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.
Harley
The Jacksons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You gotta see
She's real tough
An' lookin' real mean
I turn her on
I have the key
The sound she makes
The way she sits
The way she moves
Her body parts
Just makes you wanna groove
If you see her
Stop an' take a stare
If you look around
The lady won't be there
She's bad, bad
She's bad
She's bad, bad
She's bad, bad
She's bad
Can I take you for a ride
On my motorbike
Can I take you for a ride
On my motorbike
It's Harley and she's
Bad say yeah
You will be surprised
Just how smooth she glides
She's Harley and
She's bad say yeah
Can I take you for a ride
On my motorbike
It's Harley and she's
Bad say yeah
You will be surprised
Just how smooth she glides
She's Harley and
She's bad say yeah
Got on top of her
I cool her out
We cruise the town
Went all about
That's the way she lived
Told me she didn't know
Gonna take her to this place
Called 2300 Jackson Street
She's bad, bad
She's bad
She's bad, bad
She's bad, bad
She's bad
Can I take you for a ride
On my motorbike
It's Harley and she's
Bad say yeah
You will be surprised
Just how smooth she glides
She's Harley and
She's bad say yeah
Can I take you for a ride
On my motorbike
It's Harley and she's
Bad say yeah
You will be surprised
Just how smooth she glides
She's Harley and
She's bad say yeah
The Jacksons' song "Harley" is a rock-infused ode to a motorcycle that the singer is deeply in love with. He describes the motorcycle as "real tough" and "lookin' real mean," but also turns her on and knows how to excite her. The way she sits and moves, as well as her body parts, make him want to groove. He invites the listener to take a ride on his motorbike, which he identifies as a Harley Davidson. He cools her out and the two of them cruise the town. He eventually plans to take her to a place called 2300 Jackson Street, which could be a reference to the Jackson family's childhood home in Gary, Indiana. The chorus repeats the lines "She's Harley and she's bad say yeah" several times, emphasizing the singer's love and admiration for the motorcycle.
The lyrics of "Harley" stand out for their celebration of an inanimate object, as well as their focus on motorcycles as a symbol of rebellion and freedom. The song is an attempt to capture the thrill and excitement associated with riding a motorcycle, as well as the sense of identity and community that often comes with being a part of motorcycle culture. The song also reflects the Jacksons' interest in exploring new genres and sounds, as they infuse rock and roll elements into their typically soul and disco-inspired music.
Line by Line Meaning
I have a love
I have an intense love for my motorcycle
You gotta see
You have to see my motorcycle to understand my love for it
She's real tough
My motorcycle is strong and powerful
An' lookin' real mean
My motorcycle has a rough and intimidating appearance
I turn her on
I start my motorcycle
I have the key
I possess the key to my motorcycle
The sound she makes
The noise my motorcycle makes
Excites me
The sound of my motorcycle is thrilling for me
The way she sits
The position of my motorcycle
The way she moves
The way my motorcycle moves and operates
Her body parts
The different components of my motorcycle
Just makes you wanna groove
My motorcycle's design is so cool that it makes you want to dance
If you see her
If you see my motorcycle
Stop an' take a stare
Stop and admire it
If you look around
If you take your eyes off of it
The lady won't be there
My motorcycle will be gone
She's bad, bad
My motorcycle is really cool
She's bad
My motorcycle is awesome
Can I take you for a ride
Do you want to ride on my motorcycle?
On my motorbike
On my motorcycle
It's Harley and she's
My motorcycle is a Harley
Bad say yeah
It's really cool, trust me
You will be surprised
You will be amazed
Just how smooth she glides
My motorcycle operates incredibly smoothly
Got on top of her
I got on my motorcycle
I cool her out
I ride my motorcycle calmly and comfortably
We cruise the town
I ride my motorcycle around the town
Went all about
I rode my motorcycle all around
That's the way she lived
That's how my motorcycle operated
Told me she didn't know
My motorcycle acted unpredictably
Gonna take her to this place
I plan to take my motorcycle to a certain destination
Called 2300 Jackson Street
The place where I want to take my motorcycle
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
E Prince
Such a "Jacksons" song!
sean spencer
I feel like riding a motorbike after listening to this. Seriously!
lynn nelson
Where is marlon
Barry Abrams
Chilling