I Want You Back The Jackson 5

I Want You Back

1969

The Jackson Five

Sometimes legends are kicked off by truly inconsequential events. This guy named Michael Jackson, for example...his career started because his older brother broke a guitar string. No, seriously...

Back in 1964 a kid named Tito Jackson, who lived in Gary, Indiana with his dad and a quartet of brothers, found his dad's guitar and began doodling around with it. In the process of creating a sweet chord or two, he heard the 'Twang!!!' of a guitar string letting go, as did his dad. His dad...a fellow named Joe Jackson...took the guitar, muttered threats of punishment as he replaced the broken string, then gave in to young Tito's begging to let him play it. I have a feeling that Tito used the words 'Play it', rather than 'Play with it'. Joe handed the little guy the guitar, probably expecting at best cat-fight-like screes and such and at worst another string repair job, and was both surprised and impressed when his son actually made the guitar pretty much sing. Impressed enough, in fact, to get him his own guitar.

Tito and two of his brothers...Jermaine and Jackie...formed a trio at the urging of their dad, to be joined a bit later by a couple of childhood friends, brother Marlon, and, on the tambourine, the youngest of the five, a little guy named Michael.

The group morphed and practiced, finding it's sound, the two childhood friends dropped out leaving the five brothers, and the resulting group played local events and talent shows like Gary, Indiana's Tiny Tot's Jamboree. It was at this event, in 1965, that a suggestion was made to name the group The Jackson Five Singing Group, which was later shortened to simply 'The Jackson Five'. 

They were so-named in '65, then won a local talent show in '67 (At Gary's Theodore Roosevelt High School), where they knocked several Motown hits out of the park...particularly Michael, who's vocals pretty much won 'em the contest when he sang lead on their cover of James Brown's 'I Got You (I Feel Good)'. They scored several more talent show wins over the next year or so, then Joe Jackson decided to take the show on the road...specifically the very well respected 'Chitlin' Circuit', where they played several equally well respected music venues, such as a little Harlem joint known as The Apollo, as well as Chicago's Regal. They scored talent wins at both, BTW, as well as impressing a lady of some musical talent named Gladys Knight well enough for her to convince Joe Jackson to cut a demo tape and let her send it to Motown Records. Motown received it. perused it, chins were likely rubbed meaningfully, aaaaand they...rejected it.

'Say what???' You ask.

Yep, on their first try with Motown, The Jackson 5 was soundly rejected. In late 1967 Joe did get them a record deal with Steeltown Records, where they released a pair of not overly memorable singles, and he kept them on the Chitlin' Circuit, where they continued to impress...and impress people in high places at that.

In July '68 they opened for Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers for a week long run of shows at The Regal, and during this same week, Taylor set up another audition for The Jackson 5 with Motown, this one live, in the flesh, and held at Motown's headquarters in Detroit on July 23^rd, 1968. The audition was taped, and the tape was sent to label founder and CEO Berry Gordy, in L.A., where he took a listen, was duly impressed this time, and immediately sent word to sign 'em.

The Jackson 5 were about to make themselves some music history while kicking off one of the most legendary music careers of the modern era. Not at all bad for a group of kids whose lead singer was still a couple of years away from puberty.

They recorded at Motown's Hitsville Studio, on Grand Ave in Detroit initially, then headed for L.A., where they'd open for Diana Ross and The Supremes for a few weeks.  While they hung out with that very lovely and talented group of ladies, Berry Gordy was putting together a team of songwriters who'd become known as The Corporation...Composer/songwriters Freddie Perren, Deke Richards, and Alphonso Mizell. Berry Gordy made himself the forth member of the group, and they began...well, song-writing. The first song they knocked out was a little tune called 'I Want You Back'.

The song had a simple and common concept...a guy regretting leaving his girl, and trying to win her back, and interestingly it wasn't originally written for The J-5, nor was it originally named 'I Want You Back. It was originally named 'I Wanna Be Free' and was first offered to Gladys Knight and The Pips, then when they turned it down, it was offered to Diana Ross. Depending on which source you believe...and I've read both...either Ross suggested that Berry Gordy give it to the newly signed Jackson Five, or Berry Gordy himself decided that, with a little tweaking, it'd be a perfect match for the group.

The Corporation tweaked the lyrics a bit to make it more of a love song, changed the title, gave it a bit more of a 'Pop' vibe, and gave it to The Brothers Jackson to give it what would be their signature sound. It kicks off with a peppy piano/guitar intro that slides into a high energy melody that dares you not to move something (You will)paired with equally spirited vocals courtesy of then-11 year old Michael Jackson, backed up by his brothers. It would very very quickly become obvious who was the star in the group.

'I Want You Back' debuted at on The Billboard Hot 100 at #90 on Nov. 15, 1969 and spent the holidays climbing the charts, cracking the Top 20 (#19) on December 13^th, and the Top 10 (#7) two days after Christmas. It snagged the #1 spot on the last day of January, 1970, hanging on to #1 for a single week before dropping to #2 for a pair of weeks, #4 for a single week, and dropping off the charts entirely on March 21^st, for a nineteen week chart run...nine of them in the Top 10. It would also be the first of four back to back #1 hits for The Jackson 5 and make Michael Jackson the youngest performer ever to sing lead on a #1 hit. While it was doing all of that, it also made it clear that Motown could definitely hold it's own in the very profitable 'Pop' genre. 

'I Want You Back' was...and is...one of those songs that's plain long fun to listen to...a musical character trait that was common to all of the J-5's songs, as well as Michael Jackson's early hits from the same era. And speaking of Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5, lets be honest here. The majority of The J-5's hits were, basically, Michael Jackson songs with his brothers as back-up singers. He sang lead on, and petty much dominated, nearly all of them...at 11 years old the kid had immense stores of talent that were barely being tapped .

This one was all over Top-40 radio during the winter of '70, and it was just the beginning...but we didn't know that yet. What Us 70s kids knew was, we really liked the sound. Heck, we took 'em to # 1 not once but four times...back to back.

Like all of Michael Jackson's (And the J-5's) hits, it had immense staying power, and not only hung around the charts for over three months, it's still around...you'll hear it on Oldies stations every once in awhile today (Another trait common to all four of the J-5's first hits).

So, when you're listening to some oldies, and hear that high-energy intro, and hear an eleven year old Michael Jackson's ' Uh-Huh-Huh-uhhhh...Let Me Tell Ya Now' kicking off this classic take a second to reflect on the song that started a legend. And while you're at it, just try to not head-bop to it!

So Enjoy! 'I Want You Back' by the Jackson 5


Bonus Number One, and it's a true, true classic...Diana Ross introduces The Jackson Five at The Hollywood Palace, on their very first-ever-televised live performance of their very first hit. If you don't smile a bit at the intro, you have a heart of concrete...Michael was a little salesman even back then, and a little flirt as well...note the give and take with Diana Ross. She truly adored her young label-mates. 
 Note that for a moment or so at the beginning, Michel's lip movements are way out of sync with the audio..that's not the video...Motown wanted them to lip-sync to the single as released, and it took Michael a bit to get in sync with the recording. Still...he had talent overload even back then. How many just-turned-eleven year old kids are the lead singers of a band poised on the brink of super-stardom?

