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 (see Randy & The Gypsys). 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. 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, 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. 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.
Dancing Machine
The Jacksons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's a dancing machine
Ah babe
Move it baby
Automatic Systematic
Full of color self contained
Tuned and channeled to your vibes
Captivating Stimulating
She such a sexy lady
Built with space age design
Shes moving grooving dancing to the music stop now
Yeah
Rhythmic acrobatic
She a dynamite attraction
At the drop of a coin she comes alive now
She knows what shes doing
She super bad now
She's geared to really blow your mind
Dancing, dancing, dancing
She's a dancing machine
Ah babe
Do it baby
Dancing, dancing, dancing
She's a dancing machine
Ah babe
Move it baby
Shes a dance, dance, dance, dance, dancing machine
Watch her get down, watch her get down
As she do, do, do her thing
Right on the scene
Shes a dance, dance, dance, dance, dancing machine
Watch her get down, watch her get down
As she do, do, do her thing
Right on the scene
Come on babe
Come on babe
Babe
Babe
Shake it baby
Shake it babe
Babe
Babe
Babe
Dance
Dance
Dance
Dance
I like it
I like
I love you
Shes a dance, dance, dance, dance, dancing machine
Watch her get down, watch her get down
As she do, do, do her thing Right on the scene
Shes a dance, dance, dance, dance, dancing machine
Watch her get down, watch her get down
The Jackson 5's Dancing Machine is a dance-pop song that speaks about a female dancer who captivates and stimulates her audience with her incredible moves. The song begins with the repetition of "dancing" as a sign of exuberant energy, and then the tribute shifts to the woman in question. She is referred to as a "dancing machine," which suggests that she dances with effortless precision and rhythmic acrobatics. Her automatic and systematic grooves are "tuned and channeled to your vibes," indicating her ability to adapt her style to the audience's mood.
The song highlights the lady's "captivating" and "stimulating" factor, which makes her a "sexy lady." She was designed with space-age technology, a reference that suggests that she is built to last and can grapple with even the most complex of dance moves. The song's chorus reinforces its central message that the lady is indeed a dancing machine. Through her dance, she "blows your mind" and is "geared to really blow your mind."
The key takeaway is that the woman in the song is the standout attraction. Her dance moves are arousing, captivating, and even stunning and make her a "dynamite attraction." The entire song speaks of the power of dancing to bring joy and unite people.
Line by Line Meaning
Dancing, dancing, dancing
The song is all about dancing and the girl dancing to the music.
She's a dancing machine
The girl is like a machine, completely automatic and rhythmic.
Ah babe
The singer is addressing the girl he's singing about.
Move it baby
The singer is encouraging the girl to keep dancing.
Automatic Systematic
The girl dances automatically and systematically.
Full of color self contained
The girl is vibrant and energetic in her dance moves.
Tuned and channeled to your vibes
The girl dances in sync with the music and the vibes of the crowd.
Captivating Stimulating
The girl's dance moves are captivating and stimulating.
She such a sexy lady
The girl is attractive and sexy in her dance moves.
Built with space age design
The girl's dance moves are futuristic and modern.
Shes moving grooving dancing to the music stop now
The girl dances continuously to the beat of the music.
Rhythmic acrobatic
The girl's dance moves are both rhythmic and acrobatic.
She a dynamite attraction
The girl's dance moves are explosive and draw attention.
At the drop of a coin she comes alive now
The girl dances whenever there's music, like a coin-operated machine.
She knows what shes doing
The girl is confident in her dance moves and knows what she's doing.
She super bad now
The girl is really amazing and impressive in her dance moves.
She's geared to really blow your mind
The girl's dance moves are so amazing that they'll leave you in awe.
Do it baby
The singer is encouraging the girl to keep dancing.
Shes a dance, dance, dance, dance, dancing machine
The girl is always dancing and moving to the music.
Watch her get down, watch her get down
The singer is asking people to watch the girl dance and appreciate her moves.
As she do, do, do her thing
The girl is doing her own thing and dancing to her own beat.
Right on the scene
The girl's dance moves are happening right there and then.
Come on babe
The singer is encouraging the girl to keep dancing and enjoying herself.
Shake it baby
The singer is encouraging the girl to shake her body and keep dancing.
Dance
The song is all about dancing and enjoying oneself through dance.
I like it
The singer is enjoying the girl's dance moves and the overall atmosphere of the dance floor.
I like
The singer is expressing his enjoyment of the dance music and the girl's dance moves.
I love you
The singer is expressing his love of dance and the girl's dance moves, which he finds captivating and impressive.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HAL DAVIS, DON FLETCHER, WELDON DEAN PARKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind