The Jackson 5: Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 - 1969
This was the album that introduced the world to The Jackson 5, from Gary, Indiana, and notably their lead vocalist, pre-teen Michael Jackson. Buoyed by its incredible success, three more albums in the same style appeared over the next two years.
It is a surprisingly mature offering - full of high quality soul-pop and immaculately played by Motown’s house musicians, The Corporation (Bobby Taylor, Deke Richards, Freddie Perren, Wilton Fender, Gene Pello & Fonce Mizell).
The album would, by the influence of Motown’s marketing department, give the impression that Diana Ross discovered the group. She most certainly did not, the discovery is credited to another Motown artist, Bobby Taylor, with the help of Gladys Knight, something the boys’ father later acknowledged to be the case.
The album begins with a slow-pace, gospelly version of Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah enhanced by some funky wah-wah guitar and a fine fuzzy electric solo. Vocally, it follows the framework of the Phil Spector-produced Bob.B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans version. Nobody is a nice piece of funky pop with young Michael on excellent soulful form.
I Want You Back, (also included on the next album) needs no introduction, does it? It is a wonderful piece of pop perfection. I have known the record now for over fifty years and I never, and I mean never, get tired of it. From that rolling piano intro through its funky guitar, infectious bongos and frantic vocals it is just a pure delight. "A boo-boo-boo-boo-boooh...". Indeed. Love it.
Can You Remember is a slow, melodic ballad of the sort that would come to typify Michael Jackson’s early solo career. Standing In The Shadows Of Love is a slowed-down, brassy and soulful cover of The Four Tops’ song. These lads could handle whatever was thrown their way, it seemed.
You've Changed is an impressive, punchy, brassy soul number that, although it is sung by kids, is not bubblegum pop - it is solid, Stax-y Memphis-influenced soul. It is a great, underrated, little-mentioned Jackson 5 gem. Southside Johnny no doubt loved this. Otis Redding would have done too, had he lived to hear it. It really is surprisingly good and credible too.
Stevie Wonder’s My Cherie Amour is covered efficiently enough with Jermaine on lead vocals and a nice percussion-driven backing. Smokey Robinson’s Who’s Lovin’ You sees Michael back on lead vocals that impressively match Robinson’s. The track has a slow, bluesy feel to it too, that is decidedly uncommercial.
Chained was a Marvin Gaye song that featured Michael on lead once again. It is a solid slice of heavy soul. The Temptations’ (I Know) I'm Losing You is covered remarkably competently by Jermaine.
Sly & The Family Stone’s anthemic Stand also proves no problem for Michael and his brothers. They are helped, undoubtedly, by the high quality of the musicianship behind them, but their performances are still incredibly good. Born To Love You, another Temptations number, gets the same admirable treatment. Although three-quarters of this album was made up of cover versions, it was still a mightily impressive first outing and one that showcased a potential that would, as we all know, be fully realised very soon.
