other, compelling action against one's will on pain of being hurt. Variant uses of the term refer to the destruction of non-living objects ....
    . Jackson and video director Spike Lee
    Spike Lee

    Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated United States film director, Film producer, screenwriter, and actor, noted for his films dealing with controversial Society and Politics issues....
     released another version of the video set in Dona Marta, a shanty town
    Shanty town

    Shanty towns are settlements of poverty people who live in improvised dwellings made from scrap materials—often plywood, Corrugated galvanised iron, and sheets of plastic....
     in Brazil
    Brazil

    Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is a country in South America. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, occupying nearly half of South America, the List of countries by population country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world....
    , which was actually shot before the "prison version". However, because of the filming location, one Brazilian politician accused Jackson of exploiting poverty to make money. The politician also alleged that Jackson needed and was given permission by drug traffickers to shoot the video.
  • At the BRIT Awards
    Brit Awards

    The BRIT Awards, often simply called The BRITs, are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of British or Britannia, but has subsequently become a "backronym" for British Record Industry Trust....
     in 1996, Jackson was given a special "Artist of a Generation" award. At the ceremony he performed "Earth Song" with a grandiose stage show, with Jackson portrayed as a Christ-like figure surrounded by adoring children. Pulp
    Pulp (band)

    Pulp were an England alternative rock band formed in Sheffield in 1978 by Jarvis Cocker . They were originally known as "Arabacus Pulp," but this was shortened a year later....
     frontman Jarvis Cocker
    Jarvis Cocker

    Jarvis Branson Cocker is an England musician, best known for fronting the band Pulp . Through his work with the band, Cocker became one of the key players in the Britpop movement of the mid-1990s....
     mounted the stage in protest at the act. Cocker ran across the stage, lifting his shirt and pointing his (clothed) bottom in Jackson's direction. Cocker was subsequently questioned by the police on suspicion of causing injury towards three of the children in Jackson's performance, although no criminal proceedings followed. The performance saw the song and album rise back up the charts.


Critical response


The album received 5 Grammy Award
Grammy Award

The Grammy Awards ?or Grammys?are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry....
 nominations and won one, these were:
  • "Album of the Year
    Grammy Award for Album of the Year

    The Grammy Award for Album of the Year is the most prestigious award category at the Grammys. It has been awarded since 1959 and though it was originally presented to the artist alone, the award is now presented to the artist, the producer, the engineer and/or mixer and the mastering engineer....
    " - HIStory - Nomination
  • "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
    Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals

    The Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals has been awarded since 1995. In its first year, it was known as the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Collaboration....
    " - "Scream" - Nomination
  • "Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
    Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

    The Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance has been awarded since 1966. The award had several minor name changes:*In 1966 the award was known as Best Contemporary Vocal Performance - Male...
    " - "You Are Not Alone" - Nomination
  • "Best Music Video, Short Form
    Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video

    The Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video has been awarded since 1984. A similar award for Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video has also been awarded since 1984....
    " - "Earth Song" - Nomination
  • "Best Music Video, Short Form" - "Scream" - Won


HIStory, arguably Jackson's most conflicting album, revealed a "furious" pop icon worn by years of superstardom, with Jon Pareles
Jon Pareles

Jon Pareles is an American journalist who is chief music critic at the arts section of the New York Times. He played flute and graduated from Yale University....
 of the The New York Times writing that "It has been a long time since Michael Jackson was simply a performer. He's the main asset of his own corporation, which is a profitable subsidiary of Sony". Some reviewers commented on the unusual format of a new studio album being accompanied by a "greatest hits" collection, with Q magazine saying "from the new songs' point of view, it's like taking your dad with you into a fight."

