Search - Jackson 5 :: Diana Ross Presents / ABC

THE FIRST 2 J5 RELEASES - PURE GOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JUSTIN OSTOFOROFF | Las Vegas, NV | 08/15/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I want to say congrats to Harry Weigner at Motown for re-releasing the Jackson 5 catalog, with some albums that never have been on Cd before.This disc includes the first two Jackson 5 albums "DIANA ROSS PRESENTS THE JACKSON 5" (1969) and "ABC" (1970). DIANA ROSS PRESENTS THE JACKSON 5 is an amazing debut album. It features the massive hit "I Want You Back" and "Who's Loving You". The album is produced by the corporation and Bobby Taylor (who was fired after the completion of this album). The album opens with such a fun and happy song "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" which shows what the group already knows in regards to studio work. Other notable tracks from the first album include the only other original song on the album "Nobody" which is a very exciting number to say the least, "chained" which is a cover of the Marvin Gaye song that Michael just tears up, "You've Changed" which the group recorded a few years prior in their hometown of Gary Indiana for the small town label "STEELTOWN" and is available on the many different STEELTOWN compilations available (which all basically have the same stuff) but this version is far more riviting!!! Jermaine takes lead on "My Cherie Amour" and "(I Know) I'm Losing You" which are covers of Stevie Wonder and the Temptations. The group also reworks the Four Tops "Standing in the Shadows of Love" in a much more structured way then the tops did years prior. The ABC album features the mega hits "ABC", "The Love You Save" and the Jermaine hit "I Found that Girl" but the album contains many more fabulous tracks. Michael brings "2-4-6-8" to life (especially during the bridge!!!) and does his best on two Stevie Wonder covers "Don't Know Why I Love You" and "Never Had a Dream Come True". The latter in my opinion starts out good but gets lost in it's aim. Other tracks on the album include the average "The Young Folks", the cool "True Love Can Be Beautiful" (with an awesome bubblegum breakdown) and a very cool percussive number called "I'll Bet You" (written by George Clinton)Also included on this disc is a special bonus track. The track is "Oh, I've Been Bless'd" which was originally recorded during the sessions for the first album and was made available on the VERY rare J5 compilation BOOGIE that was issued in limited number in 1979 - the song is a very good number that recalls many moments from the first album, and all Bobby Taylor produced tracks on the first album (he produced this). This is the first time that this track has been issued on Cd - but there are 4 other tracks that appeared on BOOGIE that still have not seen the light of day and probably won't for awhile ("Penny Arcade", "I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore", "Just Because I Love You" and "One Day I'll Marry You") but that's beside the point. The mastering job on this disc is incredible and definitely worth picking up!!!!Huge J5/MJ Fan, Justin Ostoforoff"

CLASSIC CHILDHOOD FAVORITE...STILL SOUNDS FRESH (ABC that is

Lawrence Brown | 03/18/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am 40 years old and still listening to this album. I still can't get over how absolutley fabulous these songs are. 2-4-6-8 has a hook that I can't get out of my head. Don't Know Why I Love You is classic J-5. Michael wails on this one, nice cover of a Stevie Wonder song. Of course..ABC and The Love You Save are the instant classics on this album..but howabout "I'll Bet You" and "The Young Folks"..The Young Folks is a cover of a Supremes song, but the J5's version demolishes it. My all time fave though is "One More Chance".. I think I have played this song over a thousand times. What a great ballad. Nice melody and vocal performance. This would have gotten 5 stars, bought I still am not fond of "True Love Can Be Beautiful" and "Never HAd a Dream Come True". Their next great lp was "Maybe Tomorrow"."

A Triumphant Debut for one of THE BEST groups in music histo

Marlon Jackson | Capitol Heights, MD USA | 10/19/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm only 22 years old and i am a big fan of the Jacksons history. When I bought this album,it showed me exactly what was to come out of this group years later down the road. The first song Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Da is the perfect 2 start off a debut album. The next 3 tracks,"Nobody","Can You Remember?",and their classic single "I Want You Back" (which in my opinion would be the only J5 song 2 sound good without any drums playing in the background). A standout track on the first album is "Born To Love You" where Michael and Marlon do their own vocal-trade off. Considering I like 2 sing all of Marlon Jacksons' parts on their songs. The follow-up album was also pretty good,but the lack of hit material after the song "2-4-6-8" is why this review is only 4 stars,but HEY!! it's still a good CD 2 own in your collection."