Released November 5, 1976 | Length 39:27 | |
Producer Kenneth Gamble & Leon HuffMcFadden & WhiteheadVictor CarstarphenDexter WanselThe Jacksons | ||
The Jacksons is the thirteenth studio album by The Jacksons, the band's first album for CBS and under the name "The Jacksons," following their seven-year tenure at Motown as "The Jackson 5". Jackson 5 member Jermaine Jackson stayed with Motown when his brothers broke their contracts and left for CBS; he was replaced by youngest Jackson brother Randy. The album was released in 1976 for Epic Records and Philadelphia International Records as a joint venture.
Contents
History
Philadelphia International heads Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff produced and executive produced the album, including their first top ten hit in two years "Enjoy Yourself", but had a difficult time focusing on a sound for the now-grown-up boy band. However, the group was able for the first time to write their own material, something that had been denied to them at Motown. The Jacksons composed "Style of Life" and "Blues Away" on their own. "Blues Away" was the first published song written by lead singer Michael Jackson, who began to take a more percussive vocal approach beginning with this album. This album also spawned a second successful R&B single, "Show You the Way to Go" (UK #1). Though never released as a single, "Good Times" became a popular album cut from regular quiet storm airplay. The album itself placed #36 and #6 on the pop and R&B album charts respectively.
The album was the Jacksons' first gold album, despite their having sold more than 10 million albums while at Motown. (Motown's sales and financial records were not presented for auditing by the RIAA until 1976).
Track listing
Side One
- "Enjoy Yourself" (recorded 1976) (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff) – 3:24
- "Think Happy" (recorded 1976) (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff) – 3:07
- "Good Times" (recorded 1976) (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff) – 4:57
- "Keep on Dancing" (recorded 1976) (Dexter Wansel) – 4:31
- "Blues Away" (recorded 1976) (Michael Jackson) – 3:12
Side Two
- "Show You the Way to Go" (recorded 1976) (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff) – 5:30
- "Living Together" (recorded 1976) (Dexter Wansel) – 4:26
- "Strength of One Man" (recorded 1976) (Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Victor Carstarphen) – 3:56
- "Dreamer" (recorded 1976) (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff) – 3:05
- "Style of Life" (recorded 1976) (Tito Jackson, Michael Jackson) – 3:19
Produced by:
1-3, 6, 9 - Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff
4, 7 - Dexter Wansel
5, 10 - Gamble, Leon Huff, Wansel, the Jacksons, Gene McFadden and John Whitehead
8 - McFadden, Whitehead and Victor Carstarphen
Personnel
Michael leads the tracks 4–6 and 9–10 on his own while he and his brother Jackie lead the vocals on tracks 1–3 and 7. All the brothers (except Tito) sing together on track 8.