The title of 1975's Best of Michael Jackson seems something like an unfunny joke in the wake of the global success that the star found with Off the Wall and Thriller just a few years later. Best offers a handful of charted singles ranging from the incandescent "I Wanna Be Where You Are" and "Got to Be There" to the ephemeral "Rockin' Robin" and the tedious rat-love flick-theme "Ben." The rest is a mishmash of workaday sentiment ("With a Child's Heart," "Music and Me") and a few tracks of the proverbial pleasant-but-unexceptional work that the solo Jackson would soon transcend. -Rickey Wright
The Best of Michael Jackson - Motown,Michael Jackson,Motown / Pgd,Pop,R&B,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues
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The Best of Michael Jackson (Anthology Series)
Michael Jackson Manufacturer: Motown ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000001A8C Release Date: 1995-03-21 |
Tracks:
- Got To Be There
- Rockin' Robin
- Ain't No Sunshine
- Maria (You Were The Only One)
- I Wanna Be Where You Are
- Girl, Don't Take Your Love From Me
- Love Is Here and Now You're Gone
- Ben
- People Make The World Go 'Round
- Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day
- With A Child's Heart
- Everybody's Somebody's Fool
- Greatest Show On Earth
- We've Got A Good Thing Going
- In Our Small Way
- All The Things You Are
- You Can Cry On My Shoulder
- Maybe Tomorrow - The Jackson 5
- I'll Be There - The Jackson 5
- Never Can Say Goodbye - The Jackson 5
- It's Too Late To Change The Time - The Jackson 5
- Dancing Machine - The Jackson 5
Tracks:
- When I Come Of Age
- Dear Michael
- Music And Me
- You Are There
- One Day In Your Life
- Make Tonight All Mine [Previously Unreleased 1973 Mix]
- Love's Gone Bad [Previously Unreleased 1972 Mix]
- That's What Love Is Made Of
- Who's Looking For A Lover
- Lonely Teardrops
- Cinderella Stay Awhile
- We're Almost There
- Take Me Back
- Just A Little Bit Of You
- Melodie [Previously Unreleased 1973 Mix]
- I'll Come Home To You
- If N' I Was A God [Previously Unreleased 1973 Mix]
- Happy (Love Theme From 'Lady Sings The Blues')
- Don't Let It Get You Down [Previously Unreleased 1973 Mix]
- Call On Me [Previously Unreleased 1973 Mix]
- To Make My Father Proud [Previously Unreleased 1973 Mix]
- Farewell My Summer Love
Amazon.com
Chock full of hits and nicely assembled, this two-CD collection focuses on Michael before he left the Motown cocoon, hooked up with Quincy Jones, and changed the sound of black pop with Off the Wall. Does the relatively safe vibe and the less-than-groundbreaking nature of the music make these songs any less enjoyable or memorable? No way--especially for boomers who grew up with MJ. All the hits are here, from the chirpy smash "Rockin' Robin" to the yearning "Got to Be There" (check those high notes!) and a handful of J5 tracks (chief among them the impassioned "I'll Be There"). For fans of R&B and for Michael-maniacs, this is a must. --Amy LindenCustomer Reviews:
Memories of a young Michael Jackson.......2007-01-17
" Great compilation from a young Michael Jackson".......2006-10-01
I love Him always will Period........2006-01-21
Jammin'.......2004-06-04
Heaven Sent.......2004-04-10
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The Best of Michael Jackson & The Jackson Five
Michael Jackson & The Jackson Five Manufacturer: Universal ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000024T0Z Release Date: 2001-10-22 |
Tracks:
- I Want You Back
- Abc
- Love You Save
- I'll Be There
- Mama's Pearl
- Never Can Say Goodbye
- Got To Be There
- Rockin Robin
- Ain't No Sunshine
- Lookin Thru The Windows
- Ben
- Doctor My Eyes
- Hallelujah Day
- Skywriter
- Happy
- One Day In Your Life
- We're Almost There
- Farewell My Summer Love
- Girl You're So Together
- I Want You Back (Remix)
Album Details
Extensive 20 Track Collection Spanning Michael's, Jackson Five and Early Solo Recordings on Motown.
