AnyBlogDotCom: Michael Jackson album by album

(Work in progress. I'm tidying up and updating links from YouTube to Spotify. March 2019. If you like the article, leave a comment or click on an advert - it helps the motivation! )

Michael Jackson was for a while the biggest music artist on the planet, and was responsible for some mega hits, and the biggest selling album of all time - Thriller. Thrust into the spotlight at an early age, and with an abusive father, Jackson did not communicate well outside of his music performances. His reclusiveness, odd behaviour, plastic surgery, and lack of familiar points of reference, such as a girlfriend (or even a boyfriend), his interest in children which prompted - and still does - allegations of sex abuse, gradually made a him a target of the press under the nickname "Wacko Jacko", and his music became slightly darker, self-absorbed, and less interesting. But at his peak he produced three great solo albums, and a host of catchy singles.

Michael Jackson emerged as lead singer with the Jackson 5, a vocal group composed entirely of the Jackson brothers. After working briefly with two small labels (Steeltown and Dynamo), the Jacksons signed with Motown. The Jackson's first single was "Big Boy", released in January 1968 on the short-lived Steeltown Records. The next single, the first with Motown, "I Want You Back", released Oct, 1969, went to No 1: a star was born! Second single, "ABC", released Feb 1970, knocked the Beatles off the top spot. I remember hearing that song at the time. Very catchy, but I affected not to like it as I was getting into rock, and this was clearly a bit of a girly song. The young Jackson is 11 years old at this point. The next two singles, "The Love You Save", May 1970, and "I'll Be There", August 1970, also reached No 1 (here's an acapella version). Jackson worked both as a solo artist and with the Jackson 5 from 1972 until 1984, when he left the group. His best work with Motown is the Jackson 5 singles - but they are Motown sounds. Indeed, as was Berry Gordy's way, he wanted to keep Michael and the Jacksons purely as a Motown product - singing Motown songs. But the brothers, especially Michael, wanted to do their own thing, so in 1976 the band signed with CBS Records (now called Sony Music) - all their new material would now be released on the Epic label. While the Jacksons continued to have some success with Epic, it did not really compare to their Motown output, and pales almost into insignificance compared to Michael's solo work.

Solo albums

Got To Be There
January 1972

The first solo album, Got To Be There, is a mix of covers and Motown staff songs. Some of the songs were successfully released as singles: the title track, and "Rockin' Robin" in particular. The album shows the richness of Jackson's voice; impressive for a 13 year old, but he does sound young - in fact, younger than 13 at times. Not an offensive album, but only of interest to die-hard Jackson fans.

Released	January 24, 1972
Recorded	1971–72
Genre	Pop, R&B
Length	35:45
Label	Motown
Producer	Hal Davis, The Corporation, Willie Hutch

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Ain't No Sunshine" (recorded July – November 1971)	Bill Withers	4:09
2.	"I Wanna Be Where You Are" (recorded July – November 1971)	Arthur "T-Boy" Ross Leon Ware	3:00
3.	"Girl Don't Take Your Love from Me" (recorded July – November 1971)	Willie Hutch	3:46
4.	"In Our Small Way" (recorded July – November 1971)	Beatrice Verdi Christine Yarian	3:34
5.	"Got to Be There" (recorded June 1971)	Elliot Willensky	3:23

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"Rockin' Robin" (recorded July – November 1971)	Jimmie Thomas	2:30
7.	"Wings of My Love" (recorded July – November 1971)	The Corporation	3:32
8.	"Maria (You Were the Only One)" (recorded June – July 1971)	Lawrence Brown Linda Glover George Gordy Allen Story	3:41
9.	"Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" (recorded July – November 1971)	Holland-Dozier-Holland	2:51
10.	"You've Got a Friend" (recorded July – November 1971)	Carole King	4:45

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 5
Score: 3

Ben
August 1972

The second solo album, Ben, contains the successful title single, "Ben", from the film Ben, about a rat called Ben, and a lot of filler. For die-hard Jackson fans only.