In relation to "This Time Around", James Hunter of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone is a United States-based magazine devoted to music, politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J....
 described it as a "dynamite jam...done with Atlanta R&B hotshot Dallas Austin
Dallas Austin

Dallas Austin is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Some of his most notable clients include Michael Jackson ,TLC , Boyz II Men, Pink , Monica , Madonna , Gwen Stefani, Stacie Orrico, Another Bad Creation, Fishbone, Sugababes, Anastacia and Japanese singer, Namie Amuro....
 that's ripe for remixes". Jon Pareles of The New York Times
The New York Times

The New York Times is an American daily newspaper published in New York City. The largest metropolitan newspaper in the United States, "The Gray Lady"?named for its staid appearance and style?is regarded as a national newspaper of record....
 believed that Jackson "muttered" lyrics such as "They thought they really had control of me". Chris Willman of the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times

The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California and distributed throughout the Western United States. It is the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in the United States and the fourth-most widely distributed newspaper in the United States....
 said of "This Time Around", "a tough, rhythm-guitar-driven track co-written and co-produced by hit-maker Dallas Austin that sports one of the album's better grooves". Fred Shuster of the Daily News of Los Angeles described "This Time Around", "Money" and "D.S.
D.S. (song)

"D.S." is an album track by Michael Jackson from his 1995 double disc record HIStory. It is track six on the second disc, one of the three songs from that disc whose lyrics are printed in the album booklet, and is four minutes and forty-nine seconds in length....
" as "superb slices of organic funk that will fuel many of the summer's busiest dance floors".

Singles

Sales of HIStory were down from his previous albums Dangerous
Dangerous (album)

Dangerous is the eighth album by Michael Jackson, released on November 26, 1991. It became his second to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, where it spent the next four consecutive weeks....
 and Bad
Bad (album)

Bad is the seventh album by Michael Jackson. It was released on August 31, 1987 by Epic Records. The record was released nearly five years after his last studio album Thriller ....
 (although unit sales were higher). This has been attributed to the high purchase cost of HIStory and critics believe that the public purchased the singles over the album. The single sales of HIStory were collectively 10.45 million units, which was higher than those of Dangerous at 8.36 million units and Bad at 10.03 million units, even though the latter albums had more singles released from their track lists (eight and nine releases respectively, against the five from HIStory). Only the singles from the Thriller
Thriller (album)

Thriller is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. The album was released on November 30, 1982 by Epic Records as the follow-up to Jackson's critically and commercially successful 1979 album Off the Wall ....
 at 19.55 million units sold better than those released from HIStory.

  • "Scream/Childhood
    Scream/Childhood

    "Scream"/"Childhood" is the debut single from Michael Jackson's HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I album?where "Scream" is track one and "Childhood" is track ten....
    " - Released as a double A-side the first single released from HIStory was "Scream", sung and performed with his sister Janet Jackson
    Janet Jackson

    Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Born in Gary, Indiana and raised in Encino, Los Angeles, California, she is the youngest child of the Jackson family of musicians....
    . The single had the best ever debut at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and had a Grammy nomination for "Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals". The music video for "Scream" is one of his most critically acclaimed winning three MTV awards in 1995 and a Grammy in 1996. "Scream" is currently the most expensive music video ever made
    List of most expensive music videos

    This page lists the most expensive music videos ever made. Michael Jackson has the most videos on this list, with five. He also holds the record for the most expensive video ever made, "Scream", a duet with sister Janet Jackson....
    . It sold 2 million copies worldwide.


  • "You Are Not Alone
    You Are Not Alone

    "You Are Not Alone", released in August 1995, is the second single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory. The Rhythm and blues ballad was officially written by R....
    " - was the second single released from HIStory and would become the first song ever to debut at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, (beating his previous single "Scream"). It reached #1 in various international markets, including Britain. It was seen as a major artistic and commercial success and received a Grammy nomination for "Best Pop Vocal Performance". It sold 3 million copies worldwide.


  • "Earth Song
    Earth Song

    "Earth Song" is the third single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. It is a ballad that incorporates elements of blues, gospel and opera....
    " - was the third single released from HIStory, and was accompanied by a well received expensive music video that was nominated for a Grammy Award
    Grammy Award

    The Grammy Awards ?or Grammys?are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry....
     in 1996 but lost to his earlier video "Scream". The song topped the UK Singles Chart for six weeks over Christmas in 1995 and sold one million copies there, making it his most successful UK single, surpassing the success of "Billie Jean". It sold 3.15 million copies worldwide.


  • "They Don't Care About Us
    They Don't Care About Us

    "They Don't Care About Us" is the fourth single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory. The song remains one of the most controversial pieces Jackson ever composed....
    " - It sold 1.75 million copies worldwide.


