The primary members of the group were all the sons of Katherine and Joseph Jackson: Jackie Jackson, Tito Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Michael Jackson, and Randy Jackson. Joseph Jackson formed the band in 1964 and served as its manager, with Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and unrelated youths Reynaud Jones and Milton Hite comprising its original lineup. Within a year, Michael and Marlon joined the band, and Michael became lead singer as the group developed a following in the eastern and midwestern United States during the mid-1960s. Signed to the Motown label from 1969 to 1975, and to CBS Records (as "The Jacksons") from 1975 until their disbanding in 1990, the Jackson 5 were one of the most popular groups of the era and became the first recording act to have their first four major label singles (I Want You Back, ABC, The Love You Save, and I'll Be There) reach the top of the American charts. Several future singles, among them "Mama's Pearl", "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Dancing Machine", were Top 5 pop hits and number-one hits on the R&B singles chart. Most of the early hits were written and produced by a specialized songwriting team known as The Corporation™; later Jackson 5 hits were crafted chiefly by Hal Davis.
While not the first act considered a "boy band", The Jackson 5 is one of the earliest examples of the type as it is defined today: five adolescents specifically packaged and marketed by a record label for crossover pop success. Upon their departure from Motown for CBS in 1975, the Jacksons, were forced to change their name and trade Jermaine (who remained at Motown) for Randy. The group took control of their songwriting, production, and image, and their success continued into the 1980s with hits such as "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" and "State of Shock", and a highly successful 1984 Victory tour. The Jacksons officially disbanded in 1990.
History
Early works
The Jacksons were a working-class family from Gary, Indiana. Katherine, being a Jehovah's Witness, raised the children as such, while their father, Joe, was not of that faith. Their father, a steel mill employee who often performed in an R&B band called "The Falcons" with his brother Luther, was a strict disciplinarian. Many of the Jackson children recall being severely beaten by Joe for misbehaving.
The children found an outlet in music, with elder brothers Jackie (born Sigmund Esco Jackson, 1951), Tito (born Toriano Jackson, 1953), and Jermaine (b. 1954) borrowing their father's guitar without his permission and playing along to the radio. Younger brothers Marlon (b. 1957) and Michael (b. 1958) were allowed to watch as long as they did not tell. Joseph eventually discovered that the older three boys were playing his guitar when one of the strings broke[2]. Although he was furious at first, Joseph realized the boys had talent and began making plans to create a musical act for them.
In 1965, Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine began performing around the Gary area with two neighborhood children, Milford Hite (on drums) and Reynaud Jones (on keyboards), in a group called The Jackson Brothers. Joe Jackson served as the manager, at first only part-time, and then eventually quitting his job at the steel mill. Jermaine sang lead and played bass, and Tito played guitar.
In 1966, younger brothers Marlon and Michael, joined the group as its tambourine and bongo players. Already showing talent as a singer and dancer[3], Michael replaced Jermaine as lead vocalist by mid-1967. Shirley Cartman, Tito's junior high orchestra teacher, noticed the group's talents and served as an early mentor to the group, by then calling itself The Jackson Five.
During this period, the boys toured Indiana extensively, and after winning a major local talent show in 1966 with a rendition of The Temptations' "My Girl", led by Michael, they began playing professional gigs in Chicago, Illinois and across the mid-eastern U.S. Many of these gigs were in a string of black clubs and venues collectively known as the "chitlin' circuit", and the young kids sometimes had to open for strip teasers and other adult acts in order to earn money.
Shirley Cartman got the Jackson Five a record deal with Gordon Keith's local Steeltown label, and the group began making their first recordings in 1967. Their first single, "Big Boy", became a regional hit. During this period, Johnny Jackson (no relation) on drums and Ronnie Rancifer on keys replaced Milford Hite and Reynaud Jones.