Released	August 4, 1972
Recorded	November 1971 – February 1972
Genre	Pop, R&B
Length	31:31
Label	Motown
Producer	Hal Davis, The Corporation, Mel Larson, Jerry Marcellino

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Ben" (recorded November 1971)	Walter Scharf, Don Black	2:42
2.	"Greatest Show on Earth"	Mel Larson, Jerry Marcellino	2:47
3.	"People Make the World Go Round"	Thom Bell, Linda Creed	3:15
4.	"We've Got a Good Thing Going"	The Corporation	3:01
5.	"Everybody's Somebody's Fool"	Gladys Hampton, Regina Adams, Ace Adams	2:58

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"My Girl"	Smokey Robinson, Ronald White	3:05
7.	"What Goes Around Comes Around"	Allen Levinsky, Arthur Stokes, Dana Meyers, Floyd Weatherspoon	3:35
8.	"In Our Small Way"	Beatrice Verdi, Christine Yarian	3:39
9.	"Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day"	Sylvia Moy, Henry Cosby, Stevie Wonder	3:19
10.	"You Can Cry on My Shoulder"	Berry Gordy	2:32

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 8
Score: 3

Music & Me
April 1973

Music & Me is another poor album. No songs by Jackson himself, and his voice is still too reedy and young for carrying a solo album. Jackson, like Wonder and Gaye, was becoming frustrated by the constraints of working within Motown. Fairly dire.

Released	April 15, 1973
Recorded	March 1972 – January 1973
Genre	Pop, R&B
Length	32:09
Label	Motown
Producer	Hal Davis

Side A
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"With a Child's Heart"	Sylvia Moy, Henry Cosby, Vicki Basemore	3:34
2.	"Up Again"	Freddie Perren, Christine Yarian	2:47
3.	"All the Things You Are"	Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern	2:55
4.	"Happy" (Love Theme from Lady Sings the Blues)	Michel Legrand, Smokey Robinson	3:19
5.	"Too Young"	Sidney Lippman, Sylvia Dee	3:37

Side B
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"Doggin' Around"	Lena Agree	2:52
7.	"Euphoria"	Leon Ware, Jacqueline Hilliard	2:48
8.	"Morning Glow"	Stephen Schwartz	3:36
9.	"Johnny Raven"	Billy Page	3:31
10.	"Music and Me"	Marcellino, Larson, Fenceton, Cannon	2:35

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 6
Score: 2

Forever, Michael
January 1975

Forever, Michael is the last solo Jackson Motown album. His voice, though still awkwardly reedy, is developing, and the song choice and arrangement is moving to a more sophisticated soul sound that we can recognise as Michael Jackson. Still weak in comparison to what he did later, this is, however, the best of the Motown albums, and is listenable.

Released	January 16, 1975
Recorded	October–December 1974
Genre	Soul^[1] funk^[2]
Length	33:36
Label	Motown
Producer	Edward Holland, Jr, . Brian Holland, Hal Davis, Freddie Perren, Sam Brown III

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"We're Almost There"	Edward Holland, Jr. Brian Holland	3:41
2.	"Take Me Back"	E. Holland B. Holland	3:29
3.	"One Day in Your Life"	Sam Brown III Renée Armand	4:15
4.	"Cinderella Stay Awhile"	Mack David Michael Burnett Sutton	3:11
5.	"We've Got Forever"	David Elliot Willensky	3:12
6.	"Just a Little Bit of You"	E. Holland B. Holland	3:14
7.	"You Are There"	Brown Randy Meitzenheimer Christine Yarian	3:23
8.	"Dapper-Dan"	Hal Davis Willensky	3:08
9.	"Dear Michael"	Davis Willensky	2:37
10.	"I'll Come Home to You"	Freddie Perren Christine Yarian	3:05

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 6
Score: 4

Off the Wall
August 1979

Off the Wall is Jackson's breakthrough album. His first with his new record label, Epic Its blend of rock, pop and soul creates a wonderful smooth yet energetic sound. Fresh, yet cool. Jackson picks up just at the point when Stevie Wonder is fading. A work of brilliance. This is the album that started modern R&B - its influence and importance is incalculable. This is probably Jackson's most important work (though Thriller would be more popular and commercially successful, and would be the album that sold modern/contemporary R&B to the public and to other recording artists). He and Quincy Jones developed a smooth rhythmic very danceable style of music that would become known as modern or contemporary R&B - quite possibly the most successful musical style of the 21st century.

