Got to Be There
| Got to Be There | ||||
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| Studio album by Michael Jackson | ||||
| Released | January 24, 1972 | |||
| Recorded | June – December 1971 | |||
| Genre | R&B, soul, pop rock | |||
| Length | 35:45 | |||
| Label | Motown | |||
| Producer | Hal Davis, Willie Hutch | |||
| Michael Jackson chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Got to Be There | ||||
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Got to Be There is the solo debut album by Michael Jackson, released by Motown Records on January 24, 1972.[1] It includes the song of the same name, which was released in the October 7, 1971 as Jackson's debut solo single. It would go on to sell over 3.2 million copies worldwide.[2] The album was later remastered and reissued in 2009 as part of the 3-disc compilation Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection.
Contents |
[edit] Album information
Motown released Jackson's solo album around the same time that another famous brother from a famous family was doing the same: Donny Osmond, who was hitting with songs like "Sweet & Innocent" and "Puppy Love". "Got To Be There" (at #8) and Osmond's "Hey Girl/I Knew You When" (at #9) were back-to-back on the Hot 100 on 15 January 1972. Jackson's and Osmond's debut efforts almost paralleled each other, as Jackson scored a hit with the title track and "Rockin' Robin", which like Osmond's "Puppy Love", was a remake of an old '50s rock song.
Those two hits were back-to-back on the Hot 100 at #5 and #6, respectively, on 8 April 1972. Jackson's "I Wanna Be Where You Are" (at #27) and Osmond's "Too Young" (at #28) would be back-to-back on the Hot 100 on 24 June 1972. The album also included covers of Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine", Carole King's "You've Got a Friend" and the Supremes' "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone".
[edit] Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [3] |
The album peaked at number fourteen on the US pop albums chart and number three on the US R&B album chart when it was released.
Rolling Stone (12/7/72, p.68) - "..slick, artful and every bit as good as the regular Jackson 5 product...a sweetly touching voice...innocence and utter professionalism...fascinating and finally irresistible.."
[edit] Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ain't No Sunshine" (recorded November 1971) | Bill Withers | 4:09 |
| 2. | "I Wanna Be Where You Are" (recorded November 1971) | Arthur "T-Boy" Ross, Leon Ware | 3:01 |
| 3. | "Girl Don't Take Your Love from Me" (recorded November 1971) | Willie Hutch | 3:46 |
| 4. | "In Our Small Way" (recorded December 1971) | Beatrice Verdi, Christine Yarian | 3:38 |
| 5. | "Got to Be There" (recorded June–July 1971) | Elliot Willensky | 3:23 |
| 6. | "Rockin' Robin" (recorded October 1971) | Leon Rene (under the pseudonym "Jimmie Thomas") | 2:31 |
| 7. | "Wings of My Love" (recorded November 1971) | Alphonso Mizell, Berry Gordy Jr., Deke Richards & Freddie Perren | 3:25 |
| 8. | "Maria (You Were the Only One)" (recorded July–September 1971) | Lawrence Brown, Linda Glover, George Gordy, Allen Story | 3:41 |
| 9. | "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" (recorded December 1971) | Holland-Dozier-Holland | 2:51 |
| 10. | "You've Got a Friend" (recorded November 1971) | Carole King | 4:53 |
[edit] References
- ^ Don't Forget the Motor City
- ^ Chery, Carl: XXL: Michael Jackson Special Collecters Edition, page 100. American Press.
- ^ Allmusic review