The Jackson Five had a number of admirers in their early days, including Sam & Dave, who helped the group secure a spot in the famous Amateur Night competition at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. The group won the August 13, 1967 competition during the Amateur Night showdown at the Apollo, impressing Motown Records artist Gladys Knight of The Pips. Knight recommended the group to Motown chief Berry Gordy, but Gordy, who already had teenager Stevie Wonder on his roster, was hesitant to take on another child act because of the child labor laws and other problems involved.
The Jackson Five's sound was influenced by many of the biggest stars of the 1960s, especially including family funk bands Sly & the Family Stone and The Isley Brothers, soul pioneer Marvin Gaye, doo-wop boy band Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, and soul shouters like Wilson Pickett, Jackie Wilson, Stevie Wonder and James Brown [4]. At the time of their early success, soul and funk stars, especially coming from Motown Records, were among the most popular musicians; Motown had launched the careers of dozens of the decade's biggest stars, most notably Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, and Diana Ross & the Supremes.
Influences
From these sources, The Jackson Five developed many of their vocal arrangement styles and dance movements. The group's multi-lead vocal style was inspired by that of The Family Stone, while young Michael adapted Jackie Wilson and James Brown's impassioned singing and dancing styles into his own.
Joining Motown
By 1968, the Jackson 5 were a headlining act for the All Star Floor Show at Chicago's The Guys' and Gals' Cocktail Lounge and Restaurant. From July 12 - 27, 1968, the Jackson 5 opened for Motown group Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers at Chicago's Regal Theater. Taylor was also very impressed with the boys, and he decided to make the commitment to bring them to Detroit and Motown. Joseph and the Jackson Five stayed on the floor of Bobby Taylor's Detroit apartment the night of July 22, while Taylor and Motown executive Suzanne de Passe arranged for the Jackson Five to audition for the label.
On July 23, the Jackson Five had their Motown audition, for which they performed James Brown’s then current hit "I Got the Feelin’". Berry Gordy was not in attendance, but the audition was videotaped and sent to him in Los Angeles. Gordy's initial reluctance to sign the group disappeared when he finally saw the boys perform. Gordy decided to sign the Jackson Five to Motown, and hosted a party at his Detroit mansion on November 25, 1968 to introduce them to the Motown staff and stars.
Motown began negotiations to buy out the Jackson Five's Steeltown contract, completing the deal in March 1969. By the summer, Bobby Taylor began producing the group's first recordings at Motown's Hitsville U.S.A. recording studio in Detroit. The early Taylor-produced Jackson Five records were all covers of both contemporary hits and Motown-standards, including Sly & the Family Stone's "Stand!" and their famous rendition of The Miracles' "Who's Lovin' You", written by Smokey Robinson.
In mid-August 1969, Gordy moved the Jackson Five and Joseph to California, and he and Suzanne de Passe began the process of grooming them as the label's next big act, while the rest of the family remained in Gary. While looking for a house in California, Joseph, Jermaine, Tito, and Jackie lived with Berry Gordy, while Michael and Marlon lived with Motown star Diana Ross.
I Can Only Give You Love
The Jackson 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can only give you love
I can only give you love
Oh Jimmy had a knack for talent
From being a baseball star
It makes you proud to work past it
Cause it breaks all the other girls heart
Well Billy had long black curly hair
While guys like me stood on the side
And watched the young girls scream
Oh girl, I can only give you love
I've made no claim to fame, you won't know my name
Oh baby, I can only give you love
Girl if it's love that you need
Come on and get with me
If you want it, you got it
I can only give you love
I can only give you love
If it's love that you need
I got what you need
Come and get it
Come and get it
Come and get it
Come and get it
Come and get it
Wooo!