  • "Stranger in Moscow
    Stranger in Moscow

    "Stranger in Moscow" is the fifth and final single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory. The song was released worldwide in November 1996 but was not released in the US until August 1997....
    " - was a success in Europe
    Europe

    Europe is, conventionally, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural , the Caspian Sea, and by the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast....
    , reaching the top of the charts in Spain
    Spain

    Spain or the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though Espa?a , Estado espa?ol and Naci?n espa?ola are used interchangeably....
     and Italy
    Italy

    Italy , officially the Italian Republic , is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia....
    , #4 in the UK
    United Kingdom

    The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
    , #5 in Switzerland
    Switzerland

    Switzerland is a landlocked Swiss Alps country of roughly 7.7 million people in Western Europe with an area of 41,285 km?. Switzerland is a federal republic consisting of 26 states called Cantons of Switzerland....
    , #6 in New Zealand
    New Zealand

    New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous Islands of New Zealand, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands....
     and #9 in Denmark
    Denmark

    Denmark is a Scandinavian country in northern Europe and the senior member of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries....
    . It sold 540,000 copies worldwide.


  • "This Time Around", a U.S. only radio release, peak at #23 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and #18 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart purely off radio airplay.


Chart performance

"HIStory" debuted at number-one on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200

The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling Albums and extended play in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine....
 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums

Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop music albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan....
 charts selling over 391,000 copies in its first week. The album was certified
RIAA certification

In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and single sold through retail and other ancillary markets....
 seven times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America

The Recording Industry Association of America is the trade group that represents the recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of a large number of private corporate entities such as record labels and distributors, which the RIAA claims "create, manufacture and/or distribute approximately 90% of all legitimate sound recor...
 on October 22, 1999 in recognition of 3.5 million shipments in the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
. Multi-disc albums are counted once for each disc within the album if it is over 100 minutes in length, in this case "HIStory" is 148:50 minutes long. It is counted twice meaning each album was certified platinum after 500,000 copies were shipped. The Canadian Recording Industry Association
Canadian Recording Industry Association

The Canadian Recording Industry Association is a non-profit Industry trade group that was founded in 1964 to represent the interests of Canadian companies that create, manufacture and market sound recordings in Canada....
 certified it 5× platinum after shipping in excess of 500,000 units.

In Europe
Europe

Europe is, conventionally, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural , the Caspian Sea, and by the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast....
, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry certified "HIStory" six times platinum, denoting six million shipments within the continent. Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
, the album debuted at number-one on the official albums chart
UK Albums Chart

The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled by The Official UK Charts Company and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website ; the full Top 200 is published exclusively in ChartsPlus....
 and was certified four times platinum by the British Phonographic Industry
British Phonographic Industry

The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade group. Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four 'major' record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies representing literally thousands of labels....
 for shipments of 1.2 million copies. In France
France

France , officially the French Republic , is a country whose Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various Overseas departments and territories of France....
, "HIStory" became Jackson's fourth diamond-seller album after "Dangerous
Dangerous (album)

Dangerous is the eighth album by Michael Jackson, released on November 26, 1991. It became his second to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, where it spent the next four consecutive weeks....
" (1991), "Bad
Bad (album)

Bad is the seventh album by Michael Jackson. It was released on August 31, 1987 by Epic Records. The record was released nearly five years after his last studio album Thriller ....
" (1987) and "Thriller
Thriller (album)

Thriller is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. The album was released on November 30, 1982 by Epic Records as the follow-up to Jackson's critically and commercially successful 1979 album Off the Wall ....
" (1982), denoting sales of over one million units. In addition, Germany
Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....
 was the European country where the double-disc set sold the most, over 1.5 million copies, being certified three times platinum by the IFPI
IFPI

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry is the organization that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide....
.

"HIStory" has sold over eighteen million copies worldwide and, according to MSNBC, is the best-selling multiple-disc album of all-time.

