Jackson fans turn out for 'History'

By Cynthia Littleton

LOS ANGELES (UPI): It may not make music history, but Michael Jackson's first new album in four years has posted steady, if not spectacular, sales since the album hit stores Tuesday.

National sales figures won't be available until next week, but retailers in Los Angeles and New York said Wednesday that first- day sales of "History: Past, Present and Future Book I" were strong considering its high price tag.

Most retailers were selling the two-Cd set, consisting of 15 greatest hits and 15 new tracks, for $24 to $26 on Cd, a heavy discount off its $33 suggested list price from Jackson's record label, Epic. Cassettes were going for $16 to $18.

Todd Meehan, manager of Tower Records in Hollywood, said the store had sold nearly 700 copies of "History" since it went on sale at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

"I think we'll reach 1,000 copies by Monday easy," Meehan said. "It'll probably be our biggest first-week sales ever."

The release of "History" completes Jackson's carefully orchestrated return to the public eye, nearly two years after the King of Pop was dethroned by allegations that he molested a 13- year-old boy. Jackson denied the accusations and was never charged with any crime, but he did pay his young accuser an undisclosed sum last year to settle a civil suit.

"History" generated its own controversy last week. Jackson issued a public apology after the Anti-Defamation League and other Jewish groups blasted his use of anti-Semitic terms in the song "They Don't Care About Us."

Jackson promised to include a disclaimer in future pressings explaining that he meant to condemn all prejudice by using the terms "kike" and "Jew me" in the song.

By and large, however, record buyers seem unfazed by Jackson's public relations problems, retailers reported, noting that it was a savvy move to combine Jackson's new musical efforts with his old hits.

"We're selling this to people in their 20s and 30s," said Chanz Orbe, assistant manager of a Sam Goody chain store in New York City. "They hear the old songs playing in the store and go, 'Oh yeah, I loved 'Billie Jean.'"

Dallas was one area where Jackson wasn't performing up to his old superstar standard. Yolonda Jones, assistant manager of a Blockbuster Music store in a mall, reported disappointing sales of a mere five copies of "History."