The Jackson 5: Moving Violation - 1975

This was The Jackson 5’s final album in that incarnation and it is actually an attractive piece of mid-seventies disco-ish soul to end a wonderful career on. It paved the way for the sort of music they would soon be releasing as The Jacksons. 

Forever Came Today, the group’s last nod to their Motown heritage, is a six minute plus cover of the Diana Ross & The Supremes hit which is given a groovy, disco makeover. Admittedly this take some of the original pop-soul appeal away from it, but it sort of stands up as a reasonable track, almost like a different song.  It is a bit sprawling and messy, however, lacking cohesion. 

The ebullient Moving Violation puts that right, though, on a more cohesive, catchy Philly-style work out. The song has a mid seventies poppy appeal to it with some nice percussion and guitar. The same can be said for the rhythmic, Harold Melvin-esque (You Were Made) Especially For Me, another track that is very representative of its era. Classic seventies melodic disco soul. 

Honey Love is an upbeat slice of disco pop. Remember it was still the formative period for disco. The genre was still very linked to soulful pop. Once more, it is a good track, full of vitality and verve. Great percussion again too. The boys’ (men’s) vocal were superbly harmonious, merging really well. Body Language (Do The Love Dance) is an even better example, overflowing with rhythm, funky wah-wah guitar, rumbling bass and even a brief sample of Edwin Starr’s War. At the risk of repeating myself, it is a fine, infectious number. The Jacksons were on their way. This song exemplifies that more than any. 

All I Do Is Think Of You is the album’s first smooth, slick ballad with Michael on a solid lead vocal.  It strangely harks back to the group's teen pop period with lyrics about love in the schoolyard that now sounded slightly incongruous. Breezy is a laid-back serving of tuneful, vaguely funky soul. Call Of The Wild is a short, funky guitar-driven rocker that I really like. This was the mid-seventies Jacksons at their very best. Time Explosion also falls into that category, featuring some spacey funk and seriously good vocals. 

It was the vocals that lifted this album higher, making it a seriously underrated good one that was actually a high point, although nobody will ever consider it so. Thanks for six wonderful years, lads, is probably what needs to be said at this juncture. Time moves on, but I am sure many still miss their sheer joie de vivre. I know I do.

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