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HIStory: Past, Present And Future - Book 1 was a double-disc album by Michael Jackson released in 1995.

The first disc (HIStory Begins) was a fifteen-track greatest hits album, while the second disc (HIStory Continues) contained fifteen original songs. The album received multiple Grammy Award nominations including the coveted Album of the Year award, which it did not win.

HIStory was the first album where Jackson showcased his instrumental abilities, playing keyboard and synthesizer, guitar, drums and percussion on the album, as well as lead and backing vocals. He was also more involved in the production of this album, collaborating with producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Dallas Austin, Bill Bottrell and R. Kelly.

Many people considered the album to be very bitter, as HIStory was released in the wake of Jordie Chandler's sexual molestation allegations. Since its release in 1995, HIStory: Past, Present And Future - Book 1 has sold over 18 million copies (36 million disks), making it the biggest selling multiple-disc album of all-time .

Scream

The first single from the album was "Scream"/"Childhood", a double a-side single. "Scream" was a duet between Michael and his younger sister Janet, and "Childhood" was the theme song for Free Willy 2. Both songs were partened by a music video. "Scream" was a science-fiction-inspired music video which won a Grammy Award for Best Short-Form Music Video and an MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography in 1995, while "Childhood" was a Peter Pan inspired music video that showed Jackson singing in a forest with pirate ships floating above him. The double a-side single peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

You Are Not Alone

The second single, "You Are Not Alone" was written and produced by R. Kelly. It became the first ever single to debut at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and it remained in the top 10 for 10 weeks. The song also went to #1 in the U.K., New Zealand, Ireland, France, Switzerland, and on the Eurochart (were it stayed for 6 weeks.) The music video was controversial in that it featured an almost nude Jackson and his ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley.

Earth Song

"Earth Song" was the third single released from the album. It debuted in the U.K. at #1, stayed there for 5 weeks and by doing so went on the become the U.K. Christmas #1 for 1995. It remained in the top 20 for 11 weeks in total, and also reached #1 in Germany, Switzerland and Latvia. The song caused controversy when Jarvis Cocker protested against Jackson's performance of the song at the 1996 Brit awards, claiming Jackson was taking on a "Christ-like" image. Because of the performance and Cocker's protest, "Earth Song" leaped the back up the charts (#38 to #16). It went on to sell 3 million copies worldwide making it the most successful song on the album and Jackson's highest selling single.

They Don't Care About Us

"They Don't Care About Us" was the fourth single from HIStory and caused controversy over alleged anti semitic lyrics. Jackson was prompted to change the the lyrics "Jew me, sue me" and "kick me, kike me" to "do me, sue me" and "kick me, hike me" in order for it to be played on radio and music television. The original "Prison Version" music video was banned in some countries due to complaints that it was too violent. A second video was then filmed which features Michael Jackson dancing on the streets of Rio De Janiero in Brazil. In the U.K it reached #4 and stayed on the top 40 for 8 weeks, whilst in both Germany and Italy it reached number #1. The single disappointingly charted and peaked on the Billboard 100 at #30, but it did however stay on the chart for 13 weeks.

Stranger In Moscow

"Stranger In Moscow" was the fifth single released, and like "They Don't Care About Us" it proved to be more popular in Europe than the United States. In Britian it reached #4 and also remained in the top 40 for 5 weeks. In both Spain and Italy it reached #1, whilst on the Eurochart it reached #6 and remained in the top 100 for 17 weeks.

Track listing

Disc one

1. "Billie Jean" (Jackson) - 4:54
2. "The Way You Make Me Feel" (Jackson) - 4:57
3. "Black or White" (Jackson/Bottrell) - 4:15
4. "Rock with You" (Temperton) - 3:40
5. "She's out of My Life" (Bahler) - 3:38
6. "Bad" (Jackson) - 4:07
7. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" featuring Siedah Garrett (Jackson) - 4:12
8. "Man in the Mirror" (Ballard/Garrett) - 5:19
9. "Thriller" (Temperton) - 5:57
10. "Beat It" (Jackson) - 4:18
11. "The Girl Is Mine" featuring Paul McCartney (Jackson) - 3:41
12. "Remember the Time" (Riley/Jackson/Belle) - 3:59
13. "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" (Jackson) - 6:05
14. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (Jackson) - 6:04
15. "Heal the World" (Jackson) - 6:24

Disc two

1. "Scream" featuring Janet Jackson (Harris/Lewis/Jackson/Jackson) - 4:38
2. "They Don't Care About Us" (Jackson) - 4:44
3. "Stranger in Moscow" (Jackson) - 5:44
4. "This Time Around" featuring The Notorious B.I.G. (Moore/Austin/Swedien/Jackson/Wallace) - 4:20
5. "Earth Song" (Jackson) - 6:46
6. D.S. (Jackson) - 4:49
7. "Money" (Jackson) - 4:41
8. "Come Together" (Lennon/McCartney) - 4:02
9. "You Are Not Alone" (Kelly) - 5:45
10. "Childhood (Theme from Free Willy 2)" (Jackson) - 4:28
11. "Tabloid Junkie" (Harris/Lewis/Jackson) - 4:32
12. "2 Bad" featuring Shaquille O'Neal (Harris/Lewis/Jackson/O'Neal) - 4:49
13. "History" featuring Boyz II Men on background vocals (Harris/Lewis/Jackson) - 6:37
14. "Little Susie" (Jackson) - 6:13
15. "Smile" (Chaplin) - 4:56

Out takes

• "On The Line"
• "Bassouille"
• "Face"
• "Fear"
• "Superfly Sister" - Later put on "Blood On The Dance Florr/HIStory In The Mix

US Chart Run

Music samples

See also

• List of double albums
• HIStory World Tour

External links

• Lyrics to songs on album

• Michael Jackson albums
• 1995 albums
• Greatest hits albums
• Double albums
• Controversial albums