LP Review: Skywriter
Previous LP: Lookin' Through the Windows (B-) Next LP: Get It Together (C+)
Released: 1973
LP Charts: #15 R&B, #44 pop
It finally happened. The Jackson 5 had a flop album.
Oh sure, Maybe Tomorrow (D+) was a flop artistically, but it still sold well enough. And of course Lookin’ Through the Windows (B-) suggested that the Jackson 5 had merely hit a speed bump artistically with Maybe Tomorrow.
However, Skywriter flopped artistically AND commercially. The album sold poorly as did all the singles. After the mixture of lush soul and sugar funk on Lookin’ Through the Windows, it’s crazy that the Jackson 5 were suddenly back flailing like they were on Maybe Tomorrow. Except this time even worse. There’s no “Never Can Say Goodbye” to save this record.
On the bright side, Skywriter was only 29 minutes long meaning the misery we’re going through is relatively short.
“Skywriter” is clavinet-driven proto-disco, so I can dig it. Not a particularly good song, but fine filler. “Hallelujah Day” (#10 R&B, #28 pop) unsurprisingly incorporates upbeat gospel. It also has Michael’s voice in clear transition. He sounds nothing like he did on “I Want You Back”, but he also isn’t quite vocally matured either. For that matter, Jermaine’s voice had also changed from the gritty days of “ABC” to a smoother delivery as well. As for the song itself? Meh.
“The Boogie Man” had P-Funk potential, but the Jackson 5 ain’t Funkadelic, so this song goes nowhere. “Touch” is gross to listen to. It sucked when the Supremes recorded it and it’s worse now with a bunch of teenage boys reciting the lyrics.
“Corner of the Sky” (#9 R&B, #18 pop) is a weird baroque pop experiment. Baroque pop hadn’t been in vogue since like 1968. Bold move, Cotton. Speaking of outdated ‘60s pop, “World of Sunshine” is some summer of love bullshit. That also was played out well before 1973.
“I Can't Quit Your Love” is standard J5 sugar funk, so that means it’s one of the best songs here. “Uppermost” is utterly forgettable. “Ooh, I'd Love to Be with You” has a fine beat, but the vocals suck.
The album ends with the best song: “You Made Me What I Am”. Sad commentary on this album that this was the best song.
ALBUM GRADE: D
Honestly, “Skywriter”, “I Can't Quit Your Love”, and “You Made Me What I Am” are the only songs I can recall with any certainty once this album finishes. Anonymous and bland. No wonder it sold poorly.
And no wonder the maturing Jackson brothers were beginning to chafe under Motown’s control. Even little Michael was now 15 and eldest brother Jackie was 22. The boys were becoming men and had their own musical ideas. Motown wasn’t listening, though, and the dissent began to brew.
Song Scores
Skywriter: 6/10
Hallelujah Day: 5/10
The Boogie Man: 4/10
Touch: 0/10
Corner of the Sky: 6/10
I Can't Quit Your Love: 6/10
Uppermost: 5/10
World of Sunshine: 4/10
Ooh, I'd Love to Be with You: 5/10
You Made Me What I Am: 6/10
Previous LP: Lookin' Through the Windows (B-) Next LP: Get It Together (C+)