JANICE'S BLUES ALLEY PRESENTS
THE JACKSON FIVE
The famous family group was originally formed as a trio in Gary, Indiana, in 1963. The original members were the three eldest sons of the steelworks crane driver (and ex-guitarist for the Falcons) Joe Jackson: Jackie (Sigmund Esco Jackson), Tito (Toriano Adaryll Jackson), and Jermaine (Jermaine La Juane Jackson). The brothers had started their informal music education by sneaking off with their father's guitar and when Joe Jackson discovered this fact, he bought them their own instruments. At the urging of their parents, the brothers started playing local dates and they were soon joined by their younger siblings Marlon (Marlon David Jackson), and Michael (Michael Joseph Jackson), forming the Jackson Five.
After winning a succession of local talent shows, the Jackson Five got their first full-time gig at the nightclub "Mr Lucky's" where they shared the stage with comics and striptease acts. Michael Jackson remembered his mother, Katherine, worriedly telling Joe: "This is quite a life for a nine-year-old." But they also performed in other cities such as New York City where they competed in a talent show at the Apollo and won.
By 1967 the Jackson brothers, having travelled all around the country to perform, were already seasoned artists. They were performing in Indiana, supporting Gladys Knight & the Pips when Gladys Knight, just recently signed to Motown herself, brought the Jackson Five to the attention of Berry Gordy.
In 1968 the Jackson Five released Big Boy on a local label called Steeltown. The album was followed by one more release on the label, Some Girls Want Me For Their Love and then, later that year, they signed a one-year contract with Motown. The next year, 1969, Motown bought the group out of their Steeltown contract and moved them out to Hollywood, where the rest of the family followed them.
When it came time to introduce the Jackson 5 (Berry Gordy decided on the slight change of name) to the world, Diana Ross did the honors at a Beverly Hills Club, and later that year the group appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show." With Berry Gordy's newly formed writing team "the Corporation" (including Freddie Perren, Fonce Mizell, Deke Richards, and himself), the Jackson 5's first album, Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5, was sure to be a hit. And it was. The album hit US#5 and produced among other hits, the Jackson 5's first hit single. "I Want You Back" was not only a hit, it shot to the top of the charts and sold a million records.
The next year, 1970, the Jackson 5 released three more albums, ABC, Third Album, and The Jackson 5 Christmas Album. All these albums did incredibly well and in September, Motown announced that the Jackson 5 had sold a million records in nine months. The next of the Jackson 5's singles to hit the charts were "ABC" and "The Love You Save" both of which went straight to the top of the charts.
After the group left on a five-city East Coast tour, "Mama's Pearl" hit #2 and the ballad "I'll Be There" stayed at #1 for five weeks, selling four million records in the process. "Never Can Say Goodbye," another slow song reached #2 on the US charts and in July 1971 the brothers taped their first TV special, "Goin' Back To Indiana." Shortly after, they left on a US tour with the newly signed group the Commodores.
On their tours as well as in the studio, Berry Gordy was always there to give a word of advice or encouragement. "Berry was my teacher and a great one," said Michael; "he told me exactly what he wanted and how he wanted me to help him get it. Berry insisted on perfection and attention to detail. I'll never forget his persistence. This was his genius." All the hard work and attention to detail paid of when, in September, the Jackson Five's very own Animated Series premiered on ABC-TV. To top it all off, the family group also received a Grammy nomination for "ABC" (they would not receive another nomination until 1974, for "Dancing Machine").
It was also during 1971 that Michael Jackson started his parallel solo career. His albums Got To Be There, Ben, and Music And Me produced such hits as "Got To Be There," "Rockin' Robin," "Ben," and many others. Jermaine started his solo career in 1972 and produced two top 10 hits: "Daddy's Home" in 1973 and "Let's Get Serious" in 1980. Jackie also tried out a solo career in 1973 when ge released Jackie Jackson, but the album did not make the charts and no more were released.
In December 1973, the Jackson family and the Gordy family became one when Jermaine married Hazel Gordy (Berry Gordy's daughter). They tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where Smokey Robinson performed "From This Time And Place," a song which he had written for the occasion. But the happy union caused Jermaine some headaches in 1975 when the Jacksons decided to leave Motown to sign with Epic Records, and he left the group to stay with Motown.