Now Bobby was a little rich kid
Who lived at the foot of the hill
The first kid in the neighborhood
To have an automobile
Well If I took you to the movies
We'd have to walk the block to the bus
We'll if you went with him
You could already be there
Eating popcorn and stuff
Oh girl, I can only give you love
I've made no claim to fame, you won't know my name
Oh baby, I can only give you love
Girl if it's love that you need
Come on and get with me
If you want love girl
I got all the love you need
I got what you need
I can only give you love
I can only give you love
If you want love girl
I got all the love you need
I got what you need
The love that you need
Come on and get with me
Oh girl, I can only give you love
I've made no claim to fame, you won't know my name
Oh baby, I can only give you love
Girl if it's love that you need
Come on and get with me
[repeat to fade]
The Jackson 5's "I Can Only Give You Love" is a song about a man who doesn't have fame or fortune to offer a woman, but instead can only give her his love. The lyrics describe the various teenage boys in the neighborhood who have achieved success in sports or have money, while the singer is just an average-looking guy who doesn't stand out. However, he believes that his love is enough for the girl he desires.
The first verse describes Jimmy, a baseball star who has a natural talent for the sport, and how his success can break other girls' hearts. The second verse introduces Billy, the captain of the football team who has long curly hair and is adored by young girls. Meanwhile, the singer muses that he and other guys like him are just on the sidelines, watching the action.
The chorus reveals the singer's humility and his recognition of his own position - he can offer only love, unlike Bobby, who's a rich kid with a fancy car. The singer laments that if he were to take the girl to the movies, they would have to walk to the bus stop, whereas if she was with Bobby, they would already be at the theater eating popcorn. The coda repeats the chorus with the promise that "if it's love that you need, come on and get with me."
Line by Line Meaning
If you want it, you got it
If you desire my love, it is yours to take
I can only give you love
I do not have wealth or prestige to offer, but I can offer you my love
I can only give you love
Reiterating that I am limited in what I can provide, but I can offer love
Oh Jimmy had a knack for talent
Jimmy possessed a natural ability for something
From being a baseball star
His talent was in baseball
It makes you proud to work past it
Working hard to improve upon a talent can bring a sense of pride
Cause it breaks all the other girls heart
Other girls may be heartbroken over Jimmy's talent and attention he receives
Well Billy had long black curly hair
Billy had distinct physical features
And captain of the football team
He was a leader on the football team
While guys like me stood on the side
The artist was not as popular or noticed as guys like Billy
And watched the young girls scream
Girls were attracted to guys like Billy and would scream or show excitement in their presence
Oh girl, I can only give you love
Addressing the girl again, reminding that love is the only thing the artist can offer
I've made no claim to fame, you won't know my name
The singer is not famous or notable
Oh baby, I can only give you love
Addressing the girl affectionately, once again stating love is all the singer can provide
Girl if it's love that you need
If the girl is seeking love
Come on and get with me
The artist is offering to fulfill her need for love by being with him
If it's love that you need
Reiterating that love is the artist's only offer
I got what you need
The singer has the love that the girl needs
Come and get it
Inviting the girl to receive the singer's love
Wooo!
An exclamation of enthusiasm, potentially in regards to the offer of love
Now Bobby was a little rich kid
Introducing another character named Bobby, who is wealthy
Who lived at the foot of the hill
Providing context of Bobby's living situation
The first kid in the neighborhood
Bobby was the first in the neighborhood to possess this item
To have an automobile
Bobby had a car
Well If I took you to the movies
If the singer were to take the girl to the movies
We'd have to walk the block to the bus
They would have to walk to the bus stop to make their way to the movies
We'll if you went with him
If the girl were to go with Bobby
You could already be there
Bobby could have already driven them to the movies
Eating popcorn and stuff
Bobby and the girl may already be at the movies, enjoying snacks
Girl if it's love that you need
Reiterating that love is what the girl may need
Come on and get with me
Offering of love again, asking the girl to choose the singer over Bobby's wealth
If you want love girl
Reiterating the artist's offer of love
I got all the love you need
The artist can provide all the love that the girl needs
The love that you need
Specifically referencing the love that the girl may be seeking
Come on and get with me
Inviting the girl to choose the singer and his love
[repeat to fade]
The song repeats until it slowly fades out
Contributed by Kaelyn O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Cris Sabanpan
on I Want You Back
Hlo