Song of the Week #122 – “I Want You Back”
Written by admin on September 3, 2012 – 9:56 pm -| The Jackson 5’s breakthrough hit “I Want You Back” is Song of the Week on Classic Pop Icons.
“I Want You Back” was released on single in October 1969, backed with “Who’s Lovin’ You”. It also featured on the group’s debut album “Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5” two months later. |
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The Jackson 5 were signed to Motown by Berry Gordy in March 1969, after beng discovered by Motown artists Bobby Taylor and Gladys Knight. The group spent their first months with the label working with Bobby Taylor at Hitsville, USA in Detroit, recording covers of popular soul hits such as The Miracles’ “Who’s Lovin’ You”. With Gordy now convinced of the group’s star potential, he relocated them to Los Angeles and began devoting considerable effort to their artistic development and to marketing them to the media. One step in this process was to attach their name to existing Motown superstar Diana Ross by pretending that she had discovered them (hence the title of their debut album).
“I Want You Back” would become one of the Jackson 5’s best known hits, but it was very nearly not recorded by them at all. The song began life with the title “I Want to Be Free” and had already been recorded by Gladys Knight and the Pips before Motown boss Berry Gordy decided that it might be better suited to the Jackson 5.
Deke Richards, head of the Creative Division of the LA office, had worked on “I Want to Be Free” with Freddie Perren and Alphonzo ‘Fonce’ Mizell, but was receptive to Berry’s suggestion that it be reworked for the Jackson 5. In a 2001 interview with Mojo, Richards remembered how the song came together:
| “We rehearsed at my apartment afternoons, evenings, literally as many hours a day as we were permitted by the child labour laws. The drill was that we’d record what we had done and then take it to Berry, whose role was to critique our work. He took the melodies we’d written for Gladys and twisted them, just tweaking them in a way that made all the difference. He had a vision of Michael as Frankie Lymon [of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers], and understood exactly how to voice that kind of character. Berry did the little things that completed the magic. It made me wonder how much great music was lost when the company’s growth forced him to concentrate on the business side.” |
Michael Jackson remembered the arduous recording process in a 1972 interview with the BBC:
| “God, we spent so much time on that song. He [Richards] was really patient with me, all of us. I think I must have recorded that thing two dozen times. That was hard work. I had no idea that recording could be such work. I remember falling asleep at the mike. I wondered if it would ever be finished. Just when I thought we were through, we’d have to go back and do it again.” |
“I Want You Back” has one of the catchiest and most memorable intros in pop history, notable for the classic, melodic bass line and sharp guitar chords. It’s a sequence that is repeated through the verses and is central to the song’s success. Also of note is the young Michael Jackson’s brilliant vocal, which makes the most of the strong melody. The power of Michael’s performance also distracts us from the fact that the lyrics are more suited to someone beyond his years.
“I Want You Back” – Jackson 5
“I Want You Back” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. Five years later, Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 120 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Authorship
This was the first Jackson 5 song penned by Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Fonce Mizell and Deke Richards, who were dubbed The Corporation. The Corporation were responsible for the writing, production and arranging of hits for the Jackson 5.
The Jackson 5 with Deke Richards, Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren and Fonce Mizell
Recording date/location
“I Want You Back” was recorded in July 1969 at The Sound Factory, West Hollywood. It was the first Jackson 5 song recorded at the studio. Previous efforts had been recorded at Hitsville USA in Detroit.
Musicians
The following musicians appeared on “I Want You Back”:
- Michael Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Jackie Jackson – lead vocals
- Michael Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Tito Jackson, Jackie Jackson and Marlon Jackson – background vocals
- David T. Walker, Louis Shelton and Don Peake – guitar
- Wilton Felder – bass guitar
- Freddie Perren – keyboards
- Joe Sample – piano
- Gene Pello – drums
- Sandra Crouch – tambourine.
Chart performance
“I Want You Back” was the first of four Jackson 5 songs in a row to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The others were “ABC”, “The Love You Save”, and “I’ll Be There”.
The single peaked at number two on the UK singles chart.
Other notable versions
“I Want You Back” – KT Tunstall
KT Tunstall put her loop pedal to good use when including “I Want You Back” in her live act several years ago. Here’s a great solo rendition performed on French tv show Taratata in 2005.
“I Want You Back” – David Ruffin
David Ruffin of The Temptations recorded “I Want You Back” for his solo album “David,” which was recorded in 1971 but not released until 2004. The reason for the album not being released at the time remains a mystery as this performance and others show that Ruffin was in good voice and received lively support from the great Motown house band.
There will be a new Song of the Week on September 3.
“I Want You Back” is available on a number of Jackson 5 compilations, including the 2-CD “Icons: The Jackson 5”.
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Icons: Jackson 5 (2 CDs) |
Buy Now | Buy Now | Buy Now | Buy Now |
Tags: I Want You Back, jackson 5, Michael Jackson, Motown
Posted in Motown, Song of the Week |
