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This was the first Jackson 5 single released by Motown Records. It launched their career and went to #1 in the US, as did their next 3 releases: "ABC," "The Love You Save" and "I'll Be There."
Michael Jackson sang lead. He was 11 years old and the youngest of the group. There was one younger Jackson brother named Randy, who replaced Jermaine in the group in 1977.
This was written by a team of Motown writers called The Corporation. The head of the label, Berry Gordy, was one of the writers. They were based in California, unlike most Motown writers who were in the Detroit offices.
Michael Jackson reminded Berry Gordy of Frankie Lymon, another teenage star. Gordy helped write this as if he was writing for Lymon.
The original title was "I Want To Be Free." It was Gordy's idea to change it to "I Want You Back" and make it more of a love song.
This was intended for Gladys Knight & The Pips, and at one point Diana Ross was going to record it, but Berry Gordy decided to change the title and some of the lyrics and use it for his newly-signed group of boys, the Jackson 5. (thanks, Brad Wind - Miami, FL)
Gordy went out of his way to make this a hit. He was very high on The Jackson 5, and felt they were the perfect group to prove that Motown could continue it's success through the '70s. At the time, this was the most expensive Motown single ever recorded.
The then 11-year-old Michael Jackson became the youngest person to be involved in an American #1. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England)
Two popular songs sampled this in 2001: Jay Z used it on "
Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" and it was also used on Lil' Romeo's "My Baby." It was also sampled on the Kris Kross hit "Jump."
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I didn't even want around")
and used to call her ugly and what not. And then when she realised she was being mis-treated she left him. He is now realising how much he misses her when she goes off with another man.
Also, the Jackson 5 patterned themselves after Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. Lymon was also a child singing sensation. When he reached puberty, his voice got deeper and his career was over. I believe he died in his early 20s from a heroine overdose.
That's the reason Michael Jackson starting getting doctor's injections so his voice wouldn't change as he got older. Now, he's turned into a full-fledged weirdo.
Considering that this is the single greatest song ever recorded, it bears mentioning.