And Seventies Music of all genres just lives on...I love it when today's kids embrace our music! There's a show in Germany, called The Voice Kids, open to kids from 6-14, that's pretty much in the very same vein as The Voice we're so familiar with.

In 2013, a little lady named Fabienne pretty much blew the judges/coaches away when in the blind audition when she sang 'I Want You Back'...she knocked it slam out of the park, she did!  Did I mention that she was only 10 or so when she performed this? And that she doesn't speak English, so she had to learn the lyrics phonetically? (You can hear her accent at several places , which just makes it more adorable) .

ABC The Jackson 5

ABC

1970

The Jackson Five

Motown's 'The Corporation' didn't waste any time what-so-ever after 'I Want You Back' took off before they knocked out another hit for The J-5. In fact, 'I Want You Back' was still comfortably in the Top 10 and still a good month away from dropping off of the charts when the Jackson 5 released what would not only be their second #1 in a row, but would also become what many, if not most, fans consider their signature song.

Like 'I Want You Back', ABC's concept was pretty basic...a young man explaining to a young lady just how easy loving him would be....but the way The Corporation went about writing it was a bit unique, as they equated the lesson of love, so to speak, to the basic Three R's of education...with a little music class thrown in. Supposedly, Deke Richards was playing around with some piano chords, and as he doodled on the ol' ivories, those legendary lyrics (ABC...Easy as 1,2,3, Do Ray Me, Baby You and Me) just popped into his head.

 The tune he was creating those lyrics to? According to Freddy Perrin, Deke already knew those chords by heart because The Corporation, wanting to get The J-5's second single out while 'I Want You Back' was still on the charts, grabbed the music from I Want You Back's chorus, tweaked it a little, made a couple of other changes and used it as the melody for the song that would become 'ABC'.  Like 'I Want You Back', it was a fun-to-listen-to, high-energy tune that showcased Michael Jackson's then pre-pubescent vocals, and like their previous #1, it wasted no time in climbing the charts to the top spot. Needless to say, The Corporation done good, and The J-5 took it into orbit.

ABC was also the title song from The Jackson 5's second album, and the now-familiar, 'Bu-buh-bu-bu-bu-buh!!!' that kicked it off was first heard on American Bandstand three days before it's February 24^th release. It debuted on The Billboard Hot 100 at #41 on March 14^th and wasted no time what so ever climbing the charts...the next week it broke into the Top 20 at # 14, and cracked the Top 10 a week after that, on March 28^th, at #6. It snagged the #1 spot on April 25^th 1970...Knocking a little tune named 'Let It Be' by some group from England out of the top spot in the process...and hung on to #1 for two weeks before dropping back to #2 , staying there for a pair of weeks before spending one more week in the Top 10 (#9), a single week in the Top 20 (#15) and finishing out it's chart run at #30, dropping off altogether on June 6^th.

'ABC' enjoyed a 13 week chart run...Nine of them in the Top 10, eleven of them in the Top 20, and all but one of them in the Top 40...and that one week it missed the Top 40...it's debut 'week...it barely missed. While it was at it, Billboard also listed 'ABC' as the fifteenth biggest song of 1970 (Spoiler Alert...it beat out another of their first four #1s by one spot)

ABC was all over Top 40 radio as my 7th grade year wound down and the summer before 8th grade kicked off (Yes,,,I in fact am making myself feel old here.) and when I say all over Top 40 radio, I mean of course, all over AM Top 40 radio. I hadn't moved to the Richmond area yet, so I and my cohorts heard it on Tidewater Virginia's legendary AM Top 40  powerhouse, WGH (Famous 1310).

 If anything, ABC was even more frenetic and energetic that their first hit, and had a feel-good-move-yer-body-to-it vibe that just couldn't be ignored or resisted. It was not only one of The J-5's signature hits, it was a text-book example of what was called 'Bubblegum Rock'...light-hearted, simple, fun, high energy tunes aimed directly at the pre-pubescent and barely pubescent crowd that are today known as 'Tweens'. It worked in a big way. For a lot of us younger Seventies kids...most especially the young ladies among us...the J-5's songs, along with songs by another well known dude from the era named Donny Osmond, were among the first hits songs we really got into

ABC...Like pretty much any hit associated with Michael Jackson...has had some serious staying power. You'll hear it pretty regularly on Oldies stations even now, as well as in the Movie 'Daddy Daycare, and when The Jackson 5 played a reunion show back in 2001 it was one of the songs that led the show off, much to the crowd's delight.

Us Seventies Kids remember it as a fun little tune from our pre-high-school youth that harks back to a far simpler time, when passing Ms Fishbreath's Evil Algebra Test and wondering whether your crush would notice the fact of your existence were the biggest worries life had to offer. When you hear that familiar ''Bu-buh-bu-bu-bu-buh!!!', you're back to a simpler time for just a click under three minutes. Probably with a smile on your face. While head-bopping and lip-syncing. And that's a good thing!

So Enjoy!  'ABC, by The Jackson 5


The Jackson Five performed their brand new, soon-to-be-chart-topper on Dick Clark's American Band Stand on February 21st, 1970 , just three days before it debuted on the Hot 100. It's easy to see the star MJ was becoming here, as well as easy to see why many J-5 fans say that their songs were a bit removed from being true Bubblegum Pop, even though that's the demographic that the music was aimed at. The Jackson Five truly performed their music, and there were a lot of R&B and Soul elements incorporated into their music that other 'Bubblegum Pop' songs just didn't have. Their music was truly unique, as well as classic.

 

As a second bonus...take a look at this meeting of classics. The Jackson Five appeared on the Carol Burnett Show to not only perform their then-new hit, ABC, they smoothly incorporated it with one of that classic and long-running variety show's comedy sketch's...a sketch starring, of course, the incomparable Carol Burnett. OH....yeah...an earthquake occurred as this was being filmed...watch for it, it's noted pretty prominently in the video. Carol Burnett being as professional, cool, and collected as they come, improvised and incorporated it into the sketch without missing a beat. 

The J-5 performed the full version of ABC in the sketch...looks like they had a blast filming it!

The Love You Save by The Jackson Five

The Love You Save

1970

The Jackson Five

This one put 'The Jackson Five' in the record books. While paying tribute to a quartet of very famous gentlemen from our past. At the same time passing the 'Motown's Top Group' title from 'The Supremes' to 'The Jackson Five'. All in the name of warning a 'fast' girl to slow down.

Like 'ABC', 'The Love You Save' was released while the hit preceding it was still on the charts, and like both previous J-5 singles it made it to The Billboard Hot 100's top spot, making the Jackson 5 the first Black male group, ever, to have all three of their first singles make it to that exalted spot....they would, of course, do that record one better very shortly.