Charts and certifications


ChartsPeak
Position		CertificationSales/Shipments
Argentina Platinum200,000
Australia
ARIA Charts

File:ARIA Charts Logo.pngThe ARIA charts are the main Australia record charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling single and albums in various genres in Australia....
17× platinum490,000
Austria22× platinum80,000
Belgium1  
Canada
Canadian Albums Chart

The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada. It is compiled every Wednesday by U.S.-based music sales tracking company Nielsen Soundscan, and published every Thursday by Jam! Canadian Online Explorer, along with its sister charts the Canadian Singles Chart and the Canadian Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems Airplay...
 5× platinum500,000
Europe
European Top 100 Albums

The European Top 100 Albums chart is the European adaptation of the Billboard 200 albums chart. It was created by the same company in 2005....
 6× platinum6 million
Finland3Platinum61,352
France1Diamond1 million
Germany
Media Control Charts

The official Music Charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband der phonographischen Wirtschaft ....
13× platinum1.5 million
Netherlands
MegaCharts

MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones....
13× platinum240,000
New Zealand1  
Norway1Platinum40,000
Sweden3Platinum60,000
Switzerland13× platinum150,000
United Kingdom
UK Albums Chart

The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled by The Official UK Charts Company and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website ; the full Top 200 is published exclusively in ChartsPlus....
14× platinum1.2 million
United States
Billboard 200

The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling Albums and extended play in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine....
17× platinum3.5 million


Track listing


Disc one: HIStory Begins

  1. "Billie Jean
    Billie Jean

    "Billie Jean" is a song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. The track was written by Jackson, and produced by Quincy Jones for the singer's sixth solo album, Thriller ....
    " (Jackson) – 4:54
  2. "The Way You Make Me Feel
    The Way You Make Me Feel

    "The Way You Make Me Feel" is a song written by American singer Michael Jackson and recorded for his seventh album Bad . Produced by Jackson and Quincy Jones, it was released as the album's third Single in 1987 and became another number-one hit from the album on the U.S....
    " (Jackson) – 4:57
  3. "Black or White" (Jackson/Bottrell) – 4:15
  4. "Rock with You
    Rock with You

    "Rock with You" was a successful Single released by singer Michael Jackson on November 3, 1979 in music. On February 27, 2006, "Rock with You" was re-released as a single as part of the Visionary: The Video Singles box set....
    " (Temperton) – 3:40
  5. "She's out of My Life
    She's Out of My Life

    "She's Out Of My Life" is a song that became famous as the fourth Single to be released by singer Michael Jackson from his successful Off the Wall album in 1980 in music....
    " (Bahler) – 3:38
  6. "Bad" (Jackson) – 4:07
  7. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You
    I Just Can't Stop Loving You

    "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" is a popular ballad by singers Michael Jackson and Siedah Garrett. It was recorded in 1982 with overdubbed vocals by Siedah Garrett in 1987....
    " (Jackson) – 4:12
    • performed by Michael Jackson
      Michael Jackson

      Michael Joseph Jackson is an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 and began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group....
       and Siedah Garrett
      Siedah Garrett

      Siedah Garrett is an Academy Award-nominated, Grammy-winning United States singer-songwriter....
  8. "Man in the Mirror
    Man in the Mirror

    "Man in the Mirror" was a number-one hit for singer Michael Jackson when released as a single in the spring of 1988. It is one of Jackson's most critically acclaimed songs and it was nominated for Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards....
    " (Ballard/Garrett) – 5:19
  9. "Thriller
    Thriller (song)

    "Thriller" is an early 1982 hit Single recorded by Michael Jackson for the Epic Records label. It reached #4 in the U.S. singles chart and #10 in the UK singles chart....
    " (Temperton) – 5:57
  10. "Beat It
    Beat It

    "Beat It" is a hit Single from Michael Jackson's album Thriller , released in 1983 . It was the third single from the album, following "The Girl Is Mine" and "Billie Jean"....
    " (Jackson) – 4:18
  11. "The Girl Is Mine
    The Girl Is Mine

    "The Girl Is Mine" is a 1982 in music hit duet by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. Composed by Michael Jackson and released as the first single from the world's biggest selling album, Thriller , the song was about two men fighting over the love of one woman, each claiming that he can love the woman better than the other....
    " (Jackson) – 3:41
    • performed by Michael Jackson
      Michael Jackson

      Michael Joseph Jackson is an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 and began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group....
       and Paul McCartney
      Paul McCartney

      Sir James Paul McCartney Member of the Order of the British Empire is a multiple Grammy Award-winning England singer-songwriter, poet, composer, multi-instrumentalist, entrepreneur, record producer, film producer, Painting, and Animal rights....
  12. "Remember the Time
    Remember the Time

