Moving Violation
Encyclopedia
Moving Violation is the ninth and final official studio album released on Motown Records
by The Jackson 5
.
By the end of their six-year run in Motown, all five Jackson brothers had matured dramatically in both age and vocals: youngest member Michael
was, at 16, the only non-adult in the group. With the boys now becoming men, it was difficult for the group to deal with Motown's policies against writing and producing their own material.
Like Dancing Machine
before it, Moving Violation was an early-disco
album. The group's funk-based version of Diana Ross & the Supremes' 1968 single "Forever Came Today" was a club hit, while the single's B-side
, the R&B
ballad "All I Do Is Think of You
", became a popular and frequently covered song in its own right. The album would go on to sell 1.6 million copies worldwide.
After this album, the Jackson 5, at the behest of father Joseph, left the Motown label after securing a new deal with CBS Records
. Motown sued the Jackson 5 for breach of contract, and refused to allow them to leave. After some litigation, Motown allowed the group to leave for CBS, but withheld ownership of the "Jackson 5" name and trademark. Joseph continued the legal battle, until Michael suggested that they simply change the name of the act to "The Jacksons" and end the litigation.
Besides their name, the Jackson 5 left behind secondary lead singer Jermaine Jackson
at Motown. Jermaine was married to Motown head Berry Gordy
's daughter Hazel, and ultimately chose Motown and the Gordys over his brothers. This move incensed Joseph, who intoned that "my blood runs through Jermaine's veins, not Berry Gordy's." Jermaine would go on to have a semi-successful eight-year solo career at Motown. Jackie, Tito, Marlon, and Michael Jackson moved on, hired youngest Jackson brother Randy and began recording for CBS Records in 1976. Motown would issue two compilation albums, Joyful Jukebox Music
in 1976, and Boogie in 1979, made up of archived recordings the group had made during their tenure at the label.
. The bonus tracks were the outtakes "Through Thick and Thin" (which appeared on 1976's Joyful Jukebox Music
) and the Disc-o-Tech #3 Remix of "Forever Came Today".
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
by The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5 , later known as The Jacksons, were an American popular music family group from Gary, Indiana...
.
By the end of their six-year run in Motown, all five Jackson brothers had matured dramatically in both age and vocals: youngest member Michael
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
was, at 16, the only non-adult in the group. With the boys now becoming men, it was difficult for the group to deal with Motown's policies against writing and producing their own material.
Like Dancing Machine
Dancing Machine (album)
Dancing Machine was the eighth official studio album released by Motown quintet The Jackson 5 in 1974. The album's title track was a #2 pop hit and a #1 R&B hit in the United States, and the album sold over 2.6 million copies worldwide briefly returning the group to their former prominence...
before it, Moving Violation was an early-disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
album. The group's funk-based version of Diana Ross & the Supremes' 1968 single "Forever Came Today" was a club hit, while the single's B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
, the R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
ballad "All I Do Is Think of You
All I Do Is Think of You
"All I Do Is Think of You" is a ballad single released by The Jackson 5 as the b-side to the group's single, "Forever Came Today" on the Motown label in 1975, and was the final charted single the group issued as The Jackson 5 before they left Motown for CBS the following year...
", became a popular and frequently covered song in its own right. The album would go on to sell 1.6 million copies worldwide.
After this album, the Jackson 5, at the behest of father Joseph, left the Motown label after securing a new deal with CBS Records
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
. Motown sued the Jackson 5 for breach of contract, and refused to allow them to leave. After some litigation, Motown allowed the group to leave for CBS, but withheld ownership of the "Jackson 5" name and trademark. Joseph continued the legal battle, until Michael suggested that they simply change the name of the act to "The Jacksons" and end the litigation.