'The Love You Save' debuted on The Billboard Hot 100 at #45 on May 30^th, 1970, and pretty much mirrored ABC's chart performance when it shot up the charts like the oft-noted homesick angel. It cracked the Top 20 it's second week in (#15), and just made it into the top 10, at #10, a week later. They were at #2 on their 4^th week in, and on the 27th day of June, 1970, 'The Love You Save' snagged the Hot 100's top spot, where it would stay for two weeks...also becoming the second J-5 song to knock a Beatles song (The Long And Winding Road) out of #1. It hung around the Top 10 for five more weeks before dropping to #17, then to #31 for it's final week...staying in the Top 10 for nine of it's thirteen weeks on the chart, and never dropping out of the Top 40 after it's second week. Oh...as an interesting little factoid, chartwise, the two Beatles songs kicked out of the Hot 100's Top Spot by ABC and The Love You Save were also the last two singles that iconic group released before they broke up.

 The song also featured a little nod to history that a lot of people tend to overlook. While trying to convince the girl that she needs to change her ways, the song reminds her what some of the guys she's flirted with say about her...

Isaac said he kissed you
Beneath the apple tree
When Benjie held your hand he felt
E-lec-tri-ci-tee!
When Alexander called you
He said he rang your chimes.
Christopher discovered
You're way ahead of your times!

And in doing so, the lyrics hark back to some guys who were pretty famous, as well as the events that brought them fame. Isaac refers to Issac Newton, with the apple tree, of course, referring to the incident that allowed him to discover the concept of gravity. Benjie alludes to Ben Franklin and his storm-busting kite. Alexander refers to Alexander Graham Bell, and the telephone. And finally, Christopher refers to Chris Columbus himself, as well as his discovery of The New World.

“The Love You Save' also threw some props to the Diana Ross And The Supremes hit 'Stop! In The Name Of Love'...That exuberantly exclaimed 'Stop!' at the beginning of the song, and the foot-stomps to the rhythm towards the end? They were inspired by the 'Supremes' hit. (While we're at it, Diana Ross is also credited by many people for discovering The Jackson Five, though others credit Bobby Taylor, of 'Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers' fame with discovering them. Bobby Taylor also produced their first album, which, BTW was entitled 'Diana Ross Presents The Jackson Five'. Hmmmmmm....)

While you can argue that the subject behind 'The Love You Save' was a bit more serious than that of the J-5's first two hits, and it's message and advice to young girls was just as valid 45 years ago as it would be today, the song was still meant to be basically a quick, fun, Bubblegum Rock tune. In that vein, it hit it's mark just about perfectly.

I (As well as a lot of other people ) remember the melody of this one more so than the intro...like all of The J-5's hits it was peppy, light, and fun to listen to, and the melody and sound was particularly liked by the younger fans even if they really didn't entirely understand the lyrics.

An interesting side note...Michael met his very first minor bit of controversy when the J-5 scored those first four #1s because here he was, singing about love and, in The Love You Save, what was apparently a loose woman at only eleven or so...an age when most boys still assumed girls had cooties. Nothing at all really came of it, but it should be noted that Berry Gordy took note, kind of agreed, and made a few changes, before  'The Love You Save'... which was arguably more mature, lyrically, than ABC if not 'I Want You Back'...was written. Again, this mini-controversy didn't affect record sales nor did it keep the hits from coming.

'The Love You Save's fondly remembered, as are all of the Jackson Fives hits, especially those iconic first four...they hark back to a simpler time for us Seventies Kids, literally to a time before even the stresses of high school for a lot of us. That's more than enough of a reason for us to wax nostalgic when we hear a very young Michael Jackson proclaim 'Stop!' when The Jackson Five's third #1 in a row shows up on an Oldies Station playlist...and it will. Maybe not as often as some of either the J-5's or Michael Jackson's early hits, definitely not as often as, say, some America, Eagles, or Skynrd tracks, but if you're listening at just the right time you'll still hear it once in a while.

And this is a good thing! So enjoy. 'The Love You Save' by The Jackson Five.

I'll Be There-The Jackson Five

I'll Be There

1970

The Jackson Five

If you were a kid back in 1970 and you hear a certain twice-repeated 8-note piano intro on the local Oldies station today, it's a pretty good bet that you know what song's starting up without even having to think about it. If you don't recognize it...which would likely mean you had the misfortune to spend your teen years in some music-free vacuum...that intro kicks off the song that probably became The Jackson Five's most beloved hit and definitely became their most successful hit.  'I'll Be There' was so popular, and so good, in fact, that it scored the top spot on the Hot 100 for not just one, but two legendary artists about two decades or so apart.

'I'll Be There' was a major change-up for The Jackson Five. The group was rightly considered to be one of the ambassadors of Bubblegum Pop, and that's the sound that had earned them a hat-trick of #1 hits...but Berry Gordy wanted to show the world that The J-5 could do more than just crank out Bubblegum Pop. HMMMMM...how do do this....a Ballad? Yes! A ballad! OF course, when Berry Gordy decided to go with a ballad for the J-5's next single, he knew he was taking a risk. It wasn't the kind of music they were known for, and most importantly, it wasn't a type of song they'd ever sung for the masses.

The first thing he had to do was give The Corporation some time off...Ballads weren't their forte'. He called in Hal Davis, Willie Hutch, and Bob West, talented and experienced songwriters all, especially Hal Davis. Take a look at the record jackets for any and all of Motown's biggest artists and hits and you'll see his name in the writing and /or producing credits. Once Berry Gordy got this cadre of hit-makers gathered in one place he sat 'em down and told them what he needed. And, with instructions in hand, they preceded to crank out a legendary classic.

This team put together a simple, gentle ballad for The J-5, taking Michael Jackson's already  extraordinary singing talents and paring his voice with older bro Jermaine for what is, arguably, one of the prettiest, most soulful ballads to come out of the early Seventies. Like all of the J-5's songs the concept was pretty straight-forward as well as a feeling every guy alive can probably identify with. That feeling being letting a girl he still loves and adores know that he'll always be there for her. 

They done good...heck, they knocked it out of the park, with the bases loaded. Those sweet, soulful lyrics sung to a soft, flowing melody and slow, wistful rhythm are timeless, and the song's still a favorite forty five years later because of it. Anyone who says they haven't thought about someone they love while listening to those soulful, haunting lyrics is lying. Those same qualities are what made it an instant, run-away hit

'I'll Be There' was a hit from the instant it debuted on The Billboard Hot 100...no, seriously, I'm not kidding...it cracked the Top 40, at #40, on September 19th, 1970...the same day it debuted. It then commenced to chart-climbing like a homesick space-alien, slipping into the Top 20 (#19) on it's second week in and the Top 10 (#6) on Week 3. Four weeks in it was at #2, and on week 5, it snagged the coveted 1-spot, where it'd stay for five weeks, making it The Jackson Five's most successful hit by far. While it was at it, it also snagged the top spot on the Billboard Black Singles Chart and #24 on the Billboard Easy Listening Chart (What's known today as Adult Contemporary)

I'll Be There pulled something off that very few other tunes can boast of...it never dropped out of the Top 40 during it's 16 week chart run. Not only that, it hung around the Top 10 for eleven of those sixteen weeks...in fact the only two weeks that it wasn't in the Top 20 or better were it's first and last weeks on the chart...it was still at #29 when it finally dropped off the charts, still putting it in the Top 30. It was, by far, their most successful single, moving 4.2 million singles in the U.S., and 6. million world-wide.. It'd apparently also be a tough act to follow...The J-5'd never again snag the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100, though they'd grab the runner-up position a few times.

