Got to Be There

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 and Osmond's debut efforts almost paralleled 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", Carole King's "You've Got a Friend" and the Supremes' "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone".

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 irresistible.."

Track listing
# Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Ain't No Sunshine" Bill Withers 4:09
2. "I Wanna Be Where You Are" Leon Ware, T-Bone Ross 3:01
3. "Girl Don't Take Your Love From Me" Willie Hutch 3:46
4. "In Our Small Way" Beatrice Verdi, Christine Yarian 3:34
5. "Got to Be There" Elliot Willensky 3:23
6. "Rockin' Robin" Thomas 2:31
7. "Wings of My Love" Corporation 3:32
8. "Maria (You Were the Only One)" L. Brown, Linda Glover, George Gordy, Allen Story 3:41
9. "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" Holland-Dozier-Holland 2:51
10. "You've Got a Friend" Carole King 4:53