"Speed Demon" from Michael Jackson's 1987 album Bad features an alto saxophone solo from Larry Williams that adds a jazz-inflected element to this kinetic pop-funk track. Composed by Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones, the song is set in A minor at 115 BPM with an urgent, driving rock feel. Williams's saxophone solo cuts through the dense production with a bright, aggressive tone that complements the song's theme of reckless speed and pursuit. Williams was a versatile session musician who worked extensively with Jones and appeared on multiple Jackson recordings. The Bad album was one of the most anticipated releases in pop music history, following the historic success of Thriller, and it delivered with a remarkably consistent collection of singles that dominated radio and MTV throughout 1987 and 1988. The song's production is characteristically detailed, layering synthesizers, drum machines, and vocal effects into a textured sonic landscape. Jones's ability to integrate instrumental solos into tightly produced pop tracks was a hallmark of his work with Jackson, and Williams's saxophone passage demonstrates how effectively a brief instrumental moment can elevate a pop arrangement. "Speed Demon" was later adapted into a claymation segment of the Moonwalker film.