Citing the fact that they only received 2.7% royalties and were not allowed to write their own material, the Jackson brothers had decided that they needed to change record companies. Although they were later sued for breach of contract, they changed their name to "the Jacksons," and underwent some lineup changes. Michael had signed a solo contract with Epic, and he was replaced with his younger brother Randy (Stephen Randall Jackson). Temporary additions to the group also included the sisters LaToya and Rebbie (Maureen Jackson).
The family went on to record many successful records, even receiving a Grammy Nomination in 1980 for the album Triumph. The first time the brothers all reunited again was in 1983 for the "Motown 25" TV special, after which Jermaine joined the others for a US tour. The next year Michael joined them too and the Victory Tour resulted.
At this point Michael Jackson's solo career had sky-rocketed and his fame threatened to eclipse that of his siblings. In fact, ever since Michael replaced Jermaine (who was a very talented singer himself and Michael's biggest influence) as lead singer of the band, his genius-like talent was apparent, and his brothers' very real talents were sometimes overshadowed by Michael's energetic performances. But no matter what their differences, the brothers also had a lot in common, such as their concern for their fellow man, And so 1985 saw Michael, Jackie, Marlon, Randy, Tito, and LaToya all participating in USA for Africa's "We Are The World".
Courtesy of I Music Urban Showcase
The Jackson Five - Starting the Legacy The Jivy Jackson 5 Page| LOOK | ALBUM | YEAR |  | Diana Ross presents The Jackson 5 | 1969 | | ABC | 1970 | | The Christmas Album | 1970 | | Third Album | 1970 | | Maybe Tomorrow | 1971 | | Goin' Back To Indiana | 1971 | | Greatest Hits | 1971 | | Lookin' Through The Windows | 1972 | | Skywriter | 1973 | | Get It Together | 1973 | | Dancing Machine | 1974 | | Moving Violation | 1975 | | Joyful Jukebox Music | 1976 | | The Jacksons | 1976 | | Goin' Places | 1977 | | Destiny | 1978 | | Boogie | 1979 | | Triumph | 1980 | | Victory | 1984 | | 2300 Jackson St | 1989 |
1969 Diana Ross presents The Jackson 5
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01. Zip A Dee Doo Dah 02. Nobody 03. I Want You Back 04. Can You Remember 05. Standing In The Shadows of Love 06. You've Changed |
07. My Cherie Amour 08. Who's Loving You 09. Chained 10. I'm Losing You 11. Stand 12. Born To Love You |
1970 ABC
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01. The Love You Save 02. Nobody 03. One More Chance 04. ABC 05. 2 4 6 8 06. I'm The One You Need 07. Don't Know Why I Love You |
08. Never Had A Dream Come True 09. True Love Can Be Beautiful 10. La La Means I Love You 11. Stand 12. I'll Bet You 13. I Found That Girl 14. The Young Folks |
1970 The Christmas Album
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01. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 02. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town 03. The Christmas Song 04. Up On The House Top 05. Frosty The Snowman 06. The Little Drummer Boy |
07. Rudoulph The Red Nosed Reindeer 08. Christmas Won't Be The Same This Year 09. Give Love On Christmas Day 10. Someday At Christmas 11. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus |
1970 Third Album
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01. I'll Be There 02. Ready Or Not (Here I Come) 03. Oh How Happy 04. Bridge Over Troubled Water 05. Can I See You In The Morning 06. Goin' Back To Indiana |
07. How Funky Is Your Chicken 08. Mama's Pearl 09. Reach In 10. The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage 11. Darling Dear |
1971 Maybe Tomorrow
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01. Maybe Tomorrow 02. She's Good 03. Never Can Say Goodbye 04. The Wall 05. Petals 06. 16 Candles |
07. Blue Skies 08. My Little Baby 09. It's Great To Be Here 10. Honey Chile 11. I Will Find A Way |
1971 Goin' Back To Indiana
|