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The Best of Michael Jackson - Motown
Michael Jackson Manufacturer: Motown ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000001ADQ Release Date: 1990-10-25 |
Tracks:
- Got To Be There
- Ben
- With A Child's Heart
- Happy (Love Theme From 'The Lady Sings The Blues')
- One Day In Your Life
- I Wanna Be Where You Are
- Rockin' Robin
- We're Almost There
- Morning Glow
- Music And Me
Amazon.com
The title of 1975's Best of Michael Jackson seems something like an unfunny joke in the wake of the global success that the star found with Off the Wall and Thriller just a few years later. Best offers a handful of charted singles ranging from the incandescent "I Wanna Be Where You Are" and "Got to Be There" to the ephemeral "Rockin' Robin" and the tedious rat-love flick-theme "Ben." The rest is a mishmash of workaday sentiment ("With a Child's Heart," "Music and Me") and a few tracks of the proverbial pleasant-but-unexceptional work that the solo Jackson would soon transcend. --Rickey WrightCustomer Reviews:
not the best.......2006-08-16
One Of Michael Jackson's Best.......2005-02-24
EARLY MIKE.......2004-12-09
THE GUY I FELL IN LOVE WITH!!!.......2003-08-10
A Young Michael.......2001-04-23
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20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson Manufacturer: Motown ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000051Y3C Release Date: 2000-11-21 |
Tracks:
- Got To Be There
- I Wanna Be Where You Are
- Rockin' Robin
- People Make The World Go 'Round
- With A Child's Heart
- Happy (Love Theme From Lady Sings The Blues)
- Ben
- We're Almost There
- Just A Little Bit Of You
- One Day In Your Life
- Music And Me
Customer Reviews:
It is Good.......2005-03-15
Don't buy this one.......2004-10-09
The Millenium Criminals Strike Again!.......2004-09-27
From the perspective of a 24 year-old aspiring music critic.......2001-06-05
So did I find any sonic gems on this album? You better believe it. I was already familiar with "Got To Be There"; it's one of my favorite Michael Jackson slow songs of all time. For those who haven't heard it, I would just describe it as an innocent and passionate declaration of love.
We continue with urgently pleading "I Wanna Be Where You Are", a song I'd heard sampled in 1991 by rapper MC Lyte in her song "Georgie Porgie"; this song is great. "Rockin Robin" is a fun remake - you can almost picture a cartoon video in your head while you listen; the song is colorful and playful.
"People Make The World Go Round" was another surprise for me. I like it, but the reason it surprised me was because in 1996, the group Westside Connection used this song as the basis for their hit, "Gangstas Make The World Go Round"...at any rate, I felt educated when I heard the original, which is wonderful. I always appreciate learning something new (or old, depending on your perspective, of course).
"With A Child's Heart", and "Happy" are both great ballads firmly rooted in the pop tradition; benign, tender and sugary. "Ben", on the other hand is young MJ's eerily beautiful masterpiece. From what I understand, the song was used for a horror movie called "Willard"; the movie was about a boy and his homicidal pet rat...
The next two tracks don't really fit Michael Jackson's voice in my opinion; they were produced with a philly-soul sound that was more rugged than Michael's signature pop/R&B. Eventually, we make our way to track #10, the ultra-somber "One Day In Your Life" - my favorite song on the album. Here are some of the lyrics:
One Day In Your Life
You'll Remember The Love You Found Here
You'll Remember Me Somehow
Though You Don't Need Me Now,
I Will Stay In Your Heart
And When Things Fall Apart,
You'll Remember One Day...
I think this song is very sad and moving. I admit that it may strike some as ridiculously corny, but it worked for me. The sound and feeling behind this song bring to mind the melancholy that fueled Gloria Estefan's 1987 ballad "Anything For You"...
We close this collection with a ballad called "Music and Me" that ends the album perfectly. On this CD you're getting both versions of Michael - the child, and the adolescent. It's a great buy...
Thanks for reading
C.H.R.
Good Only If You Entertain Sentimental Memories...........2001-04-19
But, the issue at hand is what I feel about this MJ CD.
Michael's Motown cuts here are just "alright". Nothing good, nothing bad. "Got to Be There" and "Ben" in particular are good tunes. But until someone makes an all encompassing anthology which includes MJ's solo Motown and Epic years, this will probably only whet your MJ jones. It ain't--noways, nohows--the best thing smokin' though. Unless you take the view that when certain artists sneeze, it should be considered a masterpiece. I say, "Let the buyer beware" on this one...
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The Best of Michael Jackson & The Jackson Five
Michael Jackson & The Jackson Five Manufacturer: Universal ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B0008FU8OK Release Date: 2005-06-06 |
Tracks:
- Ben
- Never Can Say Goodbye
- Got To Be There
- I Want You Back
- Abc
- Love You Save
- I'll Be There
- I Wanna Be Where You Are
- What Goes Around Comes Around
- It's Great To Be Here
- Mama's Pearl
- Sugar Daddy
- Darling Dear
- I Can Only Give Your Love
- Petals
- Rockin' Robin
- Girl, Don't Take Your Love
- Love Song
- Looking Through The Windows
- Farewell My Summer Love
- One Day In Your Life
- We're Almost There
- Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
Album Description
Japanese exclusive Motown collection! Details TBA. 2005.Album Details
Japan-original Best-of Collection. "Ben", "Never Can Say Goodbye", "Got to Be There", "i Want You Back", "Abc", "The Love You Save", "i'll Be There", "i Wanna Be Where You Are", "What Goes around Comes Around", "it's Great to Be Here", "Mama's Pearl", "Sugar Daddy", "i Can Only Give You Love", etc.Customer Reviews:
No superlative good enough for this found in my thesaurus.......2006-03-16
This song obliterates me. All the performances are incredible, including, to quote a friend, Michael's astounding, dumbfounding lead vocal.
