Jackson 5 - The Rehearsal Sessions (2016)
FLAC (tracks), Lossless / MP3 320 kbps | 1:04:28 | 450 / 160 Mb
Genre: Soul, Funk, R&B, Disco
The Jackson 5's exuberant and funky pop-soul hits made them one of the biggest pop phenomena of the early '70s, and as the Jacksons, they thrived well into the next decade with a record-breaking tour that enhanced their legacy of high-caliber showmanship. Launched to fame in 1970 with the consecutive number one pop hits "I Want You Back," "ABC," "The Love You Save," and "I'll Be There," the siblings were the last great group to come from Motown's hitmaking machine before Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder shifted the label's focus to more individual visions. A departure from the typically smooth and elegant Motown sound, their youthful music – combined with a merchandising juggernaut – inevitably got them tagged as a bubblegum group. They were far more talented than that genre label would suggest, especially with respect to lead singer Michael. Moreover, their material, while sunny and upbeat, didn't pander to its audience. When all but Jermaine moved from Motown to Epic in the mid-'70s, they gained creative control – though they had to change their name – and increased their number of Top Ten hits from eight to 11. The Jacksons scored one of the biggest disco-era hits with "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" and appealed to rock audiences with the Mick Jagger collaboration "State of Shock." The latter hit coincided with the group's blockbuster Victory tour, after which the Jacksons, without Michael, would record one more studio album. Michael, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Randy (who had replaced Jermaine) last performed together in 2001, four years after they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and eight years before Michael's death. Jackie, Tito, and Marlon have continued to tour well into the 2020s with many of their performances in tribute to Michael.