Today’s classic song of the day is “I Want You Back” by the Jackson 5. This was the Jacksons’ first single release, in October of 1969, and it was a huge hit, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Cash Box Top 100, and Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles charts.
“I Want You Back” was written by the group of Motown songwriters/producers dubbed The Corporation. That collective included Motown founder Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mitzell, and Deke Richards. The song was originally intended for Gladys Knight, before she left the Motown label, and then former Supreme Diana Ross. Gordy eventually turned it over to the new family group from Gary, Indiana, and it became the first of four consecutive number-one hits. (The others were “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There,” all released in 1970.)
The Jackson 5 consisted of brothers Michael, Tito, Jackie, Jermaine, and Marlon. Michael, just 11 years old when this song was recorded, sang lead. While Diana Ross is officially credited with “discovering” the group, that was mainly publicity hype meant to boost both of their careers. It was actually Gladys Knight who first mentioned the group to Berry Gordy and producer Bobby Taylor who arranged for their Motown audition, which they passed with flying colors.
Interestingly, Michael Jackson and I are pretty much the same age. We were both born in 1958, me six months before him. It was a little weird watching a kid my age sing like that on the national stage and be on the radio constantly. I understand he went on to even bigger things when he left the family group.
And here’s your daily bonus video of the day, the Jackson 5 performing “I Want You Back” live on The Ed Sullivan Show on December 14, 1969. Ed really liked the boys and had them on his show often. They put on one hell of a show.