Besides their name, the Jackson 5 left behind secondary lead singer Jermaine Jackson
Jermaine Jackson
Jermaine La Jaune Jackson is an American singer, bassist, composer, a member of The Jackson 5, older brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson and occasional film director...
at Motown. Jermaine was married to Motown head Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
's daughter Hazel, and ultimately chose Motown and the Gordys over his brothers. This move incensed Joseph, who intoned that "my blood runs through Jermaine's veins, not Berry Gordy's." Jermaine would go on to have a semi-successful eight-year solo career at Motown. Jackie, Tito, Marlon, and Michael Jackson moved on, hired youngest Jackson brother Randy and began recording for CBS Records in 1976. Motown would issue two compilation albums, Joyful Jukebox Music
Joyful Jukebox Music
Joyful Jukebox Music came out after breaking the contract with Motown, Michael and his brothers had already released the album The Jacksons when it landed in the bins...
in 1976, and Boogie in 1979, made up of archived recordings the group had made during their tenure at the label.
Track listing
- "Forever Came TodayForever Came Today"Forever Came Today" is a 1967 song written and produced by the Motown collective of Holland–Dozier–Holland, and was first made into a hit as a single for Diana Ross & the Supremes in early 1968...
" (originally performed by The SupremesThe SupremesThe Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
) (Holland-Dozier-HollandHolland-Dozier-HollandHolland–Dozier–Holland is a songwriting and production team made up of Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian Holland and Edward Holland, Jr. They are considered to be one of the greatest songwriting teams in popular music...
) (Recorded March 1975) – 6:23 - "Moving Violation" (Liz Shaw, Harold Beatty) (Recorded October 1974 - March 1975) – 3:37
- "(You Were Made) Especially for Me" (Michael L. Smith, Brian HollandBrian HollandBrian Holland is an American songwriter and record producer, best known as a member of Holland–Dozier–Holland. That songwriting and production team that was responsible for much of the Motown sound and numerous hit records by artists such as Martha and the Vandellas, The Supremes, The Four Tops,...
) (Recorded October 1974 - February 1975) – 3:28 - "Honey Love" (Michael L. Smith, Edward HollandEdward Holland, Jr.Edward Holland, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter and record producer....
, Brian Holland) (Recorded October 1974 - February 1975) – 4:40 - "Body Language (Do the Love Dance)" (Hal DavisHal DavisHarold Edward "Hal" Davis was an African American songwriter and record producer, best known as the key figure in the latter part of the Motown career of The Jackson 5....
, Don Fletcher) (Recorded February 1975) – 4:07 - "All I Do Is Think of YouAll I Do Is Think of You"All I Do Is Think of You" is a ballad single released by The Jackson 5 as the b-side to the group's single, "Forever Came Today" on the Motown label in 1975, and was the final charted single the group issued as The Jackson 5 before they left Motown for CBS the following year...
" (Michael L. Smith, Brian Holland) (Recorded February 1975) – 3:17 - "Breezy" (Mel Larson, Jerry Marcellino) (Recorded October 1974 - February 1975) – 3:38
- "Call of the Wild" (Mel Larson, Jerry Marcellino) (Recorded October 1974) – 2:33
- "Time Explosion" (Mel Larson, Jerry Marcellino) (Recorded October 1974) – 4:13
Re-release
In 2001, Motown Records remastered all J5 albums in a "Two Classic Albums/One CD" series (much like they did in the late 1980s). This album was paired up with Dancing MachineDancing Machine (album)
Dancing Machine was the eighth official studio album released by Motown quintet The Jackson 5 in 1974. The album's title track was a #2 pop hit and a #1 R&B hit in the United States, and the album sold over 2.6 million copies worldwide briefly returning the group to their former prominence...
. The bonus tracks were the outtakes "Through Thick and Thin" (which appeared on 1976's Joyful Jukebox Music
Joyful Jukebox Music
Joyful Jukebox Music came out after breaking the contract with Motown, Michael and his brothers had already released the album The Jacksons when it landed in the bins...
) and the Disc-o-Tech #3 Remix of "Forever Came Today".