01. I Want You Back 02. Maybe Tomorrow 03. The Day Basketball Was Saved 04. Stand |
05. I Want To Take You Higher 06. Feelin' Alright 07. Walk On/The Love You Save 08. Goin' Back To Indiana |
1971 Greatest Hits
|
01. I Want You Back 02. ABC 03. Never Can Say Goodbye 04. Sugar Daddy 05. I'll Be There 06. Maybe Tomorrow |
07. The Love You Save 08. Who's Lovin You 09. Mama's Pearl 10. Goin' Back Indiana 11. I Found That Girl |
1972 Lookin' Through The Windows
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01. Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing 02. Lookin' Through The Windows 03. Doctor My Eyes 04. Little Bitty Pretty One |
05. E-Ne-Me-Ne-Mi-Ne-Moe 06. If I Have To Move A Mountain 07. Children of The Light 08. I Can Only Give You Love |
1973 Skywriter
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01. Skywriter 02. Hallelujah Day 03. The Boogie Man 04. Touch 05. Corner Of The Sky |
06. I Can't Quit Your Love 07. Uppermost 08. World Of Sunshine 09. Ooh, I'd Love To Be With You 10. You Made Me What I Am Today |
1973 Get It Together
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01. Get It Together 02. Don't Say Goodbye Again 03. Reflections 04. Hum Along and Dance |
05. Mama I Got A Brand New Thing (Don't Say No) 06. It's Too Late To Change The Time 07. You Need Love Like I Do (Don't You?) 08. Dancing Machine |
1974 Dancing Machine
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01. I Am Love 02. Whatever You Got, I Want 03. She's A Rhythm Child 04. Dancing Machine 05. The Life Of The Party |
06. What You Don't Know 07. If I Don't Love You This Way 08. It All Begins And Ends With Love 09. The Mirrors of My Mind |
1975 Moving Violation
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01. Forever Came Today 02. Moving Violation 03. Especially For Me 04. Honey Love 05. Body Language |
06. All I Do Is Think Of You 07. Breezy 08. Call Of The Wild 09. Time Explosion |
1976 Joyful Jukebox Music
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01. Joyful Jukebox Music 02. Window Shopping 03. You're My Best Friend, My Love 04. Love Is The Thing You Need 05. The Eternal Light |
06. Pride And Joy 07. Through Thick And Thin 08. We're Here To Entertain You 09. We're Gonna Change Our Style |
1976 The Jacksons
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01. Enjoy Yourself 02. Think Happy 03. Good Times 04. Keep On Dancing 05. Blues Away |
06. Show You The Way To Go 07. Living Together 08. Strength Of One Man 09. Dreamer 10. Style Of Lyfe |
1977 Goin' Places
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01. Music's Takin' Over 02. Goin' Places 03. Different Kind Of Lady 04. Even Though You're Gone 05. Jump For Joy |
06. Heaven Knows I Love You, Girl 07. Man Of War 08. Do What You Wanna 09. Find Me A Girl |
1978 Destiny
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01. Blame It On The Boogie 02. Push Me Away 03. Things I Do For You 04. Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground) |
05. Destiny 06. Bless His Soul 07. All Night Dancin' 08. That's What You Get (For Being Polite) |
1979 Boogie
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01. Love's Gone Bad 02. I Ain't Gonna Eat My Heart Out Anymore 03. I Was Made To Love Her 04. One Day I'll Marry You |
05. Oh I've Been Blessed 06. Penny Arcade 07. Just Because I Love You |
1980 Triumph
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01. Can You Feel It 02. Lovely One 03. Your Ways 04. Everybody 05. This Place Hotel |
06. Time Waits For No One 07. Walk Right Now 08. Give It Up 09. Wondering Who |
1984 Victory
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01. Torture 02. Wait 03. One More Chance 04. Be Not Always |
05. State Of Shock 06. We Can Change The World 07. The Hurt 08. Body |
1989 2300 Jackson St
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01. Art Of Madness 02. Nothin' that compares 2 U 03. Maria 04. Private Affair 05. 2300 Jackson St 06. Harley |
07. She 08. Alright With Me 09. Play With Up 10. Midnight Rendezvous 11. If You'd Only Believe |
