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.
If you want heaven
The Jackson 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you were meant to be heaven for me
Stop treating me like you do, ooh, angel
Ooh, never love lost may forgiven
Where you been sitting in Sunday school
Show us that old golden rule
You better be good, girl
If you want heaven you gotta
Make heaven all by yourself (reach out)
If you want heaven you gotta
Make heaven for somebody else (reach out)
Can’t go around thinking just
Of yourself love will pass you by if you do
Hey, girl!
You’ve causing your heart lots of trouble
Caught in your own little bubble of love
Wondering why you get blue, ooh baby
So, quiet and shy, yeah, that’s you girl
Sweet as a cake all the way through
(reach out)
You can’t have your cake and love to
You know you’ve gotta reach out
If you want heaven you gotta
Make heaven all by yourself (reach out)
If you want heaven you gotta
Make heaven for somebody else (reach out)
Can’t go around thinking just
Of yourself love will pass you by if you do
Oh, reach out, reach out
Ooh, if you want heaven (oh, reach out)
Ooh, if you want heaven (oh, reach out)
If you want heaven you gotta
Make heaven all by yourself
(reach out) , oh yes you do now
If you want heaven you gotta
Make heaven for somebody else (reach out)
If you want heaven you gotta make
It heaven all by yourself
(reach out) , oh, you yes you do now
If you want heaven, yeah, yeah, yeah
(reach out)
The song "If you want heaven" by The Jackson 5 is a call for selflessness and love in relationships. The lyrics convey the message that simply wishing or yearning for love is not enough to achieve happiness and fulfillment. The singer emphasizes the importance of taking action and making an effort to create heaven, or a harmonious and joyful relationship, both for oneself and for others.
The song begins by dismissing the idea that simply wishing or desiring heaven will bring it into one's life. The line "Wishing won’t get you to heaven" highlights the point that love requires more than just longing for it. The phrase "If you were meant to be heaven for me" suggests that love should be a mutually satisfying and uplifting experience, rather than one-sided.
The lyrics then address the need for kindness and consideration in relationships. The reference to Sunday school and the golden rule implies that treating others with respect and love is essential. The line "You better be good, girl" emphasizes the importance of behaving in a compassionate and selfless manner.
The chorus emphasizes the concept of creating heaven for oneself and for others. It suggests that true happiness and love can be achieved by reaching out and making a positive impact on others' lives. The line "Can’t go around thinking just of yourself love will pass you by if you do" conveys the idea that self-centeredness and selfishness hinder the experience of genuine love and fulfillment.
Overall, the song serves as a reminder that love requires active participation and selflessness. It urges the listener to take action, be kind to others, and actively contribute to creating a harmonious and loving environment.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl, wishing won’t get you to heaven
Girl, simply hoping or wishing for something won't get you to a state of eternal happiness or bliss
If you were meant to be heaven for me
If you were destined to be a source of immense joy and happiness in my life
Stop treating me like you do, ooh, angel
Stop treating me with such indifference or neglect, my dear
Ooh, never love lost may forgiven
The love that was once lost can be forgiven and repaired
Where you been sitting in Sunday school
Where have you been, learning and hearing about moral values and teachings
Show us that old golden rule
Demonstrate and remind us of the timeless principle of treating others as you would like to be treated
You better be good, girl
You should strive to be kind, considerate, and morally upright, my dear
If you want heaven you gotta Make heaven all by yourself (reach out)
If you desire to experience a heavenly existence, you have to create a blissful environment through your own actions and efforts
If you want heaven you gotta Make heaven for somebody else (reach out)
If you seek to attain a heavenly state, you must also contribute to creating joy and happiness for others
Can’t go around thinking just Of yourself love will pass you by if you do
You can't solely focus on your own desires and needs, as love and happiness will elude you if you neglect others
Hey, girl! You've causing your heart lots of trouble
Hey, girl! You're causing turmoil and distress in your own heart
Caught in your own little bubble of love
Trapped within the confines of your limited perspective and self-centered notions of love
Wondering why you get blue, ooh baby
Pondering why you often feel sad or melancholic, my dear
So, quiet and shy, yeah, that’s you girl
You are typically reserved and introverted, yes, that's your nature, my dear
Sweet as a cake all the way through (reach out)
In your entirety, you are as delightful and pleasant as a perfectly baked cake
You can’t have your cake and love to
You can't expect to enjoy all the pleasures and benefits without making an effort to love and care for others
You know you’ve gotta reach out
You are aware that you need to extend yourself and make connections with others
Oh, reach out, reach out
Oh, extend yourself, make an effort to connect and help others
Ooh, if you want heaven (oh, reach out)
If you truly desire a heavenly existence, you must reach out to others and create joy and happiness
If you want heaven you gotta make It heaven all by yourself (reach out)
If you want to experience a heavenly state, you have the responsibility to create a joyful environment through your own actions
Oh, you yes you do now, If you want heaven, yeah, yeah, yeah (reach out)
Oh, it is indeed up to you, if you truly want to experience a heavenly state, you must reach out and contribute to the happiness of others
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Annette Tucker, Kathy Wakefield
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cris Sabanpan
on I Want You Back
Hlo