The Jackson 5 in Japan
Encyclopedia
The Jackson 5 in Japan, also known as In Japan!, was a live album
released by The Jackson 5
in Japan
, culled from a live concert held there in 1973. Motown did not release the album in the United States
until 2004, via specialty reissue label Hip-O Select; that limited-edition version is currently out of print. The album sold over a million copies worldwide.
By 1973, the Jackson 5 were bigger worldwide than they were in America, selling millions of records and giving performances at sold-out concerts. This set features the group performing many of their hit records, as well as solo hits from members Michael Jackson
and Jermaine Jackson
.
by: Lindsay Planer (All Music)
Available outside North America since the mid-'70s, In Japan! makes its debut thanks to the audio archivists at Hip-O Select. The online sonic shop went as far as re-creating the original gatefold album jacket -- in miniature of course -- and a 16-panel fold-out replicating the Japanese insert. Still known as the Jackson 5, Marlon, Tito, Randy, Jackie and Michael took to the stage of Osaka's Koseinenkin Hall in support of their most recent release Skywriter (1973) -- yet the extracts from the show on this title are filled primarily with familiar tunes not only from the quintet's sizable songbook of hits, but also selections gleaned from Michael Jackson's and Jermaine Jackson's respective solo catalogs. In fact, both brothers come out stronger than the collective ensemble with Michael performing "I Want to Be Where You Are," "Got to Be There" and "Ben," while Jermaine provides persuasive renderings of his early platters "That's How Love Goes," as well as covers of Shep & the Limelites' "Daddy's Home" and Marvin Gaye's "Ain't That Peculiar." The show kicks off with sturdy, though unremarkable stabs at the Rare Earth side "We're Gonna Have a Good Time," followed by a half-hearted "Lookin' Through the Windows". It doesn't take long before they are able to turn the beat around on the inspired interpretation of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition," which many may find worth the price of admission in and of itself. They similarly barrel into a propelling and hearty spin of the Temptations' "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone," commencing with an eerily portentous siren during the prelude. Even as the version of "Never Can Say Goodbye" is among this set's zeniths, it is likewise the sole entry from the Jackson 5's extraordinary run of best-selling and chart-topping R&B/pop crossover smashes. Those omissions are not entirely unexpected, as they had come a great distance from the catchy bubblegum of "ABC," "I Want You Back," and "The Love You Save," maturing into decidedly more demanding roles within the band -- especially Jermaine and Michael, whose respective stars would continue their ascent during the ensuing decades. The aforementioned Hip-O Select edition of In Japan is limited to 5,000 copies and is available through their website www.hip-oselect.com.
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
released 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...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, culled from a live concert held there in 1973. Motown did not release the album in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
until 2004, via specialty reissue label Hip-O Select; that limited-edition version is currently out of print. The album sold over a million copies worldwide.
By 1973, the Jackson 5 were bigger worldwide than they were in America, selling millions of records and giving performances at sold-out concerts. This set features the group performing many of their hit records, as well as solo hits from members Michael Jackson
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...
and 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...
.
Track listing
- "Introduction"/"We're Gonna Have a Good Time"
- "Lookin' Through the Windows" (Davis)
- "Got to Be There" (Willensky
- Medley: "I Want You BackI Want You Back"I Want You Back" was released in 1969 and in early 1970s became a number-one hit single recorded by The Jackson 5 for the Motown label. The song, along with a b-side cover of Smokey Robinson & the Miracles' "Who's Lovin' You", was the only single from the first Jackson 5 album, Diana Ross Presents...
"/"ABCABC (song)"ABC" is a 1970 number-one hit song by The Jackson 5. "ABC" was written with the same design as "I Want You Back", and was first heard on American Bandstand in February 1970. "ABC" knocked The Beatles song "Let It Be" out of the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970...
"/"The Love You SaveThe Love You Save"The Love You Save" is a 1970 number-one hit single recorded by The Jackson 5 for the Motown label. It held the number-one spot on the soul singles chart for six weeks. It held the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks, from June 27 to July 4, 1970...
