After completing its acclaimed audiophile releases of Thriller, Off the Wall and Dangerous, Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MoFi) is turning its attention to another Michael Jackson classic. The company has officially announced two premium editions of BAD, both currently available for pre-order.
Leading the collection is the UltraDisc One-Step 180g 45RPM 2LP Box Set, a strictly limited release of just 6,000 numbered copies worldwide. Priced at $125, the deluxe edition has been sourced from the original master tapes using the Mitsubishi X-80 16-bit/48kHz digital master through an analogue console to the lathe, before being pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing.
Housed in a luxurious slipcase, the release also includes the bonus track “Leave Me Alone”, which was famously omitted from the original vinyl editions. According to Mobile Fidelity, the One-Step process delivers BAD with unprecedented realism, presence and detail, offering the album in audiophile quality for the very first time.
Collectors who prefer digital formats will also have the opportunity to own the Numbered-Edition Hybrid SACD, priced at $34.99. Presented in mini-LP-style gatefold packaging and also sourced from the original masters, the SACD promises enhanced balance, imaging, weight and clarity while preserving the warmth and energy of Jackson’s landmark recording.
Mobile Fidelity describes the new mastering as revealing Jackson’s vocals with lifelike presence while highlighting the innovative production and instrumentation that made BAD one of the defining albums of the late 1980s.
As fans celebrate the 35th anniversary of BAD this year, the announcement comes as little surprise. The album now joins Thriller, Off the Wall and Dangerous in Mobile Fidelity’s growing series of premium Michael Jackson releases.
Both editions are currently available for pre-order, with release expected towards the end of the year. They are also expected to become available through the official Michael Jackson store in the coming months.
