The Jackson 5 Album: “Third Album/Maybe Tomorrow [Bonus Tracks]”

The Jackson 5 were some of the best soul singers to ever grace a record or stage and its evident through this series of albums. As a whole the Motown sound was a very complex machine. it played mostly on empathy and allowed the listener to get key emtotions through the bridge of the song. This was unheard of before Motown and the Jackson 5 used the system well. Songs like "I'll Be There" used this formula to perfection. Michael's vocals soar an devoke such pain for such youth. "Can I See You In The Morning" also finds echoes and falsettoes being plushed out into a dizzying mix of soul and passion. One of my favorite tracks is "How Funky Is Your Chicken", Wow! Michael blasts through the formulas and limits of a dance themed arrangement until the listner not only wants to dance but sing along as well. From the heartache of "maybe Tomorrow" to the country lite "blue Skies" these two albums soar.

Yep this is one groovy cd. Maybe Tomorrow was always one of my fave J-5 albums. It has soooooo many great songs. Honey Chile, It's Great To Be Here, My Little Baby, Petals, The Wall, not to mention the title track. Third Album is not as good, IMHO. Whoever thought to have them remake "Bridge Over Troubled Water" is a moron. How Funky Is Your Chicken, is a good tune though as is Reach In. Check this out. This is when the J5 were at their best.

In 1970, the Jackson Five released four albums (three studio, one Christmas) and each one of them is a classic. The Third Album includes the mega-hit, "I'll Be There", but there is so much more to the album than that. The best cut on the album is the brilliant "Can I See You In The Morning" which has a great vocal by Michael and one of the best production efforts by the vaunted Corporation. "Reach In" is a another superb track that shows off a deep and socially conscious side of the band while "How Funky Is Your Chicken" lives up to it's title with some deep funk roots. Other stand out songs are "Darling Dear" and the other hit off the record "Mama's Pearl" which peaked at number two (ironically it was kept out of the top spot by The Osmonds' "One Bad Apple" which was a clear rip off of the J5's sound). "Goin' Back To Indiana" is a fun song about the group's roots and there are good covers of "The Love I Saw in You Was Just A Mirage", "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "Oh How Happy". Maybe Tomorrow shows a growth in the band. The title track is a gorgeous song that has a beautiful orchestral backing. "Never Can Say Goodbye" was another number two hit and it is still one of Michael's best vocal efforts. "The Wall" and "Petals" are strong songs about relationships. "16 Candles" is an okay cover, but "(We've Got) Blue Skies" is a soaring song with a stinging guitar ringing throughout. "My Little Baby" is fun and "Honey Chile" has an almost country vibe to it. "I Will Find A Way" is a great closer and Jermaine supplies one of his best vocal efforts. "Sugar Daddy" is a bonus track that was originally included in their Greatest Hits collection. It lives up to its title as it is sugary sweet and a pure pop pleasure.

Maybe Tomorrow" was the first non-kiddie album I received. (My sister got "Going Back To Indiana"). I loved it and I still do! "Maybe Tomorrow" has a wonderful arrangement,both vocally and musically. "Petals" always reminds me of their cartoon,and who can resist "My Little Baby"? Of course "Honey Chile" is a first class clunker,although it is worth listening to, just to experience Michael's cringe-worthy southern accented enticements! "Never Can Say Goodbye" is a classic! In fact, every cut on the album is a gem. Jermaine fan alert: he has 3 tracks!The "Third Album" is great too! A very mature Michael tackles "Reach In", a Four Tops classic, with wonderful results. In fact, there are a lot of covers on this album, and they are all covered well.The J-5 versions of the songs "Oh How Happy","The Love I saw In You Was Just A Mirage","Bridge Over Troubled Water", etc. are all done originally,not karaoke style! "I'll Be There" is a monster hit, and the only song that can beat "Mama's Pearl"for sheer exuberance and fun is "sugar Daddy", which coincidentally is a bonus track on this cd. In closing, all I can say is BUY IT! You will love it. I have both of these cd's from their awful stone-age cd transfers at the beginning of the cd revolution. After hearing the sound on this compilation, I tossed 'em!

This CD is obviously a bootleg knock-off because it will not play after trying it in two CD players. My teen daughter was so excited when I told her that it had arrived. I want my money back!!!