How much of this album is Quincy Jones and how much is Jackson? Certainly the voice is all Jackson, and boy has his voice improved. But the sound is down to Jones - this is Sounds... (1978), the album he made just before making Off The Wall with Jackson. It's cool, it's funky, it's smooth, it's a blend of Philly with pop. Hmmm.....

Released	August 10, 1979
Recorded	December 4, 1978 – June 3, 1979
Studio	Allen Zentz, Westlake, and Cherokee, Los Angeles, California
Genre	Disco funk pop R&B
Length	42:28
Label	Epic, CBS
Producer	Quincy Jones

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"	Michael Jackson	Quincy Jones, Jackson (co.)	6:02
2.	"Rock with You"	Rod Temperton	Jones	3:38
3.	"Working Day and Night"	Jackson	Jones, Jackson (co.)	5:10
4.	"Get on the Floor"	Jackson, Louis Johnson	Jones, Jackson (co.)	4:42

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
5.	"Off the Wall"	Temperton	Jones	4:11
6.	"Girlfriend"	Paul McCartney	Jones	3:08
7.	"She's Out of My Life"	Tom Bahler	Jones	3:41
8.	"I Can't Help It"	Stevie Wonder, Susaye Greene	Jones	4:28
9.	"It's the Falling in Love"	Carole Sager, David Foster	Jones	3:52
10.	"Burn This Disco Out"	Temperton	Jones	3:39

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 10
Score: 10

Thriller
November 1982

Thriller continued what Jackson and Quincy Jones started with Off the Wall, though with more pop, and with much more success. Pretty much every track on this album will be familiar to almost every living person in the Western world. This is the best selling album of all time with sales of around 60 million. Just edges Off the Wall in terms of playability and familiarity, though I have more respect for that album. On reflection I think Off the Wall and Thriller are equally great and equally important.

Released	November 30, 1982
Recorded	April 14 – November 8, 1982
Studio	Westlake, Los Angeles, California
Genre	Pop, post-disco, rock, funk
Length	42:19
Label	Epic
Producer	Quincy Jones

Side One
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"	Michael Jackson	Quincy Jones, Jackson^[a]	6:02
2.	"Baby Be Mine"	Rod Temperton	Jones	4:20
3.	"The Girl Is Mine" (with McCartney)	Jackson	Jones, Jackson^[a]	3:41
4.	"Thriller"	Temperton	Jones	5:57

Side Two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
5.	"Beat It"	Jackson	Jones, Jackson^[a]	4:18
6.	"Billie Jean"	Jackson	Jones, Jackson^[a]	4:54
7.	"Human Nature"	Steve Porcaro, John Bettis	Jones	4:07
8.	"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"	James Ingram, Jones	Jones	3:58
9.	"The Lady in My Life"	Temperton	Jones	4:59

Wikipedia
AllMusic
Score: 10

Bad
August 1987

Bad is the third of Jackson's critically and commercially successful solo Epic albums. At this point he is the biggest pop star on the planet and rivals The Beatles and Elvis Presley in terms of global recognition and impact. This record is much funkier and darker than previous albums - though still has a bright fresh pop feel - it is a safe, cuddly and sweet bad.

Released	August 31, 1987
Recorded	January 1985 – July 1987
Studio	Westlake, Los Angeles, California
Genre	Pop, rock, funk, R&B, dance, soul
Length	48:40
Label	Epic, CBS
Producer	Quincy Jones

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Bad"	4:08
2.	"The Way You Make Me Feel"	4:59
3.	"Speed Demon"	4:03
4.	"Liberian Girl"	3:55
5.	"Just Good Friends" (with Stevie Wonder; writers: Terry Britten, Graham Lyle)	4:09

Side two
No.	Title	Length
6.	"Another Part of Me"	3:55
7.	"Man in the Mirror" (writers: Siedah Garrett, Glen Ballard)	5:21
8.	"I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (with Siedah Garrett)	4:27
9.	"Dirty Diana"	4:42
10.	"Smooth Criminal"	4:20
11.	"Leave Me Alone"	4:41

All tracks but three were written by Jackson.

