The Jacksons Story
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| Allmusic |   link |
The Jacksons Story, an album released on Hip-O Select/UTV Records on August 28, 2007, covers fourteen years of hit singles scored by the R&B group Jacksons between 1969 and 1982. It not only covers the quintet's (or sextet's) early years as the princes of Motown during the late-1960s and early-1970s, their disco innovations in the mid-1970s while still in Motown (1974) and their later funk/disco period while recording for CBS Records and its two divisions: Philadelphia International (1976-77) and Epic (1977-81) during the late-1970s and early-1980s. For further historical value, the collection also includes solo hit singles by the sole two Jackson brothers who scored solo success including Jermaine's 1979 smash, "Let's Get Serious" and Michael's hits spanning from 1971's "Got to Be There", 1972's "Rockin' Robin" and "Ben", 1979's "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" and 1983's legendary "Billie Jean".
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Want You Back" | The Corporation (Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Deke Richards, Alphonzo Mizell) | 2:59 |
| 2. | "ABC" | The Corporation | 2:57 |
| 3. | "The Love You Save" | The Corporation | 3:04 |
| 4. | "I'll Be There" | Berry Gordy, Bob West, Willie Hutch, Hal Davis | 3:56 |
| 5. | "Mama's Pearl" | Berry Gordy, Alphonzo Mizell, Deke Richards, Freddie Perren | 3:10 |
| 6. | "Never Can Say Goodbye" | Clifton Davis | 3:00 |
| 7. | "Got to Be There" | Elliot Willensky | 3:24 |
| 8. | "Rockin' Robin" | Leon René | 2:32 |
| 9. | "Ben" | Don Black, Walter Scharf | 2:47 |
| 10. | "Dancing Machine" (single version) | Hal Davis, Don Fletcher, Dean Parks | 2:37 |
| 11. | "Let's Get Serious" (single version) | Lee Garrett, Stevie Wonder | 3:34 |
| 12. | "Enjoy Yourself" | Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff | 3:25 |
| 13. | "Show You the Way to Go" | Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff | 5:27 |
| 14. | "Blame It on the Boogie" | Mick Jackson, Dave Jackson, Elmar Krohn | 3:30 |
| 15. | "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" (single version) | Michael Jackson, Randy Jackson | 3:46 |
| 16. | "Lovely One" (single version) | Michael Jackson, Randy Jackson | 3:45 |
| 17. | "This Place Hotel" (a.k.a. Heartbreak Hotel) (single version) | Michael Jackson | 4:50 |
| 18. | "Can You Feel It" (single version) | Michael Jackson, Jackie Jackson | 3:51 |
| 19. | "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" | Michael Jackson | 6:04 |
| 20. | "Billie Jean" | Michael Jackson | 4:53 |
Review
For the first time on a single-disc compilation, Hip O's The Jacksons Story combines both the group's Motown and Epic singles along with solo hits by Michael and Jermaine. Spanning 1969-1983, the program begins with early-'70s J5 chart-toppers like "I Want You Back," "I'll Be There," and "ABC," then delves into Michael's initial solo records of the same era: "Ben," "Rockin' Robin," and "Got to Be There." By 1976, the Jacksons had severed their long relationship with Motown and switched to Epic, reflected here by seven noteworthy tunes, including "Enjoy Yourself" and "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)." When the group changed record companies, Jermaine, who was married to the daughter of Motown honcho Berry Gordy, remained and was rewarded with his first solo hit in 1980's "Let's Get Serious." The disc wraps up with two songs that represent the beginning of Michael's solo career in earnest with 1979's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and the massive hit "Billie Jean," released four years later. Though it's not as comprehensive as 1995's 21-track Ultimate Collection, The Jacksons Story holds together well and still offers a decent selection of the band's career highlights.