 Michael Jackson noted himself, in his autobiography 'Moonwalk', that 'I'll Be There' is the tune that lifted The Jackson Five beyond 'Bubblegum Pop', and I'll take that a step further and say that it's very likely the song that lit off the afterburners on Micheal's career...his solo career began just about a year later, and anyone living on Planet Earth and having some vague knowledge of music over the last 45 or so years knows what a talent he was and what a career he had.

'I'll Be There' was not only The Jackson Fives best-loved hit, it was likely their most covered hit, with the covers starting early...Andy Williams released a version in 1971...but the absolute best known cover was released twenty years and small change after The J-5 snagged the Hot 100's top spot with it...and  also grabbed The Billboard 100's top spot, The artist? A young lady named Mariah Carey

The way that cover happened is an interesting little story in itself...back in 1992, when MTV actually played Music and showed music videos, they had a show called 'MTV Unplugged, which featured popular artists and acts playing acoustic instruments. Mariah Cary was to appear on the show, and was told that 'Everyone covers an early hit'. Annnnd...she hadn't really prepared one. She and R&B singer Trey Lorenz knocked out a version, with Mariah singing Michael Jackson's parts, and Trey handling Jermaine Jackson's parts, added it to their 'MTV Unplugged set list, then told the crew at Music Television 'This is what we came up with, knocked it out kinda quick, hope it'll do...'

Really, Mariah...really...Hope it'll do???

Needless to say, Mariah Carey knocked it slam out of the park because, well because she's Mariah Carey. The wild thing was...they weren't planning on releasing it as a single. Again, it was basically knocked out on the quick so they'd have a cover for their 'Unplugged' set. The phone calls...both to MTV and to Mariah Carey's label...wanting to know where they could buy the single started almost as soon as the final credits for that ep of 'Unplugged' rolled.

They edited the performance and released it as a single to a waiting public. The Mariah Carey version debuted on The Hot 100 on Memorial Day Weekend, 1992 at #13, broke into the Top 10 at #4 a week later, and snagged #1...where it'd stay for two weeks...on June 20th. It'd be in the Top 10 for eight of it's twenty weeks on the charts, and while it was at it, would score a Grammy Nomination for Best R&B Duo performance(They lost to 'Boyz II Men). Mariah Carey never forgot where the song came from, BTW. She and Trey reunited on July 7th, 2009, at Michael Jackson's memorial service, to sing their version as a tribute to The Gloved One.

Mariah Carey's version was awesome, but the original's, of course, the one that's best loved. This is the Jackson Five song that you'll absolutely, definitely and inevitably hear on the Oldies stations today. It made the group a serious contender in the record industry, and really kicked off the career of a true legend.  It's probably also inspired a few million wistful thoughts as it was listened to by a guy or gal who'd always be there for the one they loved, and that smooth, sweet melody, and those soulful lyrics still bring smiles to lots of faces today when it shows up on an Oldies station (That'd be WBBT, 107.3 in the Richmond area).

'I'll Be There'll probably be inspiring those wistful thoughts for decades after Us Seventies Kids are gone...it's a classic, and it really is that pretty and that awesome.

So Enjoy!   I'll Be There', by The Jackson Five.  


As a bonus,  Mariah Carie's adds her own style to the tune in her chart-topping cover of I'll Be There...she has always made any song she sings a treat. Better yet, this is the studio version, which was never released publicly. Needless to say she nails it to the wall...after all, she's Mariah Cary!


Bonus Numero Dos...speakin' of keepin' the music of The Seventies alive and young ladies who make any song they sing a treat, take a listen to this. The lovely and uber-talented young lady you'll hear nailing 'I'll Be There' to the wall in this video is Andi Kitten, and she was the lead singer of a quartet of  lovely and uber-talented young ladies hailing from Lubbock, Texas and calling themselves the Cactus Cuties. They rose to a pretty decent level of fame after a video of them at a Texas Tech Women's Basketball game singing what, IMHO, is the best rendition of The Star Spangled Banner ever performed anywhere  went viral. People took notice. Big-time. The girls specialized in religious and patriotic songs, then crossed over to singing Oldies and some modern Pop, with a couple of original songs thrown into the mix. They appeared on Disney Channel's Cory In The House, toured the country, sang for the President, sang the National Anthem at more than a few pro football games in their home state, and won the hearts of millions before the group folded and the girls...all still close friends...went their separate ways.

When they were still The Cactus Cuties, they were music students at Lubbock's Cactus Theater...The  Cuties were the best known sub-set of a large group of talented kids known as The Cactus Kids...and back in September 2009 The Cactus put on a Michael Jackson Tribute Concert.  All of the kids were given a MJ song to research and sing, and when their teacher and mentor Cami Caldwell gave Andi her assignment for the concert, it was 'I'll Be There', which was suited just about perfectly to her singing voice. As you'll hear she not only knocked it outa the park, she just might have out-done the original! Oh...she was still a couple of days away from her 13th birthday when she made 'I'll Be There' her own. She still sings, often partnering up with Madeline Powell, another former Cutie, and the granddaughter of the gent who made the video that put them in the spotlight, and she's only gotten better and better as she's gotten older. (She's still an Oldies fanatic from what I hear, too!). 

Take a listen, especially when she really kicks the afterburners in at about 3:50 into the video!

A couple of interesting little factoids.

 Remember when Michael Jackson says 'Just look over your shoulders, Honey!' towards the end of the song? Well...he kinda flubbed his line. Berry Gordy added in this spoken line as a tribute to The Four Tops tune 'Reach Out, I'll Be There', and told Michael to say it as ...over your shoulder...' Singular. As in one shoulder or the other.

When they recorded it, MJ spoke the line as it still is...shoulders...and the slightly flubbed line was allowed to stay. I mean really...the song's pretty much perfect. Were they really gonna do another take because of a misplaced 's' that most likely no one'd really notice anyway?

SO the line stayed as is.

<***>

Of all the different versions of 'I'll Be There', one of the most interesting is when Michael Jackson did a duet with his younger self, all in the name of  'The Pepsi Generation'

Michael Jackson did a slew of commercials for Pepsi during a ten or so year span from the early 80s to the early 90s, all of which were more production than mere commercial. The last commercial he filmed for Pepsi was back in 1992, during the Dangerous Tour. In this last well-paid shout-out to Pepsi he was sitting at a piano, singing I'll Be There as he reminisced about the Jackson Five days, when his 11 year old self appeared at the doorway to the room and joined in. It was a fun little TV ad...Especially for MJ fans, of which there were more than a few...but of course, it wasn't all that simple. This last MJ Pepsi commercial bred it's own bit of controversy.

First, we never got to see it in the U.S. (At least not until YouTube came along). See, this commercial was never aired in the US because it was meant for the international audiences...not at all unusual for any celeb, so that's not where the controversy arose...the controversy arose because of the young actor chosen to portray young Michael.