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 9 1/2
Score: 8

Dangerous
November 1991

Dangerous is another critical and commercially successful album producing a string of hit singles. The music on this is again harder, deeper, and more urban. A journey Jackson is taking away from the pop of Motown. Yet at all times keeping an eye on the pop market. There's much here that emulates Prince. It's funky, but less appealing than his previous Epic albums. Production is functional, and does not compare with the expansive, inventive, musical, and somewhat glorious production of Quincy Jones. At times the musical approach is rather simplistic, which aids its wide appeal, but makes it less interesting and attractive to those who have a wider knowledge and experience of music. While 9 of the tracks were released as singles, with the possible exception of "Black or White", none of the tracks are among Jackson's best, and few, if any, will be remembered. The first two sides are more Teddy Riley than Jackson, as can be heard when listening to Riley's first albums, Guy (1988) and The Future (1990). Some of those tracks could be slipped into a playlist of Dangerous and wouldn't sound out of place. It was Riley who created the new jack swing sound that he uses on Dangerous. The point at which production moves from Riley to Bruce Swedien with "Heal The World" is very noticeable, as it feels as though the album has just stepped back into the Motown era. It's professional, but lacking in originality or sensitivity or touch. Rather crude with cliched orchestration, sounding more like a Coke advert from the early 70s than a track from the best selling album in the 90s. Of the two, I much prefer the Coke advert which, though a commercial advert with clear commercial intention, did somehow capture the zeitgeist of the time. The other three Swedien productions, "Will You Be There", "Keep The Faith", and "Gone Too Soon" are similarly drenched in antiquated Sixties/early Seventies mainstream pop strings, and the overall impression is that these songs come from the early Jackson solo albums. "Gone Too Soon" reminds me of "Ben". The final track, "Dangerous" takes us back to Riley's new jack swing, again causing a stylistic jar. This is not a unified album at all. The best tracks are those produced and co-written by Bill Bottrell, particularly "Black & White", the standout track on the album.

Pitchfork;

Released	November 26, 1991
Recorded	June 1989 – October 1991^[1]
Studio	Larrabee Sound, Record Plant, Record One, and Westlake (Los Angeles, California) Ocean Way Recording (Hollywood, California) Smoketree Ranch (Chatsworth, California) Toad Hall (Pasadena, California)
Genre	New jack swing, R&B pop
Length	77:03
Label	Epic
Producer	Bill Bottrell Bruce Swedien Michael Jackson Teddy Riley

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Jam"	MJ, Moore, Swedien, Riley	MJ, Riley, Swedien	5:39
2.	"Why You Wanna Trip on Me"	Riley, Belle	MJ, Riley	5:24
3.	"In the Closet"	MJ, Riley	MJ, Riley	6:32

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
4.	"She Drives Me Wild"	Jackson, Riley, Davidson	Jackson, Riley	3:42
5.	"Remember the Time"	Jackson, Riley, Belle	Jackson, Riley	4:01
6.	"Can't Let Her Get Away"	Jackson, Riley	Jackson, Riley	4:59
7.	"Heal the World"	Jackson	Jackson, Swedien	6:25

Side three
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
8.	"Black or White"	Jackson, Bottrell	Jackson, Bottrell	4:16
9.	"Who Is It"	Jackson	Jackson, Bottrell	6:35
10.	"Give In to Me"	Jackson, Bottrell	Jackson, Bottrell	5:30

Side four
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
11.	"Will You Be There"	Jackson	Jackson, Swedien	7:41
12.	"Keep the Faith"	Jackson, Ballard, Garrett	Jackson, Swedien	5:57
13.	"Gone Too Soon"	Grossman, Kohan	Jackson, Swedien	3:22
14.	"Dangerous"	Jackson, Bottrell, Riley	Jackson, Riley	6:57

"Black or White"

The video made a greater impact than the song itself. It was simultaneously broadcast in 27 countries to 500 million viewers - which is comparable to the the broadcast of The Beatles' "All You Need Is Love" back in June 1967 (the Beatles contribution to the Our World show, viewed by up to 800 million people - sadly only a short clip of The Beatles performance is available these days).

