THE JACKSONS-THE JACKSONS.

dereksmusicblog ♦ May 16, 2012 ♦ Leave a comment

THE JACKSONS-THE JACKSONS.

After the release if their 1975 album Moving Violation, it was all change for The Jacksons. They’d left Motown, the record company they’d called home for seven years, since the release of their first album Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5 in 1969. That was the first of ten studio albums for Motown. Now they were signed to CBS Records, having broken their Motown contract. Jemaine however, decided to stay at Motown, but was replaced by Randy, the youngest Jackson brother. Their first album for CBS would be a joint venture, between Epic and Philadelphia International Records. The joint venture meant that The Jacksons would be produced by Gamble and Huff, who were the most successful production team of the seventies. With Gamble and Huff producing The Jacksons’ first album for CBS, this was the dream team.  Add to the equation, being able to draw upon the combined talents of Philadelphia International’s songwriters, arrangers, producers and musicians, this would prove to be the most successful album of The Jackson’s career. Once I’ve told you about the background to the album, I’ll tell you about the music on The Jacksons.

Ten songs were chosen for The Jacksons, with Gamble and Huff co-writing five of the tracks. The prolific and successful songwriting team of Gene McFadden, John Whitehead and Victor Carstarphen wrote Strength of One Man. Dexter Wansel wrote  two tracks, Keep On Dancing and Living Together. On The Jacksons, Michael Jackson would make his songwriting debut, writing Blues Away and co-writing Style of Life with brother Tito. With the ten tracks written, recording would take place at Philadelphia’s legendary Sigma Sound Studios.

Recording of The Jacksons took place between June and October 1976, apart from the vocals for Style of Life and Blues Away. They were recorded at Chicago’s Paragon Studios. Accompanying The Jacksons, would be Philadelphia International Record’s legendary house band M.F.S.B. Arranging the tracks were some of Philadelphia International’s top arrangers. Bobby Martin arranged three tracks, Jack Faith two tracks and Dexter Wansel four tracks. Gamble and Huff produced five tracks, while Dexter Wansel produced two tracks and Gene McFadden, John Whitehead and Victor Carstarphen one track. The Jacksons were involved in producing two tracks, Blues Away and Style of Life. Recording of the album was completed by October 1976. All that was left was for The Jacksons to be released in November 1976.

Before the release of The Jacksons, Enjoy Yourself was the first single released from the album at the end of October 1976. It reached number six in the US Billboard 100, number two in the US R&B Charts and number forty-two in the UK. This was just the start of the success, with The Jacksons released in November 1976. The Jacksons reached number thirty-six in the US Billboard 200 and number six in the US R&B Charts, resulting in the first gold disc of The Jacksons’ career, despite having previously sold over ten-million albums whilst signed to Motown. Over in the UK, The Jacksons, reached just number fifty-four. Show You the Way To Go was released as a single in January 1977, reaching number twenty-eight in the US Billboard 100  and number six in the US R&B Charts, but reaching number one in the UK. Dreamer, penned by Gamble and Huff, was the third and final single released from The Jacksons. While it failed to chart in the US, it reached number twenty-two in the UK. Overall, The Jacksons’ career had been rejuvenated, with their first post-Motown album giving the group their first gold disc in the US, plus a number one in the UK. It seems that The Jacksons and Gamble and Huff were the dream team, as you’ll realize when I tell you about the music on The Jacksons.

Opening The Jacksons first album for CBS is Enjoy Yourself, written and produced by Gamble and Huff, with Bobby Martin arranging the track. The rhythm section, percussion and bursts of punchy, rasping horns give way to Jackie and Michael’s vocal. This is one of three tracks they share lead vocal duties. Behind them, the rest of The Jacksons, add sweet, soaring harmonies. Meanwhile, the arrangement is uplifting, with the rhythm section giving the track a hypnotic heartbeat, while horns punctuate the track. Michael’s vocal is key to the track, he’s like cheerleader, encouraging the group, forcing them to greater heights of joyousness. Together The Jacksons succeed in creating in joyous, uplifting track that gets the album of the a storming start.

Think Happy sees a moody bass line and percussion combining, before the rhythm section, complete with rocky guitars change the track totally. Strings cascade, swirling and sweeping Jackie and Michael share the vocal. The interplay between the lead vocals is seamless and peerless, with layers of backing vocals and swathes of strings combining. Add to this flourishes of piano, bursts of braying horns and a rhythm section that combine with the strings to create occasional bursts of drama. Gamble and Huff, plus arranger Bobby Martin provide a backdrop that’s like musical sunshine, perfect for The Jackson’s seamless fusion of soul and pop.

On Good Times, the tempo drops way down, allowing Michael and Jackie to deliver a beautiful ballad. This Gamble and Huff penned and produced track, with a classic Jack Faith arrangement. It has a subtle, understated sound, allowing one of The Jackson’s best vocals to take centre-stage. Both Michael and Jackie deliver the lyrics with a tenderness, while the harmonies soar elegantly and gracefully. The arrangement sees the rhythm section and percussion play with care and subtlety, with layers of the lushest strings and with gentle horns accompanying the vocal. This results in one of the most beautiful, and best songs on the album, where The Jacksons come of age as a group.

