POP/ROCK - July 14, 1987

Bad news--that is, big news about Michael Jackson’s new album, “Bad.” Epic Records announced Monday that the long-awaited LP will be released Aug. 31, with the first single, “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You,” hitting the radio waves July 22 and going on sale July 27. The follow-up to “Thriller”--the best-selling LP of all time with sales of 38.5 million--was produced by Quincy Jones and co-produced by Jackson, who wrote eight of the 10 songs. Jackson sings a duet with Stevie Wonder of Terry Britten and Graham Lyle’s “Just Good Friends,” and Billy Idol’s sidekick Steve Stevens follows in the footsteps of “Beat It’s” Eddie Van Halen as guitar soloist on “Dirty Diana.” The Winans and Andrae and Sandra Crouch are also among the participants. The compact disc will be released simultaneously--and don’t be surprised if it contains a bonus track or two.