    "Remember the Time" is a popular recording for United States rock music, Pop music and Rhythm and blues singer Michael Jackson in March of 1992....
    " (Riley/Jackson/Belle) – 3:59
  13. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
    Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough

    "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough", released in July 1979, is the debut Single from Michael Jackson?s Off the Wall album. Written by Jackson, the track was the first solo recording over which he had creative control, and his debut single released under Epic Records....
    " (Jackson) – 6:05
  14. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
    Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'

    "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin" is a 1983 in music Single released from Michael Jackson's multi-platinum selling 1982 in music album Thriller ....
    " (Jackson) – 6:04
  15. "Heal the World
    Heal the World

    "Heal the World" is a song featured on Michael Jackson's hit album, Dangerous , released in 1991. The music video features children living in countries suffering from unrest....
    " (Jackson) – 6:24


Disc two: HIStory Continues

  1. "Scream
    Scream/Childhood

    "Scream"/"Childhood" is the debut single from Michael Jackson's HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I album?where "Scream" is track one and "Childhood" is track ten....
    " (Harris/Lewis/Jackson/Jackson) – 4:38
    • performed by Michael Jackson
      Michael Jackson

      Michael Joseph Jackson is an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 and began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group....
       and Janet Jackson
      Janet Jackson

      Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Born in Gary, Indiana and raised in Encino, Los Angeles, California, she is the youngest child of the Jackson family of musicians....
  2. "They Don't Care About Us
    They Don't Care About Us

    "They Don't Care About Us" is the fourth single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory. The song remains one of the most controversial pieces Jackson ever composed....
    " (Jackson) – 4:44
  3. "Stranger in Moscow
    Stranger in Moscow

    "Stranger in Moscow" is the fifth and final single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory. The song was released worldwide in November 1996 but was not released in the US until August 1997....
    " (Jackson) – 5:44
  4. "This Time Around" (Moore/Austin/Swedien/Jackson/Wallace
    The Notorious B.I.G.

    Christopher George Latore Wallace , popularly known by Biggie Smalls , and his primary stage name, The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper....
    ) – 4:20
    • performed by Michael Jackson
      Michael Jackson

      Michael Joseph Jackson is an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 and began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group....
       and The Notorious B.I.G.
      The Notorious B.I.G.

      Christopher George Latore Wallace , popularly known by Biggie Smalls , and his primary stage name, The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper....
  5. "Earth Song
    Earth Song

    "Earth Song" is the third single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. It is a ballad that incorporates elements of blues, gospel and opera....
    " (Jackson) – 6:46
  6. "D.S.
    D.S. (song)

    "D.S." is an album track by Michael Jackson from his 1995 double disc record HIStory. It is track six on the second disc, one of the three songs from that disc whose lyrics are printed in the album booklet, and is four minutes and forty-nine seconds in length....
    " (Jackson) – 4:49
  7. "Money" (Jackson) – 4:41
  8. "Come Together
    Come Together

    "Come Together" is a song by The Beatles written primarily by John Lennon and credited to Lennon/McCartney. The song is the lead-off track on The Beatles' September 1969 album Abbey Road ....
    " (Lennon/McCartney
    Lennon/McCartney

    File:Lennon-McCartney.JPGThe songwriting partnership of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, usually referred to as Lennon/McCartney, is one of the best-known and most successful musical and cultural collaborations of all time....
    ) – 4:02
  9. "You Are Not Alone
    You Are Not Alone

    "You Are Not Alone", released in August 1995, is the second single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory. The Rhythm and blues ballad was officially written by R....
    " (Kelly
    R. Kelly

    Robert Sylvester Kelly better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter, occasional rapper, and record producer....
    ) – 4:25
  10. "Childhood
    Scream/Childhood

    "Scream"/"Childhood" is the debut single from Michael Jackson's HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I album?where "Scream" is track one and "Childhood" is track ten....
     (Theme from Free Willy 2)" (Jackson) – 4:28
  11. "Tabloid Junkie" (Harris/Lewis/Jackson) – 4:32
  12. "2 Bad" (Harris/Lewis/Jackson/O'Neal) – 4:49
    • performed by Michael Jackson
      Michael Jackson

