I Want You Back
Debut single that launched the Jackson 5 to stardom.
Last updated
Owen, Anita · Public domain
The Jackson 5 were an American pop and soul vocal group from Gary, Indiana, formed by brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael Jackson. Their debut single, "I Want You Back," released by Motown on October 7, 1969, became their first number-one hit on January 31, 1970, and established them as a major force in popular music.
Background
The song was originally considered for Gladys Knight & the Pips and later for Diana Ross, under the title "I Wanna Be Free." It was the first single written and produced by The Corporation, a team comprising Motown chief Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell, and Deke Richards. An unusual aspect was that the lead vocal was performed by an 11-year-old Michael Jackson. The song is composed in E-flat major.
The Jackson 5 performed "I Want You Back" on their first television appearances, including October 18, 1969, on The Hollywood Palace and their milestone performance on December 14, 1969, on The Ed Sullivan Show. It was the only single released from their debut album Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5, with the B-side being a remake of "Who's Lovin' You" by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: I Want You Back (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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