The boy chosen to portray the younger MJ was Caucasian. This probably wouldn't have been a problem until the New York Post found out about it, and in the best tabloid tradition, made it into a headline...and their article was pretty vocal as to their thoughts on just why the choice was made.

Now, keep in mind this was 1992, twenty years and change after 'I'll Be There' rocketed to #1 and well into the plastic surgery/skin bleaching phase of Michael Jackson's life. The general consensus, pushed hard by The Post, was that he chose a white child so it wouldn't be as obvious that present-day Michael's skin was shades lighter than then younger Michael's. Of course, with that being said, the boy's face was digitally replaced and darkened so it resembled...closely...a young Michael Jackson, which would have made the choice of actor somewhat of a moot point.

M.J. himself made it clear in his famous Oprah Winfree interview that he didn't have a whole lot of input on the choice of actor, and that the kid's chemistry with cast and crew, and most importantly, his ability to...well...act...were the qualities that got him the gig. You know, like pretty much any acting job.

The only things the controversy actually did was whet the ad-watching public's appetite for the commercial to see what all the hub-bub was about, tick off M.J. American fans because they couldn't see the commercial, and give Pepsi all kind of publicity, which is pretty much the general purpose of any ad.

Controversy aside, it was still well received, and well liked because, like lots of Pepsi commercials, it was enjoyable...a trait not many commercials can lay claim to. Pepsi commercials, from time eternal have all been productions on a massive scale and three versions of this commercial were filmed.

And of course I found it on You Tube...a video with all three versions at that!

Moma's Pearl by The Jackson Five

Mama's Pearl

1971

The Jackson Five

Berry Gordy handed J-5 songwriting duty back over to 'The Corporation' for their fifth hit...and they took on the task knowing that following up on a mega-hit like 'I'll Be There' was gonna pretty much redefine
'uber-tough job'.

Soooo, what they did first is return to the high-energy, frenetic, bubblegum-pop sound that drove 'The Jackson Five's first three hits, and then wrote what arguably just might be the raciest set of lyrics ever sung by an eleven or so year old lead singer. Really guys...I'm not kidding, I mean the first line of the song's:

'You send cold chills up and down my spine...'

At which point the song talks about the girl stopping at kissing because of her momma's wishes while the singer wants to go...well...further. This, BTW, was after the song's producer, Deke Richards, changed both the title and the lyrics to preserve Michael Jackson's 'youthful and innocent image'. Kinda makes ya wonder just what the lyrics were before they were changed. It's actually a bit amazing that parents bought the single for the throngs of Middle School/Jr High aged girls who clamored for it given those lyrics, but buy it they did, and the young ladies among us Seventies Kids liked it enough to keep it in the runner-up spot on The Hot-100 for two weeks. WGH, in Hampton Roads, played it multiple times daily, kids head-bopped to it, and...well, believe it or not, as time passed by it kinda became The Jackson Five's 'forgotten Hit', if there indeed is such a thing.

Oh, Mama's Pearl's not totally forgotten by any means...but compared to the quartet of Top-Spot-Snagging power-tunes that preceded it, the uber-popular  runner-up-spot snagging hit 'Never Can Say Goodbye' following it, and with Michael's career taking off soon afterward, it kind of became the 'Middle Child' of J-5 Hits, IMHO. Despite it's pretty, distinctive instrumental intro, catchy rhythm and beat, and not at all shabby chart performance (And the fact that it was essentially a Michael Jackson song with the rest of the J-5 singing back-up) Momma's Pearl is possibly the least well remembered of the Jackson Five's early hits, but that takes nothing at all away from it. Like all of their hits, it was a tight, energetic, fun-to-listen-to little tune that dared you not to move something when you heard it, and when it was released, it very deservedly sold like blueberry pancakes.

Mama's Pearl was released on January 7^th, 1971 and debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on January 30^th, at #47. It cracked the Top 10, at # 10 three weeks in, and peaked at #2 on it's fifth week. Mama's Pearl hung onto the Runner-Up spot for two weeks, and stayed in the Top 10 for five of it's ten weeks on the chart, finally falling off the chart on April 3^rd, '71. Oh...while it was at it, Momma's Pearl also snagged the runner-up spot on the Billboard R&B charts .

Befitting it's status as a sort-of forgotten J-5 hit, Mama's Pearl is also probably among the least-heard J-5 tunes today...it seems you almost never hear it on the Oldies stations, this despite the fact that it went to #2 on the Hot 100 and helped launch a career that was more of a legend. But if you listen long enough...and to enough stations...you'll still catch it once in awhile.

So Enjoy! Mama's Pearl by The Jackson Five.

Never Can Say Good-Bye by The Jackson Five

Never Can Say Good-bye

1971

The Jackson Five

The Jackson Five's sixth consecutive Top 5 hit...heck, fifth consecutive Top 2 hit...was a chart-topper everywhere but the scoreboard, and it very likely just barely missed there. It was catchy, popular, well loved, covered by just about everyone who ever sang a note, and...wasn't originally written for The Jackson Five.

'Never Can Say Goodbye' was written by a gent of some song-writing repute named Clifton Davis, and was originally written for The Supremes, but Berry Gordy took a look at it, very likely squinted meaningfully, and decided that it would be a perfect fit for his newest...and youngest...rising super-group, and particularly for that group's lead singer, the fact that it would mean an eleven year old would be singing a very serious song about love notwithstanding. This, of course,  wouldn't be the first time Michael Jackson and brothers had sung and struck recording gold and /or platinum with such a tune.

'Never Can Say Goodbye's short, distinctive intro was all over Top-40 radio during the spring of '71, and we Seventies Kids gave it plenty of love...enough so that, as noted, we almost took it to #1. The song was a springtime hit for 1971, debuting on The Billboard Hot 100 at #57 on April 3^rd, '71 and breaking into the Top 20 the very next week, at #15. It'd crack the Top 10 two weeks later, at #4, and peak at #2 on May 5^th, hanging on to the runner up spot for three weeks before dropping off the charts on June 19^th after a not at all shabby 12 week chart run. Seven of those twelve weeks were spent in the Top Ten. While it was at it, Never Can Say Goodbye went one better on the Billboard Black Singles Chart, snagging that chart's Top Spot.

This one was one of two J-5 hits that pretty much transcended all age demographics (The other was 'I'll Be There') because so many people could identify with it...all of us have had a girl or boy friend who we just could not let go of...no matter how they treated us, and that essentially's what this tune's about...pretty heady stuff for an eleven year old!

Of course, the kids in the age demo that Motown targeted when they released The Jackson Five into the world loved it because of the sound...like all of their hits it was catchy and fun to listen to (And to dance to), and it had a tendency to get stuck in your head all day.

