Michael Jackson, The #5 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Two

 

(Continued from Part One)

Motown boss Berry Gordy, Jr. created "The Corporation" (Alphonso Mizell, Freddie Perren, Deke Richards and himself) as a songwriting team for the Jackson 5, and they helped Michael out here as well.  "We've Got A Good Thing Going" was originally issued as the B-side of "I Wanna' Be Where You Are". 

Gordy wrote "You Can Cry On My Shoulders" on his own, and young Michael came through on the high notes of this Brenda Holloway cover.

In 1973, Jackson released his third album, Music & Me.  Although the lead single "With A Child's Heart" stalled at #50, it is a worthy cut.  Written by Stevie Wonder, it was the B-side to "Nothing's Too Good For My Baby" and featured on his album Up-Tight.

Several artists have recorded this 1951 song by Sidney Lippman and Sylvia Dee, most notably Nat King Cole.  Michael does a nice job on "Too Young".

 

"All The Things You Are" was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II for the musical Very Warm for May in 1939.

 

The highlight of this song is the great chorus from Stephen Schwartz, who wrote Godspell--"Morning Glow".

 

This song written by Smokey Robinson was inspired by the melody (written by Michel Legrand) to the movie Lady Sings The Blues, produced by Gordy for Diana Ross.  Smokey said, in an interview for the album Timeless Love:

         I was looking at the movie one day, and I

                  was listening to that melody, and I thought

                  it was just such a beautiful melody, until

                  I wanted to write some words for that

                  melody, and upset because I didn't write

                 them before he finished the movie so

                  they could've been in the movie.

This is "Happy" (Love Theme From 'Lady Sings The Blues'").

In 1975, he released the album Forever, Michael, and thanks to the return of Brian and Eddie Holland to Motown, Jackson had writers that could write songs for a maturing Michael.  "We're Almost There" made it up to #7 on the R&B chart.

During this time, Michael also performed and recorded with the Jackson 5.  The group left Motown Records in 1975, signed with Epic Records, and changed their name to the Jacksons.  Jermaine stayed with Motown and pursued a solo career, with younger brother Randy taking his place.  The Jacksons released six albums between 1976 and 1984, with Michael writing most of their biggest hits.

(L-R Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Diana Ross and Tedd Ross)

Meanwhile, Michael moved to New York City to star with Diana Ross in the movie musical The Wiz.  Although the movie was not received well, Michael made a key connection when he met Quincy Jones, who arranged the score for the movie.  Jones would go on to produce three of Michael's solo albums.

Music after the Jackson 5's heyday, but before he emerged as a superstar.  Much more from Michael Jackson!