Less than two weeks before the 1960s were left to be deciphered in the history books,
Motown
unleashed
Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5
(1969) and in doing so fittingly marked the beginning of a new era in crossover
pop
and
soul
. For all intents and purposes, this dozen-song disc introduced the world to the sibling talents of
Jackie
,
Tito
Jermaine
Marlon
, and most significantly of all, a prepubescent powerhouse named
Michael Jackson
. The brothers' inextricably tight vocal harmonies were fueled by the ebullience of youth and inexperience while the flames of their collective success were stoked with the funkified vibe of urban America. Immediately evident is the influence that
Sly & the Family Stone
(whose
"Stand!"
is an unmitigated zenith in
the Jackson 5
's care),
James Brown
, and even
Funkadelic
had on
the J5
. In fact, the quintet would actually cover
George Clinton
's
"I Bet You"
on their sophomore effort,
ABC
(1970). The burgeoning sounds coming out of Philly were having a similarly sizable impact, as evidenced by the addition of the
Thom Bell
/
William Hart
track
"Can You Remember,"
which is one of the album's highlights. Another discernibly affective force was found closer to home, as they also drew on the considerable
back catalog with
"My Cherie Amour,"
"Standing in the Shadows of Love,"
and a powerful reading of
"(I Know) I'm Losing You."
Under the moniker of "
the Corporation
,"
staffers and artists including
Bobby Taylor
, instrumentalists
Deke Richards
(guitar),
Freddie Perren
(keyboard) , and
Fonce Mizell
(keyboards), and the label's co-founder,
Berry Gordy
, came up with a handful of dominant originals. Prominent among them are the midtempo
"Nobody"
and their double-sided chart-topping single
"I Want You Back"
b/w the
Smokey Robinson
-penned
"Who's Lovin' You."
~ Lindsay Planer