BUT!...and this is a biggie...these fans weren't the only people who took notice by any means. Three years later the suits at a newly minted recording concern known as Disco Corporation of America grabbed it, gave it to their writing team, who took it way up-tempo and tweaked every facet of it before offering it to a newly signed lady by the name of Gloria Gaynor. Gloria Gaynor then gave it her own signature sound, sass, and personality and made into the very first song to ever top a Disco chart, at the same time taking it to # 9 on The Billboard Hot 100. Her version of the song is likely just as well remembered by Us Seventies Kids as the J-5 version, and is just as likely...if not a bit more likely..to be heard on the Oldies Stations as the original.

Whichever version you lean towards, it's a classic, and MJ and his bros'll still be telling that unnamed young lady that they can't say good-bye to her for decades after we've said our last good-byes ourselves. 

So Enjoy! Never Can Say Good-bye by The Jackson Five!


And as a Bonus Vid...Gloria Gaynor's kickin' cover of  'Never Can Say Goodbye!'  The lady most definitively had some serious pipes!(Ignore the couple of seconds of music at the beginning and end of the video...it's intro music added by the video's creator to all of his/her vids).

Sugar Daddy by The JAckson Five

Sugar Daddy

1971

The Jackson Five

If Mama's Pearl was the Sorta-Middle-Child of Jackson Five Hits, 'Sugar Daddy' just may be the Redheaded Stepchild. Despite cracking the Top Ten, it seems to have just about dropped clean off of the radar for everyone but the most devoted Michael Jackson fan.

Songwriting duties were handed back to The Corporation for this one, and they gave it their distinct and all but unmistakable 'bubblegum rock' sound...'Sugar Daddy is a catchy, high-energy little tune that features Michael and Jermaine Jackson sharing lead vocal duties, and all of the Brothers Jackson singing back-up throughout the song's two and a half minute length. The very fact that all of the Jacksons' vocals are featured nearly equally makes 'Sugar Daddy' a rare treat, and it's more than a little sad that it isn't heard hardly at all any more.

'Sugar Daddy was released in November of '71, and debuted on The Billboard Hot 100 at #72, on the 11^th of December. It cracked the Top 20 on New Years Day of '72, and peaked at #10...just making the Top 10...seven weeks in to it's ten week chart run on Jan 22^nd '72. Sugar Daddy did even better on the Billboard R&B Chart, cracking the Top 5 to peak at #3 there.

In the song, the group was singing of another subject of lovethat many if not most guys...young and old... can relate to. That gal who strings you along, accepting your gifts and favors gladly while dating someone else. And, like all of the Jackson Five's tunes it was catchy, lots of fun to listen to, and, despite it's subject matter, just made you feel good while listening to it. It's a shame you don't hear it that much any more.

So Enjoy! Sugar Daddy by The Jackson Five!

And as a bonus vid...The J-5 performs 'Sugar Daddy' live during an un-named TV appearance back in the early 70s...the video quality, unfortunately, pretty much reeks but the audio's pretty good for the time. Michael definitely shows everyone that hes the groups rising star in this one!

Dancing Machine by The Jackson Five

Dancing Machine

1974

The Jackson Five

If you were a living, breathing teenager in 1974, you may remember a dance craze known as 'The Robot', and while the Jackson Five didn't invent it, they're definitely the ones who made it, using this very tune to accomplish  that task.

Everyone remembers hearing 'Dancing, Dancing, Dancinnnnng!!!' bursting from their stereo speakers to kick this one off, and at first a lot of people didn't realize it was the J-5. Motown's The Corporation had parted ways with each other two years earlier, leaving the J-5 to rely on other songwriters. Now, a change of song-writers for a single tune here and there had served them well a couple of times in the past...most notably with 'I'll Be There'...but this time around they seemed to have lost some of their momentum.

 Oh, they were still around through '72 and '73, but while they'd been churning out minor hits, several of which made it into the Top 20, their absence in the Top 10 had been pretty notable. 'Dancing Machine' would snap that streak for them one last time. 

Hal Davis, Don Fletcher, and Dean Park took on the task of getting them back into 'Big Hit' territory, and in the process wrote what's remembered as one of the catchiest dance-tunes of The Seventies, which is saying something as The Awesome Music Decade produced some pretty stellar dance tunes.. Dancing Machine was nothing but a straight out, classic dance tune, with a melody, beat, and rhythm that dared you to try not to start head-bopping, hair-swaying, and hip swinging. The tune's lyrics even payed homage to the very much admired dance moves of an equally well admired, if fictional and very possibly robotic lady.

The writing trio pitched it right over the plate, and The Jackson Five knocked it out of the park, making it into the top 10 for the first time since 'Sugar Daddy ' in 1972, and the Top 5 for the first time since 'Never Can Say Good-bye' snagged the runner-up position earlier that same year. 'Dancing Machine' debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 16th, 1974 at #79 and began a steady climb as us Seventies Kids discovered it, cracking the top 20 just shy of a month after it's debut, and the Top 10, at #8, two weeks later, on April 27th. It snagged the Hot 100's runner up spot on May 18th...10 weeks in...and hung on to it for two weeks before starting down. "Dancing Machine' would spend a not at all shabby 21 weeks on the Hot 100, nine of them in the Top 10. The tune went one better on the Billboard R&B charts, where it snagged the top spot, and while it was at it, earned a Grammy nomination for best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocals. Rufas and Chaka-Khan beat them out with Tell Me Something Good. Sadly, Dancing Machine would be the last hit they scored as a Motown act, as well as their last hit as 'The Jackson Five'.

As noted above, the song popularized the 'Robot Dance'. Michael Jackson personally raised the dance to a new level by pretty much becoming the master of the dance, then making it his own and performing it often and with legendary perfection through-out his career.

'Dancing Machine' was simple and pure fun, both to listen to and to dance to, and it was all over the radio during the spring and the Summer of '74'. And, if you were in high school during the mid Seventies, not only would you hear this one on the radio, it's almost a sure bet you'd hear it at least once or twice during any school dance. It was a fast-dance, and us Seventies Kids would flood the dance floor and add our own personal touches to "The Robot Dance' when that familiar thrice-repeated intro would burst from the speakers and bounce around the gym or community center where the dance was taking place. 

 It's still just as danceable and fun to listen to now as it was when that iconic 'Dancing, Dancing, Dancinnnnng!!! was first heard forty-one years ago.  Like most of the J-5's hits, it'll still show up on Oldies stations occasionally, and it wouldn't surprise me if, every once in a while, a DJ will dust it off and spin it during a dance club's theme night.  Wonder if anyone still knows how to dance 'The Robot?

So enjoy!  Dancing Machine by The Jackson Five! 


And as a bonus vid, The Jackson Five performs Dancing Machine and a very smooth rendition of 'The Robot Dance' during a TV appearance. The Date and show/event wasn't listed so that'll have to remain a mystery...but their dance partner was pretty cool! Check out the robot dancing 'The Robot'

 

Got To Be There by Michael Jackson

Got To Be There

Michael Jackson

1971

By the time the J-5's forth consecutive chart-topper snagged that coveted One-Spot it was pretty obvious who the group's stand-out star was. Berry Gordy had been grooming Michael for a solo career since the group signed with Motown, and almost exactly a year after 'I'll Be There' took off, he decided that the iron was hot. 
 