Guardian article; reaction;

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 7
Score: 4

A image of a silver status that is wearing a military-like outfit and has its hair clipped behind its head. To the left of the statue the words "MICHAEL JACKSON" are written in white letters and underneath those two words are other words written in smaller white print. Behind the statue, a sky with clouds that are black and red can be seen.

HIStory
July 1995

HIStory is a double album, and is the first on Jackson's own record label. The first disc is a hits compilation (always useful to have, and this is a decent enough compilation), the second is the original songs. The compilation disc is good, but the original songs disc is weary, self-indulgent, whining, and out of touch with reality. This is the point where Jackson was behaving oddly and the press were having a field day with him, calling him "Wacko Jacko". The album is supposed to be his angry response to that, but it isn't a well thought out response "Earth Song" was the big single - and its video, in which Jackson saves the planet by singing one of the crudest protest songs ever, turned even more people off him. Jarvis Cocker's wonderful response to Jackson's performance of the song at the Brits has gone down in legend.

Released	June 20, 1995^[1]
Recorded	1979–91 (disc 1) 1986–95 (disc 2)
Genre	Pop, R&B, hip hop
Length	148:57
Label	Epic Sony MJJ
Producer	Michael Jackson, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Dallas Austin, Bruce Swedien, René Moore, David Foster, Bill Bottrell

Disc one: *HIS*tory Begins/*Greatest Hits: HIStory, Volume I*
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Billie Jean" (from Thriller, 1982)	Michael Jackson	Quincy Jones M. Jackson^[a]	4:54
2.	"The Way You Make Me Feel" (from Bad, 1987)	M. Jackson	Jones M. Jackson^[a]	4:58
3.	"Black or White" (from Dangerous, 1991)	M. Jackson Bill Bottrell	M. Jackson Bottrell	4:16
4.	"Rock with You" (from Off the Wall, 1979)	Rod Temperton	Jones	3:40
5.	"She's Out of My Life" (from Off the Wall)	Tom Bahler	Jones	3:38
6.	"Bad" (from Bad)	M. Jackson	Jones M. Jackson^[a]	4:07
7.	"I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (duet with Siedah Garrett) (from Bad)	M. Jackson	Jones M. Jackson^[a]
8.	"Man in the Mirror" (from Bad)	Siedah Garrett Glen Ballard	Jones M. Jackson^[a]	5:19
9.	"Thriller" (from Thriller)	Temperton	Jones	5:58
10.	"Beat It" (from Thriller)	M. Jackson	Jones M. Jackson^[a]	4:18
11.	"The Girl Is Mine" (duet with Paul McCartney) (from Thriller)	M. Jackson	Jones M. Jackson^[a]	3:42
12.	"Remember the Time" (from Dangerous)	Teddy Riley M. Jackson Bernard Belle	M. Jackson Riley	4:00
13.	"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (from Off the Wall)	M. Jackson	Jones M. Jackson^[a]	6:06
14.	"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (from Thriller)	M. Jackson	Jones M. Jackson^[a]	6:03
15.	"Heal the World" (from Dangerous)	M. Jackson	M. Jackson Bruce Swedien^[a]	6:25

Disc two: *HIS*tory Continues
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Scream"	Harris III, Lewis, MJ, J. Jackson	Jimmy Jam, Lewis, MJ, J. Jackson	4:38
2.	"They Don't Care About Us"	M. Jackson	M. Jackson	4:44
3.	"Stranger In Moscow"	M. Jackson	M. Jackson	5:44
4.	"This Time Around"	M. J. , Austin, Swedien, Wallace	Austin Jackson Swedien^[a] Rene^[a]	4:21
5.	"Earth Song"	M. Jackson	M. Jackson David Foster Bottrell^[a]	6:48
6.	"D.S."	M. Jackson	M. Jackson	4:49
7.	"Money"	M. Jackson	M. Jackson	4:42
8.	"Come Together"	John Lennon Paul McCartney	M. Jackson Bottrell	4:03
9.	"You Are Not Alone"	R. Kelly	Kelly & M. Jackson	6:30
10.	"Childhood"	M. Jackson	M. Jackson & Foster	4:28
11.	"Tabloid Junkie"	M. Jackson Harris III Lewis	MJ, Jam, Lewis	4:33
12.	"2 Bad"	Jackson Swedien Rene Austin	MJ, Jam, Lewis, Swedien, Rene	4:50
13.	"HIStory"	M. Jackson, Harris III, Lewis	M. Jackson Jimmy Jam Lewis	6:38
14.	"Little Susie"	M. Jackson	M. Jackson	6:15
15.	"Smile"	Turner, Parsons, Chaplin	Foster M. Jackson	4:56

