Below is a chapter from my book Michael Jackson: Songs & Stories From The Vault, revised for this article. The full book is available via Amazon and iBooks. Released in 1987 as part of the Bad album, “Smooth Criminal” is the culmination of years of Michael Jackson toying with the idea of doing a song based on early 20th-century organised … Continue reading ‘Blue Gangsta’ and Michael Jackson’s Fascination with America’s 20th Century Underbelly