Dexter Wansel wrote, arranged and produced Keep On Dancing, a track that points to the Jacksons’ more grownup sound. There’s a tougher, funkier edge to a dance-floor friendly track. To me, Michael’s vocal style it points towards the future direction his career would take. It’s a song of two parts almost, with the first two minutes slower, with the rhythm section and keyboards accompanying Michael’s vocal, which is powerful and dramatic. The with horns serenading them, The Jacksons combine delivering punchy vocals, while Michael drives the track along. Quite simply, he’s full of energy and enthusiasm, while a funky rhythm section, wah-wah guitars, keyboards and blazing horns accompany him. Although a song of two parts, it’s a song with surprises and subtleties that will charm and enthrall you, while pointing towards the future direction of Michael’s career.

Blues Away saw Michael Jackson make his songwriting debut, on one of the slower songs on The Jacksons. He sings the lead vocal, with swathes of lush strings, enveloping his vocals, before rasping horns provide a constant companion to his vocal. Meanwhile, the other Jackson brothers sing gentle soaring harmonies and add handclaps, while M.F.S.B. add to the track’s drama and beauty. While this was Michael’s songwriting debut, it points towards a talented songwriter, who, a few years later, would become a solo artist.

I’ve always been amazed why Show You The Way To Go wasn’t a much bigger hit in the US. It only reached number twenty-eight in the US Billboard 100 and number six in the US R&B Charts, but reaching number one in the UK. To me, this is a classic Jacksons track, hugely catchy, laden with hooks and featuring an outstanding performance from The Jacksons. Penned and produced by Gamble and Huff and produced by Bobby Martin, the track glides into being. Swathes of strings, crystalline guitars, percussion and the rhythm section combining before Michael gives one of the most memorable vocals on the album. Harmonies sweep in, while strings cascade and bursts of horns punctuate the arrangement. Truly, it’s a glorious track, one of the finest tracks by The Jacksons ever.

Living Together has an arrangement that has made in Philadelphia written all over it.  Dexter Wansel is the man responsible for writing, arranging and producing the track. Pounding drums and hissing hi-hats, give way to a storming arrangement. Key to this is the rhythm section, swirling strings and guitars while Michael and Jackie share the lead vocal. Tight, beautiful harmonies, percussion and bursts of horns all play their part in a peerless performance from M.F.S.B. Together with the guiding hand of Dexter Wansel, The Jackson’s produce another peerless slice of soulful perfection.

The songwriting team of Gene McFadden, John Whitehead and Victor Carstarphen cowrote so many great songs during their time at Philadelphia International Records. Not only is Strength Of One Man an example of their talents as songwriters, but as producers. They co-produced this track with Gamble and Huff, which features a heartfelt vocal from each of The Jacksons except Tito.. Their vocals are enveloped in swathes of lush strings, while flourishes of piano, rasping horns and the rhythm section accompany them. What this track proves is just how talented each of The Jacksons were as vocalists. It wasn’t just when singing harmonies they shine, but delivering a heartfelt lead vocal like they do hear.

Dreamer is the first of two tracks where Michael delivers the vocal alone, with the rest of The Jackson’s adding soft, gentle harmonies. A piano is key to the arrangement, with percussion layers of strings and subtle rasping horns adding to the effectiveness of the arrangement. Not only does Michael’s tender thoughtful vocal makes this such a beautiful, but I find quite poignant given the lyrics.

Closing The Jacksons is Style Of Life, a track that Michael and Tito cowrote. It’s an uptempo track, bookending the album nicely. Again, Michael sings the lead, adding emotion and passion to his vocal, while M.F.S.B. somehow, raise their game. They produce a classy sounding arrangement, with the rhythm section, percussion, swathes of strings and punchy horns accompanying Michael. The rest of The Jackson add harmonies, which to me, are just the finishing touch to this uplifting and joyful track.

Truly, the combination of The Jacksons and the multitalented, creative minds of the staff of Philadelphia International Records was the ultimate musical dream team. With the help of Gamble and Huff, plus the various songwriters, arrangers, producers and M.F.S.B., this lead to The Jacksons first gold album of their career. Despite having previously sold ten-million albums during their time at Motown, they’d never, before, had an album certified gold. On The Jacksons, Michael flourishes, really coming of age as a singer and making his songwriting debut. Listening to The Jacksons, you can hear the Michael Jackson that three years later, would release Off the Wall in 1979. However, having said all that, The Jacksons is far from a Michael Jackson solo album. Quite the opposite, Jackie shares the lead with Michael on four tracks, while each of The Jacksons share vocal duties on Strength of One Man. Not only that, but their harmonies are peerless throughout the album. Throughout the album, M.F.S.B. provided the perfect backdrop for their vocals. Similarly, arrangers Bobby Martin, Jack Faith and Dexter Wansel played a huge part in the album’s success. Two men however, played a vital role in The Jacksons’ success, Gamble and Huff. Together, they cowrote and produced five tracks, giving Jacksons a Philly makeover, and in the process, making them honorary Philadelphians. Along with Dexter Wansel, plus Gene McFadden, John Whitehead and Victor Carstarphen Gamble and Huff helped produce the most successful album of The Jacksons’ career. Thirty-six years later, The Jacksons is a timeless classic, crammed full of some wonderful music, music with a Philly twist, which was the highlight of The Jacksons’ career. Standout Tracks: Enjoy Yourself, Good Times, Keep On Dancing and Show You The Way To Go.

THE JACKSONS-THE JACKSONS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JsMxP6u8mY