G.I.T.: Get It Together
Encyclopedia
G.I.T.: Get It Together (a.k.a. Get It Together) was the seventh official studio album by The Jackson 5
, released in September 1973 for the Motown label.
During the group's last years with Motown, the label struggled to come up with material for the group. As a result, the Jackson 5 fell into a period from 1973 to 1974 where they scored no Top 10 singles. By this point, most of the Jackson 5's members, and their manager/father Joseph Jackson, were vocally complaining about the group's direction, with Michael Jackson
becoming the most vocal. The only member not to complain about Motown's handling of the act was Jermaine Jackson
, who would marry Motown head Berry Gordy
's daughter Hazel three months after the release of the album. G.I.T.: Get It Together would go on to sell over two million copies worldwide.
now a full-fledged tenor
, the young boys who first came on the scene with "I Want You Back
" just four years earlier were becoming men. The high notes that only Michael could hit were retired. It was also on this album that Jackson first employed what would later be known as his "vocal hiccup", notably on the song "It's Too Late to Change the Time". As Motown frowned on any sort of control being relinquished to the group, Jackson semi-retired the hiccup until his solo career at Epic Records
began in earnest with Off the Wall
.
Get It Together was one of the earliest albums to experiment with a pre-disco
sound, released at a time before the genre was mainstream. The album was a breakaway from the group's bubblegum soul
sound as they came up with a more funk
-oriented album similar to The Temptations
' Norman Whitfield
-produced albums. Two of Whitfield's Temptations songs—"You Need Love Like I Do (Don't You)" and "Hum Along and Dance
"— appeared on Get It Together.
The sequence of songs was also carefully arranged for Get It Together. There was no silence separating one song from the other. Each track flowed together thematically, a technique borrowed from Stevie Wonder
's landmark album Music of My Mind
, released the year prior.
The title track, "Get It Together", was a modest pop hit for the group reaching #28, while the album-closing "Dancing Machine
" became a smash pop hit, reaching #2 on the pop chart and briefly restoring the Jackson 5 back to their former success.
Get It Together was also the first Jackson 5 album to feature all five Jackson brothers sharing lead vocals, giving the album a more group unified aura. Tito
, in particular, is prominently featured on "Mama I Gotta Brand New Thing (Don't Say No)" and leads the brothers through "Hum Along and Dance". In addition, the album did not feature production or songwriting from any of the now-disbanded Corporation. Motown head Berry Gordy
, a member of the Corporation, was busy expanding his Motown empire into movie ventures, mostly starring Diana Ross
.
, and features nearly the same arrangement with more of an electric funk sound added to the mix. A bewildered Michael Jackson is heard asking, upon hearing the song's chorus, "ain't no words? What you mean?" Tito replies by reiterating Gil Bridges' reasoning: "we ain't have time to write none". Jackie is heard both answering and telling Michael what to do.
The lead vocals are primarily handled by Jackie and Tito, with Jermaine, Michael, and Marlon appearing towards the end. Although the Jackson brothers are heard yelling out "play it, Tito" and "play it, Jermaine", the actual instrumentalists on the track were Los Angeles
studio players.
, (b) Jermaine Jackson
, (c) Jackie Jackson
, (d) Tito Jackson
, (e) Marlon Jackson
. The bonus tracks were the outtakes "Pride and Joy", "Love's Gone Bad" and "Love Is the Thing You Need".
The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5 , later known as The Jacksons, were an American popular music family group from Gary, Indiana...
, released in September 1973 for the Motown label.
During the group's last years with Motown, the label struggled to come up with material for the group. As a result, the Jackson 5 fell into a period from 1973 to 1974 where they scored no Top 10 singles. By this point, most of the Jackson 5's members, and their manager/father Joseph Jackson, were vocally complaining about the group's direction, with 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...
becoming the most vocal. The only member not to complain about Motown's handling of the act was Jermaine Jackson
Jermaine Jackson
Jermaine La Jaune Jackson is an American singer, bassist, composer, a member of The Jackson 5, older brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson and occasional film director...
, who would marry Motown head Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
's daughter Hazel three months after the release of the album. G.I.T.: Get It Together would go on to sell over two million copies worldwide.
Notability
G.I.T.: Get It Together was the first album to feature Michael Jackson's noticeable growth spurt. Now aged 15 and with a slightly deeper singing voice, the overall sound of the group changed as well. With Michael JacksonMichael 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...
now a full-fledged tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
, the young boys who first came on the scene with "I Want You Back
I Want You Back
"I Want You Back" was released in 1969 and in early 1970s became a number-one hit single recorded by The Jackson 5 for the Motown label. The song, along with a b-side cover of Smokey Robinson & the Miracles' "Who's Lovin' You", was the only single from the first Jackson 5 album, Diana Ross Presents...
