HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I

Rather than release a standard new studio album to follow up 1991's <i>Dangerous</i>, The King of Pop issued a double album that began with a 15-song summary of his greatest hits and finished with a second album of new material. As the first music released after Jackson's legal controversies had been made public, <i>HIStory</i> features a number of new songs that sound defensive, paranoid, and like a man in crisis. Even the nervous beats on "They Don't Care About Us" sound as jittery as the original lyrics, which had led to allegations of anti-Semitism and were removed at Jackson's expense. His cover of The Beatles' "Come Together" takes on added promise and bite. Sister Janet joins him for "Scream," where their voices blend as one. R. Kelly's "You Are Not Alone" illustrates Michael's inimitable way with a ballad. Throw in such hits as "Rock with You," "Beat It," and "Billie Jean" on the other half, and <i>HIStory</i> is quite a collection.