Fifty years ago, the Jackson brothers left Motown, replaced Jermaine with Randy and began a new chapter with Epic Records. Their self-titled debut introduced Michael Jackson as a songwriter, gave the group unprecedented creative freedom and established the foundations for the music that would follow on Destiny and beyond.
The Jacksons’ self-titled debut album was released on 5 November 1976, marking one of the most significant turning points in the history of the Jackson family. It was the first album released under the name The Jacksons, the first to feature youngest brother Randy Jackson in place of Jermaine, and the record that gave Michael Jackson his first published songwriting credit.
The move from Motown to Epic Records represented more than a change of record company. After seven years as the Jackson 5, the brothers were determined to take greater control of their music. Jermaine remained with Motown after marrying Berry Gordy’s daughter Hazel, while Michael, Jackie, Tito and Marlon moved to Epic with Randy joining the group.
The change also brought a new creative partnership. Epic established a joint arrangement with Philadelphia International Records, bringing the brothers into the world of Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, the songwriting and production partnership responsible for some of the defining soul music of the 1970s.
Gamble and Huff executive-produced the album, with production also involving Dexter Wansel, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Victor Carstarphen and the Jacksons themselves. The Philadelphia connection brought a different musical character to the group. The polished arrangements, rhythmic foundations and sophisticated soul production provided a contrast to the Motown sound that had made the Jackson 5 international stars.
The most important development, however, was what happened in the songwriting department.
At Motown, the Jackson 5 had largely depended on the material supplied by the company’s established songwriting and production teams. For their Epic debut, the brothers were finally able to contribute original compositions.
Michael Jackson wrote “Blues Away”, his first published song as a songwriter. It was an important early indication of the creative direction he would eventually pursue as a solo artist. Although Michael was already an accomplished performer, songwriter and musician, “Blues Away” gave him a formal writing credit on a released album.
He also collaborated with Tito Jackson on “Style of Life”. The two songs were particularly significant because they demonstrated that the brothers wanted to become more than interpreters of other people’s material.
The album’s commercial introduction was “Enjoy Yourself”, released as a single in October 1976. Written by Gamble and Huff, the song reached number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the R&B chart. It became the group’s first American Top 10 hit since the Jackson 5’s earlier success with “Dancing Machine”.
“Show You the Way to Go” followed in 1977, becoming The Jacksons’ first number one single in the United Kingdom. Its success established that the group could maintain an international audience despite the upheaval of leaving Motown. “Dreamer” was subsequently released as another single in the UK.
The album also contained “Good Times”, a Gamble and Huff composition that became a favourite among listeners drawn to the Philadelphia soul sound. Although it was not released as a single, it helped give the record a broader identity beyond its two principal hits.
Commercially, the transition was successful. The Jacksons reached number 36 on the US Billboard album chart and number six on the R&B album chart. It also reached number four in Canada and number 53 in the UK. More significantly, it became the first Jacksons album to receive an RIAA Gold certification, recognising shipments of 500,000 copies in the United States.
That certification carried an additional historical significance. The brothers had already enjoyed enormous commercial success at Motown, but their earlier sales had not been audited for RIAA certification in the same way. The Epic album therefore gave the group its first officially recognised gold album.
Recording took place during 1976, with sessions at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia and Paragon Studios in Chicago. The Philadelphia sessions brought the brothers together with musicians associated with Gamble and Huff’s production operation, including members of MFSB. Arrangements were contributed by Bobby Martin, Jack Faith and Dexter Wansel.
The result was a 10-track album running for approximately 39 minutes. Michael’s developing vocal approach was particularly evident, while the collective performances retained the family harmonies that had been central to the Jackson 5’s appeal.
The Jacksons would continue refining their sound on the 1977 follow-up Goin’ Places, but the next major breakthrough came with 1978’s Destiny. That album gave the brothers substantially greater creative involvement and produced “Blame It on the Boogie” and “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)”. It also established the direction that would lead to the group’s most commercially successful Epic-era work.
Michael’s own songwriting journey would ultimately extend far beyond the family group. His contributions to the Jacksons’ later recordings, followed by the extraordinary success of Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad, would make him one of the most commercially successful songwriters and recording artists in popular music history.
Looking back 50 years, The Jacksons is important not simply because it introduced a new name and a new record company. It documents the moment the brothers began taking responsibility for their own musical identity.
For Michael, it contains the first published songwriting credit. For Randy, it marks his arrival as a full member of the group. For the brothers collectively, it represents the end of the Motown chapter and the beginning of a creative partnership that would eventually produce Destiny, Triumph and some of the most enduring music of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The Jacksons did not have to start again from nothing. They had already conquered the world once. In 1976, they set about proving they could do it on their own terms.
The Jacksons – Original 1976 Tracklisting
1. Enjoy Yourself
2. Think Happy
3. Good Times
4. Keep On Dancing
5. Blues Away
6. Show You the Way to Go
7. Living Together
8. Strength of One Man
9. Dreamer
10. Style of Life
Album: The Jacksons
Released: 5 November 1976
Record label: Epic Records / Philadelphia International Records
Producers: Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, Dexter Wansel, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Victor Carstarphen and The Jacksons
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