100 MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS BY THE JACKSON FAMILY. 

Today: #2 & 1. Countdown concludes today.

Caffè Lattè presents:

THE 100 MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS BY THE

JACKSON FAMILY

Michael. Janet. Jermaine. Randy. Tito. Marlon. Jackie. 3T. La Toya. Rebbie.

The family from Gary, Indiana has dominated the music scene for over 5 decades. Here are 100 of the siblings’ most significant songs in terms of sales, influence and impact… 

J2

I WANT YOU BACK

The Jackson 5

Motown recognized the talent possessed by its young group of brothers, especially pint-sized Michael, early on. As the label was nearing the end of its prolific first decade, change was in the air. Some key staffers had departed for greener pastures. Diana Ross was about to leave The Supremes (Motown’s biggest success) and launch her solo career. Berry Gordy Jr. wanted to ensure his creation would remain a dominant chart force. A lot was depending on the emergence of The Jackson 5. The label promoted a story that Ross had ‘discovered’ the group. This fiction continued in the title of the brothers’ label debut album ‘Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5’. Gordy and a crack team of writer/ producers created a strong string of breakthrough hit songs to attack the world charts.

“I Want You Back” was originally intended for Gladys Knight & The Pips and then pitched to Gordy for Ross to record. The label head thought the song would be perfect to kick-start The Jackson 5 on Motown.

Gordy’s instincts proved to be accurate: the single topped the US Soul and Pop charts and peaked at #2 in Britain. The public was impressed with 10 year-old lead singer Michael. Attracting the spotlight immediately, the boy and his siblings set Motown up for another lucrative decade of music. The hit was followed by 3 more chart-topping singles on the Billboard Pop and Soul listings; all accomplished in 1970!

J1

BILLIE JEAN

Michael Jackson

No song defines Michael Jackson- global superstar better than “Billie Jean”. “Off The Wall” hinted at just how cool and talented he was. This new song was released to the public in 1982 and propelled his ‘Thriller’ opus into music history.

Anyone who was still questioning Michael’s serious R&B credentials was silenced by this extraordinary track. Co-producer Quincy Jones wanted to edit the almost 30 second intro, but at Michael’s insistence, was overruled. In 1983, his performance of the song on the ‘Motown 25’ TV special introduced his “Moonwalk” and cemented Michael’s position in the pop culture pantheon. 

“Billie Jean” topped Billboard’s Pop and Soul charts. The single also reached #1 in the UK, Europe, Canada and Australia. With its timeless quality, this is the one track the Jackson family will always be best remembered for.