LP Review: Third Album
Previous LP: ABC (B) Next LP: Maybe Tomorrow (D+)
Released: 1970
LP Charts: #1 R&B (10 weeks), #4 pop
Third Album might be the most inspired album name I’ve ever seen. Musta took them weeks to come up with something so original.
Anyways, the Corporation—the group of Motown writers and producers that had overseen the Jackson 5—knew that the time had come to shake up the group’s sound. But only a little bit.
After three straight sugar funk chart-toppers (“I Want You Back, “ABC”, “The Love You Save”) the Jackson 5 ended 1970 with the ballad “I’ll Be There” that turned out to be a bigger hit than all the dance and bubblegum fare.
Although writing credit officially goes to Berry Gordy, Hal Davis, Bob West, and Willie Hutch, this song really sounds like a Hutch production. Seriously, if you’ve heard Hutch’s solo material you’ll get where I’m coming from.
Anyhoo, the ballad became the fourth consecutive J5 single to top the R&B and pop charts. And like the other three it’s a masterpiece. Little 12-year-old Michael has an amazingly mature delivery. On the chorus, Jermaine, who himself was only 15, gives gravely support that truly meshes the song together. Seriously, this song doesn’t work nearly as well if it’s just Michael doing all the vocals.
Not as essential as Jermaine or Michael, but serving as a nice cherry on top is the eldest brother Jackie (only 19) giving a soft, falsetto howl as the chorus ends and the verses begin again. An understated but effective bridge.
Perhaps the most memorable part of the song is during the anthemic outro where Michael suddenly yelps, “Just look over your shoulders, honey!” I hope that was an ad lib during the recording process.
Another sterling ballad is the album closer “Darling Dear”. Originally by the Miracles, the Jackson 5 handle this song with exquisite grace. And the bass work on this song is subtly sick.
After the ballad detour provided by “I’ll Be There”, the Jackson 5’s second single from Third Album was back to the sugar funk with “Mama’s Pearl”. It’s a really good song, but was the first Jackson 5 singleto not top the charts. It petered out at a measly #2 R&B and #2 pop. Chumps. For real though, I do love this thing’s outro. It rocks and rolls around an out of control rhythm guitar.
Surprisingly, the best sugar funk song on Third Album was the silly “How Funky Is Your Chicken”. The song is legitimately stupid and great. Novelty music at its finest.
Bridging the gap between the sugar funk and the ballads is “Can I See You in the Morning”. The original version was by little-known White soul singer Chris Clark. This song’s arrangement is absolutely fantastic, but who the hell thought it was a good idea to have a 12-year-old singing about “seeing someone in the morning”? We all know the connotations there and it ain’t good. No wonder Michael Jackson became a weirdo as an adult.
Alright, let’s speed through some mediocre songs...
“Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love)” is the requisite Delfonics cover. It’s a pale imitation of the original. “Oh How Happy” initially written and performed by Edwin Starr doesn’t deviate too far from the original but has none of Starr’s charm. “Bridge Over Troubled Water” is brutally bad. Worst Jackson 5 song yet. “Goin’ Back to Indiana” is hokey and has too much big-band jazz horns for its own good.
With that mediocrity out the way, we get back to some decentness with “Reach In”, a svengali song on personal growth and love. The cover of “The Love I Saw In You Was Just a Mirage” would make Smokey Robinson mildly proud. Don’t get me wrong, it ain’t anywhere near as good as the Miracles’ original. However it’s a much better interpretation than their earlier take on the Delfonics or… yikes… Simon & Garfunkel.
ALBUM GRADE: C+
Holy shit is this an uneven album. When it’s good? It’s good! When it’s bad? It’s bad!
So a C+ it is.
Song Scores
I’ll Be There: 9/10
Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love): 5/10
Oh How Happy: 5.5/10
Bridge Over Troubled Water: 0/10
Can I See You In the Morning: 7.5/10
Goin’ Back to Indiana: 5/10
How Funky Is Your Chicken: 8/10
Mama’s Pearl: 7.5/10
Reach In: 7/10
The Love I Saw In You Was Just a Mirage: 6/10
Darling Dear: 7.5/10
Previous LP: ABC (B) Next LP: Maybe Tomorrow (D+)