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.
It's Great To Be Here ( Kenny
The Jackson 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To be back in your arms
Thank you, baby, thank you, baby
Back where I belong
Oh, I went out to do my thing
And I was totally rejected
I put you down for love unknown
So frightened and confused
I came running back to you
I got right down on my knees
And said darling, won't you please
I don't know why you did it
But I'm not too proud to admit it, baby
Thank you, baby, thank you, baby
It's great to be here, oooh
It's great to be here in your arms
Back where I belong.
Adventure grabbed my heart
And took me away from you, honey
I met all kinds of pretty girls
In every town that I passed through
But that fiery senorita
Burned me down in Mexico
And I got kisses cold as ice
From my Alaskan Eskimo
I feel guilty and ashamed
But I'm gonna say it just the same, baby
Thank you, baby, thank you, baby, yeah
It's great to be here, oooh
It's great to be here in your arms
Now yes says senorita
She gave me I'll just si ya!
While kissing in the igloo
My Eskimo said no no!
Yeah, baby
So glad, so glad, so glad
To be back in your arms
It's great to be here
It's great to be here in your arms
Baby, baby, baby, baby, ow!
It's great to be here, oooh
It's great to be here in your arms, yeah
It's great to be here in your arms
Baby, baby, baby, baby, yeah
The Jackson 5’s song “It’s Great to Be Here” talks about the feeling of being welcomed back into a loved one's arms. The song has a catchy tune with classic Jackson 5 harmonies and Michael Jackson's lead vocals. The song talks about how the singer went looking for something new but found that it wasn't fulfilling, and he decided to come back to his loved one. He asks for forgiveness and acknowledges that he doesn't know why he left in the first place.
The singer expresses his feelings of rejection when he tried something new and different. He put his heart out there for something unknown, but it did not bring him the fulfillment he desired. He recognizes that he was frightened and confused and running back to his loved one was the right choice. He got down on his knees and asked for forgiveness, thanking his significant other for taking him back.
The second verse talks about the singer encountering different women when he went away. It describes a passionate encounter with a “fiery senorita” in Mexico and getting kisses that felt as cold as ice from an Eskimo woman in Alaska. The singer feels guilty and ashamed for straying from his loved one. The third verse is humorous and light-hearted as it talks about a Spanish-speaking lady who rejected him, and the Eskimo woman said no to him while kissing in an igloo. The song ends on a happy note, with the singer expressing how great it is to be back in his loved one's arms.
Line by Line Meaning
So glad, so glad, so glad
Expressing happiness about being back in the love of the person addressed
To be back in your arms
Being happy to be in the embrace of the addressed person
Thank you, baby, thank you, baby
Expressing gratitude to the addressed person for accepting them back
Back where I belong
Feeling that their place is right next to the addressed person
Oh, I went out to do my thing
Stating that they took a journey on their own without the addressed person
And I was totally rejected
Feeling dejected for not being accepted during their journey
I put you down for love unknown
Assuming that they would find love outside of their relationship
But it wasn't what I expected
Realizing that their expectations were not met
So frightened and confused
Experiencing fear and confusion during their journey
I came running back to you
Realizing that they needed the addressed person in their life
I got right down on my knees
Showing vulnerability and willingness to be forgiven
And said darling, won't you please
Asking for forgiveness from the addressed person
I don't know why you did it
Confused by the addressed person's acceptance of them back
But I'm not too proud to admit it, baby
Acknowledging their faults and expressing humility
Adventure grabbed my heart
Feeling the urge to explore the world and take risks
And took me away from you, honey
Leaving the addressed person behind while pursuing adventure
I met all kinds of pretty girls
Meeting new people while on their adventures
In every town that I passed through
Traveling frequently and exploring different places
But that fiery senorita
Referring to a passionate woman they met during their travels
Burned me down in Mexico
Being deeply hurt or rejected by the woman they met in Mexico
And I got kisses cold as ice
Feeling rejected or unloved by the Alaskan Eskimo they met
From my Alaskan Eskimo
Referring to the person they met in Alaska
I feel guilty and ashamed
Regretting leaving the addressed person behind and feeling remorseful
But I'm gonna say it just the same, baby
Still expressing gratitude for having the addressed person back in their life
Now yes says senorita
Referring to a new Mexican woman they met who accepted them
She gave me I'll just si ya!
The woman said 'I'll just see ya' to dismiss them
While kissing in the igloo
Referring to the Eskimo they met and their time together
My Eskimo said no no!
The Eskimo rejected them, which made them feel unhappy
Baby, baby, baby, baby, ow!
Expressing love and affection for the addressed person
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALPHONSO MIZELL, ALPHONSO J MIZELL, BERRY GORDY JR, BERRY JR GORDY, DEKE RICHARDS, DENNIS LUSSIER, FREDDIE PERREN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Musiclover59
I have that CD this is so FONKY i also have their Maybe Tomorrow album where this jam is off of.
Clxmasisland
I haven’t listened to this yet. Is it any good?