AllMusic: 6
Score: Compilation disc: 5 New material: 2

Invincible
October 2001

Invincible is Jackson's last album. It's a cleaner, lighter, and more balanced album than HIStory, but most critics didn't like it. Almost all felt it was too long. While not offensive or dull, there's little here of interest to the general reader. The Motown solo albums, while weak, are more listenable.

Released	October 30, 2001
Recorded	October 1997 – September 2001
Studio	Various[show]
Genre	R&B pop soul
Length	76:48
Label	Epic Sony
Producer	Michael Jackson Rodney Jerkins Teddy Riley Dr. Freeze Andre Harris Kenneth" Babyface" Edmonds R. Kelly

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Unbreakable" (featuring The Notorious B.I.G.)	Michael Jackson Rodney Jerkins Fred Jerkins III LaShawn Daniels Nora Payne Robert Smith Christopher George Latore Wallace	Jackson Jerkins	6:25
2.	"Heartbreaker" (featuring Fats)	Jackson Jerkins Jerkins III Daniels Mischke Norman Gregg	Jackson Jerkins	5:10
3.	"Invincible" (featuring Fats)	Jackson Jerkins Jerkins III Daniels Gregg	Jackson Jerkins	4:45
4.	"Break of Dawn"	Jackson Elliot Straite	Dr. Freeze	5:32
5.	"Heaven Can Wait"	Jackson Teddy Riley Andreao "Fanatic" Heard Nate Smith Teron Beal Eritza Laues Kenny Quiller	Jackson Riley Heard (co) N. Smith (co)	4:49
6.	"You Rock My World"	Jackson Jerkins Jerkins III Daniels Payne	Jackson Jerkins	5:39
7.	"Butterflies"	Andre Harris Marsha Ambrosius	Jackson Harris	4:40
8.	"Speechless"	Jackson	Jackson	3:18
9.	"2000 Watts"	Jackson Riley Tyrese Gibson JaRon Henson	Jackson Riley	4:24
10.	"You Are My Life"	Jackson Kenneth Edmonds Carole Bayer Sager John McClain	Jackson Babyface	4:33
11.	"Privacy"	Jackson Jerkins Jerkins III Daniels Bernard Belle	Jackson Jerkins	5:05
12.	"Don't Walk Away"	Jackson Riley Richard Carlton Stites Reed Vertelney	Jackson Riley	4:25
13.	"Cry"	Robert Kelly	Jackson Kelly	5:01
14.	"The Lost Children"	Jackson	Jackson	4:00
15.	"Whatever Happens" (featuring Carlos Santana)	Jackson Riley	Jackson Riley	4:56
16.	"Threatened"	Jackson Jerkins Jerkins III Daniels	Jackson Jerkins	4:19

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 6
Score: 2

The Jackson 5 / The Jacksons albums

Motown

Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5
(Dec, 1969)

A bright and breezy debut, though it sounds a little dated. Contains "I Want You Back", a sulty bluesy version of Smokey Robinson's "Who's Loving' You", and, interestingly, a Motowned version of Sly Stone's "Stand!" (Sly's original version). Stone's funk influence would emerge later after the Jackson's left Motown.

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 8

Rating: 4

ABC (May 1970)

A typical Motown album, same writers, producers and musicians as the other albums by other Motown artists - differentiated only by the young Michael's piercing voice. Contains ABC, a decent cover of Stevie Wonder's "Don't Know Why I Love You", and - interestingly - another cover of an early funk song - Funkadelic's pyschadelic "I'll Bet You" done in a Norman Whitfield Motownstyle of Psychedelic soul (Funkadelic's original version). A listenable record, though not as strong as the debut.

