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Got to Be There

 
Album Review: Got to Be There
 

  • Artist: Michael Jackson
  • Rating: StarStarStar
  • Release Date: 1972 01
  • Total Time: 75:11
  • Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

Riding high on the wild success of the Jackson 5, Motown ringleader Berry Gordy assembled every single notable production team member and songwriter in his arsenal to contribute to the solo debut of the J5's boy wonder, Michael. By the time Got to Be There was released, much had changed in the Jackson dynamic, none the least Michael's voice. But this album launched three chart singles: a cover of the bubblegum classic "Rockin' Robin," Leon Ware's "I Wanna Be Where You Are," and the title track. As a cohesive album, Got to Be There is wildly erratic, and his covers of "You've Got a Friend" and "Ain't No Sunshine" show Jackson's versatility as a singer. It was a world away from the politically charged sound of Marvin Gaye's What's Going On and the introspection that would later grace some of the best works of Stevie Wonder. But Got to Be There kept Gordy as king of the sound of young America -- at least for a few months longer. ~ Rob Theakston, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Ain't No Sunshine Bill Withers Michael Jackson (4:09)
I Wanna Be Where You Are T-Boy Ross, Leon Ware Michael Jackson (3:00)
Girl Don't Take Your Love from Me Willie Hutch Michael Jackson (3:46)
In Our Small Way Beatrice Verdi, Christine Yarian Michael Jackson (3:34)
Got to Be There Elliot Willensky Michael Jackson (3:23)
Rockin' Robin Jesse Thomas Michael Jackson (2:30)
Wings of My Love The Corporation Michael Jackson (3:32)
Maria (You Were the Only One) L. Brown, George Gordy, Allen Story, Linda Glover Michael Jackson (3:41)
Love Is Here and Now You're Gone Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland, Brian Holland Michael Jackson (2:51)
You've Got a Friend Carole King Michael Jackson (4:53)

Credits

Michael Jackson (Vocals), Michael Jackson (Main Performer), Gene Page (Arranger), James Anthony Carmichael (Arranger), Hal Davis (Producer), Berry Gordy, Jr. (Executive Producer), Willie Hutch (Producer), Mel Larson (Producer), Eddy Manson (Arranger), Jerry Marcellino (Producer), D. Blumberg (Arranger), The Corporation (Arranger), The Corporation (Producer)
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Wikipedia: Got to Be There
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Got to Be There
Got to Be There cover
Studio album by Michael Jackson
Released January 24, 1972
Recorded 1971
Genre R&B, soul, pop/rock, AM Pop, pop-soul [1]
Length 35:11
Label Motown
Producer Hal Davis, Willie Hutch
Professional reviews
Michael Jackson chronology
Got to Be There
(1972)
Ben
(1972)

Got to Be There was the solo debut album by then-adolescent Michael Jackson, released on Motown Records on January 24, 1972.[2] It includes the song of the same name, which was released in the fall of 1971 as Jackson's debut solo single.

Contents

Album information

Motown released Jackson's solo album around the same time that another famous brother from a famous family was doing the same: Donny Osmond, who was hitting with songs like "Sweet & Innocent" and "Puppy Love". Jackson's and Osmond's debut efforts almost paralleled each other, as Jackson scored a hit with the title track and "Rockin' Robin", which like Osmond's "Puppy Love", was a remake of an old '50s rock song. The album also included covers of Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine", Carole King's "You've Got a Friend" and the Supremes' "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone".

Reception

The album peaked at number fourteen on the US pop albums chart and number three on the US R&B album chart when it was released.

Rolling Stone (12/7/72, p.68) - "..slick, artful and every bit as good as the regular Jackson 5 product...a sweetly touching voice...innocence and utter professionalism...fascinating and finally irresistible.."

Track listing

# Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Ain't No Sunshine"   Bill Withers 4:09
2. "I Wanna Be Where You Are"   Leon Ware, T-Bone Ross 3:01
3. "Girl Don't Take Your Love From Me"   Willie Hutch 3:46
4. "In Our Small Way"   Beatrice Verdi, Christine Yarian 3:34
5. "Got to Be There"   Elliot Willensky 3:23
6. "Rockin' Robin"   Thomas 2:31
7. "Wings of My Love"   Corporation 3:32
8. "Maria (You Were the Only One)"   L. Brown, Linda Glover, George Gordy, Allen Story 3:41
9. "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone"   Holland-Dozier-Holland 2:51
10. "You've Got a Friend"   Carole King 4:53

References


 
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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Got to Be There" Read more

 

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