The Jacksons (album)


The Jacksons is the eleventh studio album by the Jacksons, the band's first album for CBS and under the name "the Jacksons," following their seven-year tenure at Motown as "the Jackson 5". Jackson 5 member Jermaine Jackson stayed with Motown when his brothers broke their contracts and left for Epic, and he was replaced by youngest Jackson brother Randy. The album was released in 1976 for Epic Records and Philadelphia International Records as a joint venture.

History

Philadelphia International heads Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff produced and executive produced the album, including their first top ten hit in two years "Enjoy Yourself", but had a difficult time focusing on a sound for the now-grown-up boy band. However, the group was able for the first time to record their own material, something that had been denied to them at Motown. The Jacksons composed "Style of Life" and "Blues Away" on their own. "Blues Away" was the first published song written by lead singer Michael Jackson, who began to take a more percussive vocal approach beginning with this album. This album also spawned a second successful R&B single, "Show You the Way to Go". Though never released as a single, "Good Times" became a popular album cut from regular quiet storm airplay. The album itself placed No. 36 and No. 6 on the pop and R&B album charts respectively.
The album was the Jacksons' first gold album, despite their having sold more than 10 million albums while at Motown.

Track listing

Side One
  1. "Enjoy Yourself" – 3:24
  2. "Think Happy" – 3:07
  3. "Good Times" – 4:57
  4. "Keep on Dancing" – 4:31
  5. "Blues Away" – 3:12
Side Two

  1. "Show You the Way to Go" – 5:30
  2. "Living Together" – 4:26
  3. "Strength of One Man" – 3:56
  4. "Dreamer" – 3:05
  5. "Style of Life" – 3:19
Produced by:

1-3, 6, 9 - Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff

4, 7 - Dexter Wansel

5, 10 - Gamble, Leon Huff, Wansel, the Jacksons, Gene McFadden and John Whitehead

8 - McFadden, Whitehead and Victor Carstarphen

Personnel

; Lead vocals
Michael leads the tracks 4–6 and 9–10 on his own while he and his brother Jackie lead the vocals on tracks 1–3 and 7. All the brothers sing lead on track 8.
; Arrangements
; Music
; Technical

Certifications