The bass part sounds to me as if it came straight from the composer and arranger, but in any matter it's stuffed full with inventive ideas and super fonky! Given the calculated nature of this recording I would expect the arranger to have worked out the bass part note for note. The recording is a careful tapestry of many sounds that blend together to give the overall effect. The intro is a good example. The melody played by the bass is wonderful, but that melody is doubled by other instruments plus other things are woven around that melody, all indicating that the arranger wrote it all out note for note, the bass player serving to faithfully play the arrangement.
(Un)fortunately, any excellence in other portions of this song is obscured by Michael's unbelievable vocal. So much stuff, so much soul, so much range and flexibility. This vocal is way in the unbelievable range for any artist. But to come from a brand new 11 year old is, as my friend put it so well, "dumbfounding." (If this selection does not feature sound clips, look at other Jackson 5 records here on Amazon to hear the mentioned snippets.)
*He sounds a little hoarse and that increases the authority.
*The way he uses subtle, rhythmic vibrato on the word "me" in the phrase "won't you please let me back in your heart." (Hear this on the Amazon snippet.)
*The pause and surprise attack on the word "back" in the same phrase. (Hear this on the Amazon snippet.)
*The screaming with 100% authority.
*The drifting out of tune on the words "now, baby, yeah" in the phrase "Yes I do now, Oh oh baby, yeah yeah yeah yeah, Nah Nah no no." (Is there a technical term for this "drifting out of tune" vocal technique?) (Hear this on the Amazon snippet.)
*The authority and inventiveness and soul of the scatting on that same phrase and other scats in the song, including the various fun "Huh"s.
*The natural way he does the call and response sections with his brothers.
*The perfect timing all over the place, including jumping on some of the responses a little early.
*The exciting vocal build on the phrase "All I want, all I need, all I want, all I need!" with the fantastic atonal exclamation on the second "all I want."
And on and on. You could almost analyze every single note the guy sings. The fact that this guy could do this at 11 years old shows beyond any question that singing at this level requires talent given to you directly by God. You can't get it and you can't learn it. God either gave it to you or He didn't. My guess is that some genius worked out most of this stuff and recorded a track for Michael to sing along with during the session. I mean God given talent or not, Michael could not have come up with that stuff on his own, atonal, drifting out of tune, etc. But to even sing along and get these results....incredible. Plus, who was that singing genius that came up with all that stuff?
Other great parts of the song are the pervasive background vocals, the excellent call and response, the subtle, almost inaudible use of strings and background vocalizing, and the various guitar parts that weave an interesting tapestry.
One thing that I think is ground breaking but at the same time takes away from this arrangement is the calculated, restrained drum part. The drum part sounds completely canned, written out and played note for note. It's not exuberant; instead it's carefully restrained. To my ears it sounds too mellow for this joyous, raucous romp. But it's groundbreaking because this style of drumming became prevalent later and today in the 2000s you rarely hear any drum pyrotechnics in favor of a steady drum beat that does not break the flow of the song.
I wonder if all the vocals on this recording are Jacksons? I assume they are and that shows the talent of this family and the quality of this product.
Excellence and analysis of each individual part aside, the real value of this song, besides Michael's vocal which you simply can not retire to the background, is the overall sound. Each part is carefully calculated and blended to create a unique, exuberant, joyful, new, and instantly recognizable sound that's unlike anything that had been heard before. Though each part is worthy of study, perhaps the best way to listen to this song is with a 6 inch speaker through an AM radio in your car. And isn't that the way it was meant to be?
Larry Brown
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Best 1200
Michael Jackson Manufacturer: Universal ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B0009N2UYW Release Date: 2005-07-04 |
Tracks:
- One Day In Your Life
- Rockin Robin
- People Make The World Go Around
- Happy
- With A Child's Heart
- Music And Me
- Got To Be There
- Ben
- We're Almost There
- Just A Little Bit Of You
- I Wanna Be Were You Are
- In Our Small Way
- My Girl
- Dapper-Dan
- We've Got A Good Thing Going
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Very Best of Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson Manufacturer: Universal ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00006HBCU Release Date: 2002-09-21 |
Christian Music:
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- The Collection
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- The Very Best of Joe Tex
- Time Is Tight [Box set]
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- Ultimate Collection
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Chicken Soup for the Soul: Yoga
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