Sometime during the late summer or early fall of  '71 Motown's whip called in Michael, song-writer Elliott Willensky, and prolific music producer Hal Davis, along with David Blumberg, who arranged the music, and Willie Hutch, who took on production tasks for the vocals, for a history making meeting, and possibly said something to the effect of 'Michael, we're going to write you a hit all your own', then to his writing/producing team 'Guys, write the kid a hit!'

Ok, I actually have no idea if those words were spoken at said meeting, but something sure transpired at Motown's Hitsville West studio in L.A. 'cause they did indeed 'Write The Kid A Hit'. This is another one that everyone who was a kid in the early Seventies recognizes pretty much the instant they hear that short, sweet piano intro leading into Michaels already tight vocals. The team of Willensky, Davis, Blumberg, and Hutch went in the same direction that Davis and Hutch had chosen for 'I'll Be There' a year earlier, even choosing a similar title. Deciding that there was no need to fix something that wasn't broke, they again penned a simple, gentle ballad that showcased Michael Jackson's voice perfectly, then they had him also record his own back-up vocals, a very likely multiple take effort that payed off in spades.

'Got To Be There' was released thirteen months and change after 'I'll Be There', debuting just inside the Billboard Hot 100, at #89, on Oct 39, 1971, cracking the Top 20 two weeks later at #13, and just making the Top 10, at #9, on it's forth week in. It peaked at #4 on the Hot 100 on December 11th and stayed there for a single week before starting down, then dropping off of the chart on Jan. 29th of  '72, enjoying a very respectable fourteen week chart run, with nine of those weeks spent in the Top 10. The tune did even better on both the R&B and Cashbox charts, snagging the top spot on both. Got To Be There was also the title track for Michael Jackson's first solo album,  which was also a hit, selling just under a million copies in the US, and just over three million world wide

This was another tune that had by-then thirteen year old Michael Jackson singing of subjects that were likely a bit beyond his experience in the ways of love and such...the song told of a young dude talking about being with his beloved when she woke up in the morning so he could tell her how much he loved her and 'welcome her into the world'...but I really don't think anyone noticed or particularly cared about that discrepancy this time around. They were too busy loving the tune. It was a sweet love song that had the girls hoping their guys felt exactly that way about them, and it was perfect for Michael's vocals. MJ threw himself into the music, too...one of the many traits that would drive his music success over the next nearly 40 years. When you listened to him sing, you could truly believe he was talking about his love for his girl.

The song really took off on the radio as the Holiday season kicked off, and, as noted above, millions of starry eyed young girls listened to it, hoping that their guy felt that way about them (Or that he would feel that way when they finally got a boyfriend...remember, the J-5's and Michael's music was aimed primarily at the age- group we call 'Tweens' today. 

Like pretty much all of Michael Jackson's solo efforts, 'Got To Be There has enjoyed some tremendous staying power, and you're pretty sure to hear it once in a while if you listen to your favorite Oldies station long enough. It's pretty, soulful, and it kicked off a solo career that became a legend.  

So Enjoy! 'Got To Be There by Michael Jackson

Rockin' Robin by Michael JAckson

Rockin' Robin

1972

Michael Jackson

Fifty-eight or so years ago a dude named Leon Rene' AKA Jimmie Thomas knocked out a fun, uber-high-energy little tune about a very hyper, very talented robin entertaining the other birds in his neighborhood, then handed it off to another guy named Bobbie Day, who'd make it his one and only hit single when he recorded it and snagged the runner-up spot on the singles chart of the era (Remember that was before The Billboard Hot 100)

It was well received, fun, and danceable...the kids of the Fifties gave it a solid '8' or so. Fourteen years later, in 1972, you'd still hear it pretty regularly, and Motown's legendary head honcho Berry Gordy heard it, nodded meaningfully, and said 'I know exactly which budding solo artist that'd be perfect for!'. So he bought the rights, had it tweaked a very tiny bit, and gave it to Michael Jackson as his second single. MJ then preceded to match Bobbie Day's chart performance when he snagged the Hot 100's runner-up spot, in the process making his second solo effort the favorite version of this high energy classic by far. Oh, and if you polled us crazy Seventies Kids on which Michael Jackson/Jackson Five song is our favorite today, this one would probably give 'I'll Be There' a run for the money.

'Rockin' Robin' debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on 3-11-72 at #68, then cracked the Top 20 two weeks later, landing at #14. It'd slip into the Top 10 (#9) the very next week, then snag the runner-up spot on 4-22-1972, staying there for a pair of weeks before heading down, and falling off of the charts on 6-3-72, for a 13 week chart run...it'd also be one of the relatively few covers that MJ did, as well as his most successful cover.

Michael Jackson's version of Rockin' Robin stayed pretty true to the original, hanging on to both the original lyrics and melody...including the tune's distinctive intro...with the addition, of course, of Michael Jackson's youthful vocals. MJ's vocals in combo with Rockin' Robin's already very distinctive intro produced what's probably one of the most instantly recognizable hits of all time, so recognizable, in fact, that I'd almost be willing to bet that anyone who was a teen or 'Tween', back in 1972 will recognize it instantly from just the first three notes, and will probably join right in as soon as they hear it. MJ pretty much knocked it out of the park.

While The Jackson Five's success was built on Bubble Gum Rock, and while the lyrics to Rockin' Robin are a bit nonsensical, it is not a Bubblegum Pop song by any means... it's a dance tune. And it's definitely loads of fun to dance to...it has one of those, frenetic, high energy, happily busy beats that just drags you out to the dance floor, but be warned...ya gotta  be in good shape to dance to it, cause it's sure as hell not a slow dance. It'll give you a work-out, and leave you smiling when you finish!

 The song was absolute pure, unadulterated, fun to listen to and was one of Spring 1972's Feel Good songs...you know, the breed of tune that that just hearing the intro to would put a smile on your face. You absolutely would...and likely still will...head sway, foot tap, finger tap, and and dance-in-place to it...you just can't help it. We heard it all Spring and into the Summer of '72, and you can still hear it now, and not only on the Oldies Stations(Where you will hear it.). A couple of years back, on Dancing With The Stars Season 16's finale, the lovely and uber-talented Zendaya Coleman and her partner Val Chmerkovskiy burned up the dance floor to it on their 'Instand Jive'. ( Zenday shoulda won it...Just Sayin! )

It's been covered extensively, as well as used on several TV shows (And it's always the MJ version that you hear) and has been used a couple of times by contestants on shows such as American Idle...it's pretty much become part of  the Music Landscape, maybe even more so that 'I'll Be There'.

I have a feeling that, many years hence, it'll not only still show up on Oldies Stations playlists, it'll show up on, say, Dancing With The Stars Season 80...but when it does so, it'll have to be performed by someone young enough to handle the moves!

So Enjoy!  Rockin' Robin' By Michael Jackson.


A trio of bonus vids with this one gang...first up, a trio of icons all in one fell swoop...Dick Clark  introducing a very young Michael Jackson, who performs his then brand new hit, Rockin' Robin on American Bandstand. Too bad the quality's so bad on this one, because it's a gem.



