Got to Be There

Got to Be There
Studio album by Michael Jackson
Released	January 24, 1972[1]
Recorded	1971
Genre	Bubblegum pop/Soul
Label	Motown
Producer	Hal Davis, Willie Hutch
Professional reviews
allmusic link
Michael Jackson chronology
Got to Be There (1971-1972) Ben (1972)

Got to Be There was the solo debut album by then-adolescent Michael Jackson, released on Motown Records, released on January 24, 1972^[2]. It includes the song of the same name, which was released in the fall of 1971 as Jackson's debut solo single.

Album information

Motown released Jackson's solo album around the same time that another famous brother from a famous family was doing the same: Donny Osmond, who was hitting with songs like "Sweet & Innocent" and "Puppy Love". Jackson's debut and Osmond's almost paralleled between each other as Jackson scored a hit with the title track and "Rockin' Robin", which like Osmond's "Puppy Love", was a remake of an old '50s rock song. The album also included covers of Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" and James Taylor & Carole King's "You've Got a Friend".

Reception

The album peaked at number fourteen on the US pop albums chart and number three on the US R&B album chart when it was released.

Rolling Stone (12/7/72, p.68) - "..slick, artful and every bit as good as the regular Jackson 5 product...a sweetly touching voice...innocence and utter professionalism...fascinating and finally irresistable.."

Track listing

1. "Ain't No Sunshine" (Withers) (originally performed by Bill Withers)
2. "I Wanna Be Where You Are" (Ware/Ross)
3. "Girl Don't Take Your Love From Me" (Hutch)
4. "In Our Small Way" (Verdi/Yarian)
5. "Got to Be There" (Willensky)
6. "Rockin' Robin" (Thomas) (originally performed by Bobby Day)
7. "Wings of My Love" (Corporation)
8. "Maria (You Were the Only One)" (Brown/Glover/Gordy/Story)
9. "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" (Holland-Dozier-Holland) (originally performed by The Supremes)
10. "You've Got a Friend" (King) (originally performed by Carole King)