Big Boy (The Jackson 5 song)
Encyclopedia
"Big Boy" was the first single ever released by The Jackson 5
, in January 1968, through Steeltown Records
. The group produced and played instruments on many of their Steeltown compositions, including "Big Boy". The song was neither a critical nor commercial success, but the Jackson family were delighted with the outcome nonetheless.
The Jackson 5 would release a second single with Steeltown Records before moving to Motown Records
. The group's recordings at Steeltown Records were thought to be lost, but they were rediscovered more than 25 years later. They were remastered and reissued in 1995, with "Big Boy" as the promotional lead single.
began their career performing at talent contests, which they would often win. During a performance at Beckman Junior High, the group were brought to the attention of Gordon Keith—the owner of Steeltown Records
, a company based in the group's hometown of Gary, Indiana
. He signed the children to a limited record deal. The band recorded with their instruments and a backing group on the weekends. Michael Jackson
sang lead vocals on the majority of tracks and the brothers produced much of the material themselves, including the track "Big Boy", which took a few hours to record and was written by Ed Silver. The group were paid three cents for each record sold, which was split equally amongst the five members. The group released their first single "Big Boy" on January 30, 1968. It was backed with the B-side "You've Changed". The brothers would go on to perform "Big Boy" at numerous strip clubs
throughout their early lives.
s music charts but sold in excess of 10,000 copies.
but it was never released. On July 26, 1968, the group signed a contract with Motown Records
. However, as the group's Steeltown contract had not yet expired, the new contract could not be fully executed until March 11, 1969. Motown Records tried to get the group out of their Steeltown contract, and ultimately succeeded with a financial settlement.
album was issued. He also remastered the song, selling it by mail order, along with an instrumental version, in a limited edition package consisting of a compact disc and cassette tape—the package could be purchased at a cost of approximately $
30. The reissue of "Big Boy" was promoted with a music video
. In 2009, Gordon Keith put items from the Steeltown era up for auction, including "a sizable number of mint-condition copies of 'Big Boy'" in 45 rpm
format and 100 copies of "We Don't Have To Be Over 21 (to Fall in Love)". Keith stated, "I could use the money...I got these guys off the ground...I didn't truly get real money for it".
The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5 , later known as The Jacksons, were an American popular music family group from Gary, Indiana...
, in January 1968, through Steeltown Records
Steeltown Records
Steeltown Records was a short-lived record label active from 1966 to 1972 and formed by Gordon Keith in Gary, Indiana. It is best known as the label that first signed The Jackson 5 a year before Motown signed the group....
. The group produced and played instruments on many of their Steeltown compositions, including "Big Boy". The song was neither a critical nor commercial success, but the Jackson family were delighted with the outcome nonetheless.
The Jackson 5 would release a second single with Steeltown Records before moving to Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
. The group's recordings at Steeltown Records were thought to be lost, but they were rediscovered more than 25 years later. They were remastered and reissued in 1995, with "Big Boy" as the promotional lead single.
First record deal and lead single
The Jackson 5The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5 , later known as The Jacksons, were an American popular music family group from Gary, Indiana...
began their career performing at talent contests, which they would often win. During a performance at Beckman Junior High, the group were brought to the attention of Gordon Keith—the owner of Steeltown Records
Steeltown Records
Steeltown Records was a short-lived record label active from 1966 to 1972 and formed by Gordon Keith in Gary, Indiana. It is best known as the label that first signed The Jackson 5 a year before Motown signed the group....
, a company based in the group's hometown of Gary, Indiana
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
. He signed the children to a limited record deal. The band recorded with their instruments and a backing group on the weekends. Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
sang lead vocals on the majority of tracks and the brothers produced much of the material themselves, including the track "Big Boy", which took a few hours to record and was written by Ed Silver. The group were paid three cents for each record sold, which was split equally amongst the five members. The group released their first single "Big Boy" on January 30, 1968. It was backed with the B-side "You've Changed". The brothers would go on to perform "Big Boy" at numerous strip clubs
Strip club
A strip club is an adult entertainment venue in which striptease or other erotic or exotic dance is regularly performed. Strip clubs typically adopt a nightclub or bar style, but can also adopt a theatre or cabaret-style....
throughout their early lives.
Reception and Jackson family
The Jackson family gathered around a radio to hear the song broadcast for the first time. Michael Jackson—who was 9 years old at the time—said of the experience, "[the family] all laughed and hugged one another. We felt we had arrived." The single "Big Boy" did not appear on any of BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s music charts but sold in excess of 10,000 copies.
Leaving Steeltown
The Jackson 5 would release a second and final single through Steeltown Records—"We Don't Have To Be Over 21 (to Fall in Love)". The two singles were to be supported by an eleven track studio albumStudio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
but it was never released. On July 26, 1968, the group signed a contract with Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
. However, as the group's Steeltown contract had not yet expired, the new contract could not be fully executed until March 11, 1969. Motown Records tried to get the group out of their Steeltown contract, and ultimately succeeded with a financial settlement.
Rediscovery
The master tapes to "Big Boy" were believed to be lost; however, in 1994 family friend Ben Brown found the tapes in his parents' kitchen pantry. Brown reissued the record in 1995, on the Inverted Records label—a week before Michael Jackson's HIStoryHIStory
HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I is the ninth studio album by American songwriter and recording artist Michael Jackson, released on June 16, 1995 by Epic Records. The majority of the album's tracks were written and produced by Jackson...
album was issued. He also remastered the song, selling it by mail order, along with an instrumental version, in a limited edition package consisting of a compact disc and cassette tape—the package could be purchased at a cost of approximately $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
30. The reissue of "Big Boy" was promoted with a music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
. In 2009, Gordon Keith put items from the Steeltown era up for auction, including "a sizable number of mint-condition copies of 'Big Boy'" in 45 rpm
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
format and 100 copies of "We Don't Have To Be Over 21 (to Fall in Love)". Keith stated, "I could use the money...I got these guys off the ground...I didn't truly get real money for it".