Bonus Numero Dos...As proof that Seventies Music will never ever die, Zedaya Coleman and Val tear up the dance floor to Rockin' Robin on the final dance of the Dancing With The Stars Season 16 Finale. They knocked it slam outa the park! Zendaya shoulda won it...just sayin'!

Bonus Numero Tres...The original, by Bobby Day...the video features some scenes, stills, and behind the scenes pics from yet another American Classic...American Graffiti...as well as some pics of some of the classic rides from the movie. As for the tune...MJ stayed pretty true to the original, but added his own flair to it, making it the favorite of the two versions by miles.

A couple of little factoids, notes and such!

While I'm at it here, I'm going to give a shout-out to a crew who's often kind of overlooked on both Jackson Five and early Michael Jackson tunes. MJ's vocals were spot-on, but it takes more than vocals to make a hit. Rockin' Robin was helped along...as were all of the J-5's and MJ's Motown hits...by the uber-tight, absolutely on-point instrumentals provided by Motown's house band. Just listen to the drums...they have some seriously some seriously tight percussion goin' on! If you really want to hear the house band roll, just take a listen to Rockin' Robin's instrumental bridge.

Interestingly enough, the House Band that provided the sound for Rockin' Robin (And indeed, all of Motown's L.A. recordings) was not the legendary Funk Brothers, who provided the instrumentals for a slew of legendary artists on the great majority of Motown's Detroit-recorded hits but were collections of different session musicians put together for each particular song.

<***>

While...as noted above...The Jackson Five were considered Ambassadors of Bubblegum Pop, none of Michael Jackson's first three solo hits were bubblegum...two of them were ballads, and the third...this one, sandwiched between them...was a dance tune.

Ben by Michael JAckson

Ben

1972

Michael Jackson

Afore we get started on this one we need to school ourselves on a couple of interesting little facts about Michael Jackson's very first solo chart-topper. First off...'Ben' wasn't originally written for Michael Jackson. And second...and this one's a biggie...in this very moving, heart-felt ballad about friendship, MJ was singing to...wait for it...a rat.

Yep, you read that right. The titular Ben was a rat...literally, the four-legged giant-mouse-critter kinda rat. Back in the early Seventies a horror movie, named Willard, was made about a social outcast...the titular Willard...who befriended and trained several rats, one of whom was named Ben. Ultimately the rat horde, led by Ben, turns on Willard,  killing and eating him. Movie ends, credits roll, untold thousands of children are never ever allowed to have a pet rat, hamster, or any rodent-like critter. The movie, BTW, was a hit and inspired other Horror movies about both renegade wild animals and psychologically crazed killers. Think 'Jaws' and both the novel and movie versions of 'Carrie'

A year or so later, a sequel, named 'Ben' is filmed, staring the titular rat. Ben, still the leader of his horde of super intelligent, uber-aggressive rodents, is befriended by a lonely young boy named Danny. This being a horror movie, Ben's rat-horde goes renegade and starts tearing up the town and devouring the townspeople, only to be decimated by flame-thrower wielding police officers. Ben escapes a fiery demise and makes his way back to Danny. That heartfelt ballad? It's being sung to an injured Ben as the movie's final credits roll.

Again, the song was not written for Michael Jackson...it was written specifically for the movie by James Bond Theme songwriter Don Black, composed by prolific TV Theme/movie music composer Walter Scharf and was originally offered to MJ's good friend, contemporary rival, and fellow young recording mega-star, Donny Osmond. Donny, however, was on tour and would have had to wait until the tour wound down to record the song. The movie, on the other hand, was on a tight shooting schedule, and they really really wanted this song in the movie...so they offered it to Michael Jackson, who recorded it, and sang it over the closing credits of the movie (Lee Montgomery, the child actor who played Danny, sang it to Ben in the movie itself.)

The movie premiered to mixed reviews in June of '72, and the song debuted two months later to become MJ's first #1, but, unlike several of his and the J-5's hits, it didn't shoot up the charts like the proverbial moon-rocket...this one kinda took it's time getting there. 'Ben' was released a month after the movie, on July 12^th, but didn't debut on The Billboard Hot 100 until August 5^th at a lukewarm #85. It then took it's time climbing the chart, not breaking into the Top 20 until it clocked in at #13 on September 16th, then took another week to slide into the Top 10, at #6. It snagged the Top Spot three weeks later, on October 14^th , making MJ the youngest singer to score a #1 song as both a lead singer in a group and a solo artist while it was at it, and hung on for a single week before starting back down, dropping off the chart on November 18^th of '72. 'Ben' also found favor in other lands... the tune also snagged the Top Spot on the Australian Music Charts and scored the #7 spot across The Pond, on the British charts.

The song grabbed far more positive reviews than the film did, being so well respected, in fact, that in 1973 it snagged a Golden Globe for Best Song as well as an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song, losing to 'The Morning After', from 'The Poseidon Adventure'. Michael Jackson also got to perform it live at the ceremony, giving several million people who wouldn't normally be listening to a Michael Jackson tune a small taste of the star he was to become.

Even at the tender age of almost 14 young  Michael Jackson's vocals were loaded down with emotion and feelings...what the kids today call 'feels'... and that's what drove it into the Hot 100's top spot. Back than I was actually more of a Donny Osmond fan than I was a Michael Jackson fan, but I'll have to say that 'MJ's vocals were far more suited to 'Ben' than Donny's. While Donny had (And has) a killer voice, he just couldn't inject emotion into it at 14 or so years old the way MJ could. Donny knocked a couple of truly lovely ballads slam outa the park in his early career, but MJ's voice just had a certain soulful quality that just worked far better on a song as laden with deep emotion as Ben...Of course if Donnie had sung it, it would have been the only Osmond Brothers/Donnie Osmond tune that wasn't a cover.

Though the song was indeed about a rat, it never mentioned anything rodent-centric, and loads of people were truly moved and touched by it's soulful sound and deep, emotion. It was pretty, touching, and spoke eloquently of friendship. I remember hearing it pretty constantly on Richmond's AM Top 40 powerhouse, WLEE, during the Summer of '72, and, despite the fact that you seldom if ever hear it on the Oldies stations anymore, it would enjoy some pretty decent staying power.

It even became a Top-Ten hit in the UK a second time, reaching #5 in 1985, when Marti Webb covered it as a tribute to a tiny liver transplant patient named Ben Hardwick, whose parents set up a memorial fund in his name to assist the parents of young transplant patients after he died shortly after his third birthday...all of the royalties off of the song were donated to the memorial fund, BTW.

Ben was also one of MJ's favorite hits, and is one of the most re-released song among his huge library of hit tunes, being re-released on no fewer than ten different albums. So it's still out there. You just have to really strain your ears to hear it, because as I noted above, you hardly ever hear it on the Oldies stations.
If you are lucky enough to hear it, give it a nod, and remember the little guy who scored his first solo #1 hit with it. He didn't know it yet, but he was well on his way to becoming a legend.

So Enjoy!  'Ben' by Michael Jackson!


As a bonus, Michael Jackson singing 'Ben' live at the 1973 Academy Awards.