Heal the world - Michael Jackson

To be honest, I would never have bought this single if it hadn't come in a posterbag. Limited editions just have this fatal attraction on me. Jackson commented in 2001 that 'Heal the world' is the song he is most proud to have created. To many - including myself - it is a rather sappy ballad, including the odd platitude or two. But at the same time it shows that Jackson was really concerned about the fate of children.

During the same time as the release of this single, Jackson also created the Heal the World Foundation, a charitable organization which was designed to improve the lives of children. The organization was also meant to teach children how to help others. This concept of 'betterment for all' would become a centerpiece for the Dangerous World Tour. The single only reached number 1 in Spain, but peaked at number 2 in the UK, number 4 in the Netherlands and number 27 in the USA.

My collection: 7" single no. 2941
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 31, 1998
Cost: 8 guilders
Tracks: 'Heal the world (edit)' / 'She drives me wild'

Jam - Michael Jackson

'Jam' was released as the fifth single from Michael Jackson's album 'Dangerous'. The song features a rap performed by Heavy D, while the music video also starred professional basketballer Michael Jordan and the short-lived hiphop duo Kris Kross. It all concealed how great the song 'Jam' actually was. The single reached number 12 in the UK singles chart and number 26 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

This single packaged featured a couple of square 7" portraits and could be used as a frame. I discovered it almost by accident and was really happy to buy this limited edition UK release.

My collection: 7" single no. 3267
Found: London, October 2000
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Jam (7" edit)' / 'Beat it (Moby's sub mix)'

In the closet - Michael Jackson

Only Michael Jackson would use a title like 'In the closet' for a heterosexual love song. Despite the song's suggestive title the lyric does not allude to a hidden sexual orientation but rather a concealed relationship: 'Don't hide our love/ Woman to man'.

The song's female vocal was originally labeled 'Mystery girl' but was later revealed to be Princess Stéphanie of Monaco. Originally the song was conceived as a duet between Jackson and Madonna. According to a 1992 interview with British journalist Jonathan Ross, Madonna claimed she worked on some lyrical ideas for the song but when she presented them to Michael, he decided her vocals were too weak and he decided not to continue with the project. The single reached number 8 in the UK singles chart and number 9 in the Netherlands. My copy of the single came in a limited edition poster sleeve.

My collection: 7" single no. 2484
Found: London, October 29, 1995
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'In the closet (7" edit)' / 'In the closet (The Mission radio edit)'

Black or white - Michael Jackson

After two years of silence, Michael Jackson returned to the pop scene with 'Black or white', the first single from his 1991 album 'Dangerous'. Written, composed, and arranged by Jackson with the rap lyrics by Bill Bottrell, it is a song that promotes racial unity. The song's introduction and main riff are performed by guitarist Slash and Bill Bottrell.

The international audiences were obviously waiting for Jackson's comeback single, because it went number 1 in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the USA. In the Netherlands, it peaked at number 2.

My collection: 7" single no. 3254
Found: October 20, 2000
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Black or white' / 'Black or white (instrumental)'

Liberian girl - Michael Jackson

'Liberian girl' was released in July 1989, just as I was starting an education to become a librarian. I soon dubbed the song 'Librarian girl' as a result of this. The song was released as the ninth and final single from the album 'Bad', and was dedicated to one of his best friends, Elizabeth Taylor.

The single reached number 1 in Ireland, number 13 in the UK and number 14 in the Netherlands. The music video featured a celebrity cast waiting for Michael to show up. At the end it becomes obvious that Michael was behind the camera. Among the celebrities in the video are people like Paula Abdul, Debbie Gibson, Whoopi Goldberg, Quincy Jones, Olivia Newton-John, Steven Spielberg and 'Weird Al' Yankovic.

My collection: 7" single no. 943
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, July 17, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Liberian girl' / 'Girlfriend'

Leave me alone - Michael Jackson

'Leave me alone' only appeared on the cd version of Michael Jackson's 1987 album 'Bad' as a bonus track. It was released in Europe as the eighth single from the album. The accompanying music video was taken from the movie 'Moonwalker', in which the song featured.

The single reached number 1 in Ireland and Spain, peaked at number 2 in the UK and number 5 in the Netherlands. The song was never performed live by Michael.

My collection: 7" single no. 2500
Found: London, October 30, 1995
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Leave me alone' / 'Human nature'

Smooth criminal - Michael Jackson

An early version of 'Smooth criminal' was written by Michael Jackson and John Barnes in 1985. The original demo was recorded in 1986. The original title was 'Al Capone' which is probably about the Italian-American gangster. But this version didn't make it onto the album 'Bad' and was re-worked and re-written as 'Smooth criminal'. The song contains a fast-paced beat intertwined with Jackson's lyrics about a woman named Annie, who has been attacked in her apartment by an assailant.

Released as the seventh single from 'Bad', it is also the central theme of Michael's 1988 movie 'Moonwalker'. The European sleeve of the single 'Smooth criminal' (pictured above) uses the film poster of that movie, while the UK version (pictured below) uses a still from the movie.

'Smooth criminal' was a number 1 hitsingle in Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Israel and Spain, while in the UK it peaked at number 8 and in the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 7.

My collection: 7" single no. 742 / no. 2528
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 9, 1989 / London, November 1, 1995
Cost: 6 guilders / 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Smooth criminal' / 'Smooth criminal (instrumental)'