MICHAEL JACKSONS ALBUMs: May 2010

Got To Be There

Got To Be There was Michael Jackson's very first solo album, released in January 1972 when he was 13 years old. Up to the release date in the Jackson 5 had already released 6 albums within 3 years.

The first single was title track "Got To Be There" which was a Top 10 hit in both the US and the UK. The second single "Rockin Robin'" hit the number 2 spot in the singles chart on both sides of the Atlantic. Different third singles were released in the US and UK, with the well known Bill Withers hit "Ain't No Sunshine" making it a hatrick of Top 10 hits in the UK from the album.
The album also includes a cover of the The Supreme's number one hit single "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone"

Album Track listings:

1. Ain't No Sunshine

2. I Wanna Be Where You Are

3. Girl Don't Take Your Love From Me

4. In Our Small Way

5. Got to Be There

6. Rockin' Robin

7. Wings of My Love

8. Maria (You Were the Only One)

9. Love Is Here and Now You're Gone

10. You've Got a Friend

Forever,Michael

Forever, Michael Album

With Michael's first 3 albums being released within 15 months, It was nearly 2 years (21 months) until Michael released his fourth and final solo album with Motwon Records.

Michael was now 16 and his voice and singing style had changed since his earliest Motown recordings.

Only 2 singles were originally released in the U.S with "Just A Little Bit of You" making the Top 30.

In 1981, in a bid to capitlise on Michael's new found solo success after leaving Mowtown Records and releasing the smash hit album "Off The Wall" Motown put together various Michael and Jackson 5 recordings including the album track "One Day In Your Life". They also named the album "One Day in Your Life" as well as releasing it as a single where it went on to hit number one in the Uk and become one of the biggest hits of the year.

Album Track listings: . We're Almost There

2. Take Me Back

3. One Day in Your Life

4. Cinderella Stay Awhile

5. We've Got Forever

6. Just a Little Bit of You

7. You Are There

8. Dapper Dan

9. Dear Michael

10. I'll Come Home to You

Music and Me:Released in 1973

This was the third solo album for Michael Jackson with Motown Records, all 3 of which were released with 15 months.

Michael was now 14 years old and his voice was beginning to change on this album. It was also the start of the time when Michael was beginning to want more input into his music in terms of playing instruments and contributing to some of the song writing. However Motown would not allow Michael to express any of this creativity.
The album was given little promotion, with only the Stevie Wonder cover "With a Child's Heart" being released in the U.S and the Smokey Robinson penned track "Happy" which was also theme to "Lady Sings the Blue" released in the UK. Both of which failed to chart high.

Album Track listings:

1. With a Child's Heart

2. Up Again

3. All the Things You Are

4. Happy (a theme from Lady Sings the Blues)

5. Too Young

6. Doggin' Around

7. Johnny Raven

8. Euphoria

9. Morning Glow

10. Music and Me

Ben:1972

Released in August 1972 the album "Ben" was Michael's second solo album as a young artist for Motown. It was released just 7 months after his first album "Got To Be There". A Jackson 5 album "Lookin' Through the Windows" had also been released in the May.

Only one single was released from the album, the title track "Ben" which sold over 1 million copies and was the theme tune to a movie called "Ben", which was about a young boy and his pet rat.
No other tracks were released but the album includes the well known track "My Girl" co-wriiten by Smokey Robinson. the album also includes a track "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" so-written by Stevie Wonder and "You Can Cry on My Shoulder" written by Mowtown founder Berry Gordy.
All 3 of these Mowtown legends were to later speak fondly of Michael at his memorial service in 2009.

Album Track listings:

1. Ben

2. The Greatest Show on Earth

3. People Make the World Go Round

4. We've Got a Good Thing Going

5. Everybody's Somebody's Fool

6. My Girl

7. What Goes Around Comes Around

8. In Our Small Way

9. Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day

10. You Can Cry on My Shoulder