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 9

Rating: 3

Third Album (Sept 1970)

A random mix of upbeat rock ("Going Back to Indiana"), psychedelic soul ("Can I See You in The Morning") , and funk ("How Funky is your Chicken"). It's harmless stuff. Also contains the hit "I'll Be There".

Rating 3

Christmas Album (Oct, 1970)

Christmas albums were common with Motown. This is one of the worse. No redeemable factor at all. Unlistenable.

Rating: 1

Maybe Tomorrow (April, 1971)

Contains "Never Can Say Goodbye", but otherwise there is nothing interesting here, just background music.

Rating: 3

Lookin' Through the Windows
(May, 1972)

Just going through the motions. Lacks excitement.

Rating: 3

Skywriter (March, 1973)

Inoffensive, but why bother?

Rating: 3

Get It Together (Sept, 1973)

Contains the funky hit "Dancing Machine". The album is less poppy and lively than the early Motown albums - more funk and disco focused. "Hum Along and Dance" gets into a groove, but is rather childish when heard next to The Temptation's original version.

Rating: 3

Dancing Machine (Sept, 1974)

More plodding disco funk. The album is built around the success of Dancing Machine from the previous album, and repeats that track here. It's a listenable album, but doesn't hit any sweet spots.

Rating: 3

Moving Violation (May, 1975)

Aiming at the growing disco market, the album contains the near 7 minute opener "Forever Came Today", but otherwise doesn't excite interest.

Rating: 3

Epic/CBS

The Jacksons (Nov, 1976)

Rating: 3

Goin' Places (Oct, 1977)

Rating: 3

Destiny (Dec, 1978)

Contains "Blame it on The Boogie" and "Shake Your Body". Overall a tight and enjoyable disco record, with some moments of pleasure.

Rating: 5

Triumph (Sept, 1980)

Contains "Can You Feel It". Listenable, but not as strong as Destiny.

Rating: 3

Victory (June, 1984)

The final album the Jacksons made with Michael. A little crude, but does contain the pleasant slow ballad Be Not Always, though also has the leaden State of Shock with Mick Jagger.

Rating: 3

Conclusion

Voice
As a soul and pop voice it's amazing - very fluid and attractive and sweet, and Jackson adds to it with his hics, squeals, oohs and ahs, which have been much copied. While there is tenderness in the voice, it lacks emotional depth and it lacks range, but for what Jackson does it's perfect
8/10

Image
Not great. He went from a child to a wacky adult with only a brief moment at the time of Off The Wall when he had the potential to be cool. While people enjoy his music, he's not taken seriously, even among music critics aware of his influence in the area of commercial funk.
2/10

Lyrics
They work but he's not saying anything interesting. Words strung together to go with the music. Best lyric is possibly "Billie Jean", but that's more because of the curiosity as to what is going on.
4/10

Music
His strength is partly his voice and partly the music. This is funk music and smooth soul married to middle of the road pop. It's elegant and pleasant and very commercial without being pap. Yes, it hasn't got the edge of true funk or the sophistication and groove of the best of smooth soul, but it's damn fine pop music.
7/10

Impact/Influence
He had a global reach and while he mostly had a poor image, for many youngsters his dance moves and his dress sense were very attractive. While he simply absorbed and copied other music styles, he was influential in making funk very commercial, and in paving the way for the popular acceptance of hip hop. His approach to music videos and his use of choreographed dance has been much admired and copied.
7/10

Importance
Global popularity. Making black music accessible and commercial. Videos and dance moves.
7/10

Popularity
Hugely popular. One of the best selling artists of all time. Possibly third best selling.
10/10

Star quality
A star. Not taken as seriously as he deserved for his talent, appeal, and commercial sales, but a star.
9/10

Emotional appeal
He had tenderness in his sweet voice. But his appeal was mainly in the overall sound and the rhythm.
3/10

Legacy
He is likely to be remembered for his global popularity, and for being a bridge between commercial pop and rhythmic black music, paving the way for the acceptance of harder black music styles such as hip hop.
6/10

Total: 63/100

Links
*Wikipedia article on Michael Jackson
*Wikipedia article on the Jackson 5
*Official Michael Jackson website
*Official Jacksons website

*Telegraph on the solo albums