The Jackson 5: Dancing Machine - 1974

 

By 1974, The Jackson 5, had, to a certain extent, managed to diversify their sound away from bubblegum pop through soul ballads to a more dance-oriented sound with a funky edge. The group had spent the last few years getting frustrated with Motown’s somewhat intransigent treatment of them and the bell was tolling for the relationship. However, they had managed to get things changed a bit and their last few albums for the label were more mature offerings. This was another little-mentioned but quite impressive album, one which began to lay the foundations for their forthcoming career as The Jacksons on the Epic label. Dreadful cover, though. 

I Am Love, Pts 1 & 2 is a surprisingly low-key number to open the album with, although it has a mature, dignified ambience to it, enhanced by some Isley Brothers-style fuzzy guitar interjections. That said, four minutes in, Pt. 2 explodes with some searing funk-rock guitar soloing, powerful drums and strident vocals. It ends as a completely different song. The whole Pt. 1-Pt. 2 concept of two slightly different pieces of music is also very Isley Brothers. From around this period, they were doing it on many tracks. I cannot find out who played guitar on this album, but it is in the Ernie Isley style. It may have been him, probably not, as he was contracted to a different label. 

Whatever You Got, I Want is a solid piece of funky pop with Michael showcasing a deeper, soulful voice. It is a punchy, brassy chugger of a number that once again shows the group's more mature direction. She's A Rhythm Child has Michael and Jermaine taking most of the vocals on another poppy but definitely funky outing. 

Dancing Machine had been included on the previous album, G.I.T. (Get It Together) and did well as a single, with its early disco groove. It is a typical serving of mid-seventies dance-soul. The Life Of The Party also mines that Philly Soul-early disco seam, laying foundations for the sound of the next few years. Soul was moving away from Motown-Stax-Atlantic sounds towards a more dance-ish vibe. 

What You Don't Know is a song in that fuzzy guitar meets movie soundtrack style with a strident brass section to the fore. Michael is proving himself to be a balladeer-pop singer no more, but a funkster, a dancefloor groover. Check out that rumbling bass line too along with the rhythmic percussion breaks. 

There had to be at least one Michael ballad in there, though, and we get it in the syrupy slick soul of If I Don’t Love You This Way. The slow, melodious It All Begins And Ends With Love features all the brothers taking lead vocal parts. The Mirrors Of My Mind ends on an upbeat, funky note with some jazzy flute and funky clavinet driving it along. This was not a bad album, but I can't help but pick up on an "end of an era" feel to it. There would, indeed, be only one more Jackson 5 album after this.

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