The Jacksons (album)

The Jacksons
Studio album by The Jacksons
Released	November 27, 1976
Recorded	June – October 1976 at Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genre	Soul, funk, Philadelphia soul
Length	39:27
Label	Epic Records Philadelphia International Records
Producer	Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff McFadden & Whitehead Victor Carstarphen Dexter Wansel The Jacksons
The Jacksons chronology
Joyful Jukebox Music (1976) The Jacksons (1976) Goin' Places (1977)
Singles from The Jacksons
"Enjoy Yourself" Released: October 29, 1976 "Show You the Way to Go" Released: January 6, 1977 "Dreamer" Released: March 14, 1977

The Jacksons is the 10th album by The Jacksons, the band's first for CBS, following their seven-year tenure on Motown as "The Jackson 5". Jackson 5 member Jermaine Jackson stayed with Motown when his brothers broke their contracts and defected to CBS; he was replaced by youngest Jackson brother Randy. The album was released in 1976 for Epic Records and Philadelphia International Records as a joint venture.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Rolling Stone	(mixed)
The Rolling Stone Album Guide

Philadelphia International heads Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff produced and executive produced the album, including their first top ten hit in two years "Enjoy Yourself", but had a difficult time focusing on a sound for the now-grown-up boy band. However, the group was able for the first time to write their own material, something that had been denied to them at Motown. The Jacksons composed "Style of Life" and "Blues Away" on their own. "Blues Away" was the first published song written by lead singer Michael Jackson, who began to take a more percussive vocal approach beginning with this album. This album also spawned the second R&B single "Show You the Way to Go". The album itself placed #36 and #6 on the pop and R&B album charts respectively.

The album was the Jacksons' first gold album, despite their having sold more than 10 million albums while at Motown. (Motown's sales and financial records were never presented for auditing by the RIAA until 1976).

Track listing

1. "Enjoy Yourself" (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff) – 3:00
2. "Think Happy" (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff) – 3:07
3. "Good Times" (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff) – 4:57
4. "Keep on Dancing" (Dexter Wansel) – 4:31
5. "Blues Away" (Michael Jackson) – 3:12
6. "Show You the Way to Go" (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff) – 5:30
7. "Living Together" (Dexter Wansel) – 4:26
8. "Strength of One Man" (Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Victor Carstarphen) – 3:56
9. "Dreamer" (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff) – 3:05
10. "Style of Life" (Tito Jackson, Michael Jackson) – 3:19

Lead vocals

Michael leads the tracks 4–6 and 9–10 on his own, while he and his brother, Jackie, leads the vocals on tracks 1–3 and 7. All the brothers (except Tito) sang together in the track 8.

Charts

Chart (1977)	Peak position
Billboard Pop Albums	36
Billboard Top Soul Albums	6

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions
		U.S. Billboard Hot 100	U.S. R&B
1976	"Enjoy Yourself"	6	2
1977	"Show You the Way to Go"	28	6

External links

• The Jacksons – The Jacksons at Discogs