Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal (Original Recording Speed)

Altering the speed and pitch of tape recordings was a common practice in music production, used for various reasons such as achieving more punchiness or increasing the overall pitch. These changes were done using a Variable Speed Oscillator (VSO), a control on a tape machine that allowed the speed and pitch to be altered during playback. Thanks to a scan of the tape box for the original Bad album master tape, which lists the VSO values used on the recordings, I was able to restore the original recording speed of the tracks. The exceptions are "Liberian Girl" and "I Just Can't Stop Loving You", which did not have VSO applied, while "Leave Me Alone" is not listed on the original sheet, so it is unknown whether VSO was used on the track. The VSO values listed on the tape box are: Bad - +3.5% The Way You Make Me Feel - +3.0% Speed Demon - +3.0% Liberian Girl - N/A Just Good Friends - +3.5% Another Part of Me - +1.0% Man in the Mirror - +1.0% I Just Can't Stop Loving You - N/A Dirty Diana - +1.0% Smooth Criminal - +3.0% Leave Me Alone - Not listed