      Michael Joseph Jackson is an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 and began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group....
       and Shaquille O'Neal
      Shaquille O'Neal

      Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal , frequently referred to simply as "Shaq", is an United States professional basketball player, rapper, and actor....
  13. "HIStory
    HIStory/Ghosts

    "HIStory"/"Ghosts" is a A-side and B-side single from Michael Jackson's 1997 remix album Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix....
    " (Harris/Lewis/Jackson) – 6:37
    • performed by Michael Jackson
      Michael Jackson

      Michael Joseph Jackson is an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 and began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group....
       and Boyz II Men
      Boyz II Men

      Boyz II Men is an Grammy Award-winning American Contemporary R&B/soul music singing group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1988 as a quintet which originally included Marc Nelson, Boyz II Men found fame as a quartet, with the members being Nathan Morris, Michael McCary, Shawn Stockman, and Wanya Morris, on Motown Records during the...
  14. "Little Susie" (Jackson) – 6:13
  15. "Smile" (Chaplin
    Charlie Chaplin

    Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin, Jr. Order of the British Empire , better known as Charlie Chaplin, was an Academy Award-winning England comedy film actor and filmmaker....
    ) – 4:56


Credits


Production credits

  • "Scream" produced by Jimmy Jam and 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 by 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 and Terry Lewis
  • "2 Bad" produced by Michael Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and Bruce Swedien and Rene


Album credits

  • Lead and Background Vocals: Michael Jackson
  • Background Vocals: Zedric Williams, James Ingram, Siedah Garrett, Andrae and Sandra Crouch and the Andrae Crouch Singers; Carol Dennis, Jackie Gouche, Gloria Estefan, and Linda McCrary
  • Child soloists:
    • "HIStory": Leah Frazier
    • "Little Susie": Markita Prescott
  • Rap performances by R. Kelly, Boyz II Men: Nathan Morris, Wayne Morris, Shawn Stockman, Michael McCrary; The Notorious B.I.G. and Shaquille O'Neal
  • Arrangements by Michael Jackson, Jimmy Jam and 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 and 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 Jeremy Lubbock
  • Horn arrangement by Michael Jackson and Jerry Hey
  • Pianos: David Paich and John Barnes
  • Keyboards and synthesizers: Randy Kerber, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, David Foster, Steve "Yada" Porcaro, David Paich, Bill Bottrell, Dallas Austin, Glen Ballard, 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 and 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 and Terry Lewis, Peter Mokran and Andrew Scheps
  • Synclavier programming: Andrew Scheps and Simon Franglen
  • Guitars: Eddie Van Halen, Slash, David Williams, Larry Clayton, Dean Parks, Eric Gale, Tim Pierce, Dann Huff, Paul Jackson Jr., Steve Lukather, Bill Bottrell, Jeff Mirinow, Rob Hoffman and Jen Leigh
  • Drums: Ndugu Chancler, Jeff Porcaro, John Robinson and Bryan Loren
  • Percussion: Michael Jackson, Ollie E. Brown, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Bill Bottrell, Buddy Williams, Bruce Swedien, Simon Franglen, Rene, Chuck Wild, Paulinho Da Costa
    Paulinho Da Costa

    Paulinho da Costa is a Brazilian percussion instrument born in Rio de Janeiro, considered one of the most recorded musicians of modern times. Playing over two hundred percussion instruments, he has participated in thousands of recording sessions, Grammy Award-winning albums, hit songs, soundtracks, radio and television commercials....
    , Nannette Fortier and Bobby Brooks
  • Bass: Steve Lukather, Colin Wolfe, Louis Johnson, Nathan East, Terry Jackson, Doug Grigsby and Guy Pratt
  • Synth bass: Bryan Loren
  • Horns: Larry Williams, Jerry Hey, Gary Grant, William Reichenbach and Kim Hutchcroft


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


Footnotes


See also

  • List of double albums
    List of double albums

    The following is a list of double albums, in which the initial release of the album includes two Gramophone record or compact discs. *** = debut studio album....
  • HIStory World Tour
    HIStory World Tour

    Michael Jackson's HIStory World Tour was his third solo world concert tour of Europe, Africa, Asia, Australasia and the United States. The tour commenced on 7 September, 1996 in Prague and concluded on 15 October, 1997 in Durban....