" (Corporation) - "Daddy's Home" (Miller/Sheppard)
- "SuperstitionSuperstition (song)"Superstition" is a popular song written, produced, arranged, and performed by Stevie Wonder for Motown Records in 1972, when Wonder was 22 years old. It was the lead single for Wonder's Talking Book album, and released in many countries. It reached number one in the USA, and number one on the soul...
" (originally by Stevie WonderStevie WonderStevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
) (Wonder) - "BenBen (song)"Ben" is a song written by Don Black and composed by Walter Scharf for the 1972 film of the same name . It was performed in the film by Lee Montgomery and by Michael Jackson over the closing credits. Jackson's single, recorded for the Motown label in 1972, spent one week at the top of the U.S. pop...
" (Black/Scharf) - "Papa Was a Rollin' StonePapa Was a Rollin' Stone"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" is a soul song, written by Motown songwriters Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong as a single for Motown act The Undisputed Truth in 1971...
" (originally by The TemptationsThe TemptationsThe Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
) (WhitfieldNorman WhitfieldNorman Jesse Whitfield was an American songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s...
/StrongBarrett StrongBarrett Strong is an American singer and songwriter. Strong was the first artist to record a hit for Motown, although he is best remembered for his work as a songwriter, particularly in association with producer Norman Whitfield.-His career:Strong was among the first artists signed to Berry...
) - "That's How Love Goes" (Bowen/Bristol/Jones)
- "Never Can Say GoodbyeNever Can Say Goodbye"Never Can Say Goodbye" is a song written by Clifton Davis and originally recorded by The Jackson 5. Released as a single in 1971, it was one of the group's most successful songs...
" (Davis) - "Ain't That PeculiarAin't That Peculiar"Ain't That Peculiar" is a 1965 song recorded by American soul musician Marvin Gaye for the Tamla label. The single was produced by Smokey Robinson, and written by Robinson, and fellow Miracles members Ronald White, Pete Moore, and Marv Tarplin...
" (originally by Marvin GayeMarvin GayeMarvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
) (Moore/Robinson/Rogers) - "I Wanna Be Where You Are" (Ross/Ware)
Review
Available outside North America since the mid-'70s, In Japan! makes its debut thanks to the audio archivists at Hip-O Select. The online sonic shop went as far as re-creating the original gatefold album jacket -- in miniature of course -- and a 16-panel fold-out replicating the Japanese insert. Still known as the Jackson 5, Marlon, Tito, Randy, Jackie and Michael took to the stage of Osaka's Koseinenkin Hall in support of their most recent release Skywriter (1973) -- yet the extracts from the show on this title are filled primarily with familiar tunes not only from the quintet's sizable songbook of hits, but also selections gleaned from Michael Jackson's and Jermaine Jackson's respective solo catalogs. In fact, both brothers come out stronger than the collective ensemble with Michael performing "I Want to Be Where You Are," "Got to Be There" and "Ben," while Jermaine provides persuasive renderings of his early platters "That's How Love Goes," as well as covers of Shep & the Limelites' "Daddy's Home" and Marvin Gaye's "Ain't That Peculiar." The show kicks off with sturdy, though unremarkable stabs at the Rare Earth side "We're Gonna Have a Good Time," followed by a half-hearted "Lookin' Through the Windows". It doesn't take long before they are able to turn the beat around on the inspired interpretation of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition," which many may find worth the price of admission in and of itself. They similarly barrel into a propelling and hearty spin of the Temptations' "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone," commencing with an eerily portentous siren during the prelude. Even as the version of "Never Can Say Goodbye" is among this set's zeniths, it is likewise the sole entry from the Jackson 5's extraordinary run of best-selling and chart-topping R&B/pop crossover smashes. Those omissions are not entirely unexpected, as they had come a great distance from the catchy bubblegum of "ABC," "I Want You Back," and "The Love You Save," maturing into decidedly more demanding roles within the band -- especially Jermaine and Michael, whose respective stars would continue their ascent during the ensuing decades. The aforementioned Hip-O Select edition of In Japan is limited to 5,000 copies and is available through their website www.hip-oselect.com.