Baker's Dozen

Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives

11. Michael JacksonDangerous

This was the first record of his that I liked. I think it’s really aggressive, in a good way, and hard. I always associated with Michael Jackson with all the Thriller stuff, which I didn’t really like, but I thought this was a real step out from that safe zone that he’d been in. I’m not a Michael Jackson expert, but this is one of those records that you have to play really really loudly. The production on it is amazing. Apparently we did one of those award ceremonies, what are they called in the UK? The Brits. That’s it. I was there with Alison [Moyet, Yazoo vocalist] and he was there and I don’t really remember, because I was into not being starstruck, and Alison saw him and she leapt over the security guards and gave Michael Jackson a massive kiss, it was really funny. All the security guys were looking on going, "What the fuck was that?’ I think there’s a picture of us with all these really famous people like Paul McCartney, all lined up looking like geeks. I guess Dangerous was the closest he got, not to my style of production, but a more synthetic sound.

Selected in other Baker’s Dozens: William Doyle
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