" just four years earlier were becoming men. The high notes that only Michael could hit were retired. It was also on this album that Jackson first employed what would later be known as his "vocal hiccup", notably on the song "It's Too Late to Change the Time". As Motown frowned on any sort of control being relinquished to the group, Jackson semi-retired the hiccup until his solo career at Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
began in earnest with Off the Wall
Off the Wall (album)
Off the Wall is the fifth studio album by the American recording artist Michael Jackson, released August 10, 1979 on Epic Records, after Jackson's critically well received film performance in The Wiz. While working on that project, Jackson and Quincy Jones had become friends, and Jones agreed to...
.
Get It Together was one of the earliest albums to experiment with a pre-disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
sound, released at a time before the genre was mainstream. The album was a breakaway from the group's bubblegum soul
Bubblegum pop
Bubblegum pop is a genre of pop music with an upbeat sound contrived and marketed to appeal to pre-teens and teenagers, produced in an assembly-line process, driven by producers, often using unknown singers.Bubblegum's classic period ran from 1967 to 1972...
sound as they came up with a more funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
-oriented album similar to The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
' Norman Whitfield
Norman Whitfield
Norman Jesse Whitfield was an American songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s...
-produced albums. Two of Whitfield's Temptations songs—"You Need Love Like I Do (Don't You)" and "Hum Along and Dance
Hum Along and Dance
"Hum Along and Dance" is a soul song written for the Motown label by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. Originally recorded by The Temptations, the song was later covered by Motown acts Rare Earth and The Jackson 5...
"— appeared on Get It Together.
The sequence of songs was also carefully arranged for Get It Together. There was no silence separating one song from the other. Each track flowed together thematically, a technique borrowed from Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
's landmark album Music of My Mind
Music of My Mind
- Side One :# "Love Having You Around" – 7:21#* Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, Fender Rhodes, talk box, drums, Moog bass#* Art Baron – trombone#* Background Singers – uncredited...
, released the year prior.
The title track, "Get It Together", was a modest pop hit for the group reaching #28, while the album-closing "Dancing Machine
Dancing Machine
"Dancing Machine" is a 1973 song recorded by The Jackson 5, released as a single in 1974. The group's first US Top Ten hit since 1971's "Sugar Daddy", "Dancing Machine" reached number two on the Billboard pop music charts in May 1974, and number one on the R&B charts...
" became a smash pop hit, reaching #2 on the pop chart and briefly restoring the Jackson 5 back to their former success.
Get It Together was also the first Jackson 5 album to feature all five Jackson brothers sharing lead vocals, giving the album a more group unified aura. Tito
Tito Jackson
Toriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson is an American singer and lead guitarist and original member of The Jackson 5. He is the older brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson.-Early life and rise to stardom:...
, in particular, is prominently featured on "Mama I Gotta Brand New Thing (Don't Say No)" and leads the brothers through "Hum Along and Dance". In addition, the album did not feature production or songwriting from any of the now-disbanded Corporation. Motown head Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
, a member of the Corporation, was busy expanding his Motown empire into movie ventures, mostly starring Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
.
"Hum Along and Dance"
The group's cover of Whitfield's "Hum Along and Dance", an eight-minute epic and the closer of Side One (when originally issued on vinyl), is regarded as the definitive version of Whitfield's song. The Jackson 5's rendition is stylistically similar to the version recorded by the band Rare EarthRare Earth (band)
Rare Earth is an American rock band affiliated with Motown's Rare Earth record label , who prospered in 1970-1972. Although not the first white band signed to Motown, Rare Earth was the first big hit-making act signed by Motown that consisted only of white members...
, and features nearly the same arrangement with more of an electric funk sound added to the mix. A bewildered Michael Jackson is heard asking, upon hearing the song's chorus, "ain't no words? What you mean?" Tito replies by reiterating Gil Bridges' reasoning: "we ain't have time to write none". Jackie is heard both answering and telling Michael what to do.
The lead vocals are primarily handled by Jackie and Tito, with Jermaine, Michael, and Marlon appearing towards the end. Although the Jackson brothers are heard yelling out "play it, Tito" and "play it, Jermaine", the actual instrumentalists on the track were Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
studio players.
Track listing
Lead vocals are as of noted in superscripts: (a) Michael JacksonMichael 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...
, (b) Jermaine Jackson
Jermaine Jackson
Jermaine La Jaune Jackson is an American singer, bassist, composer, a member of The Jackson 5, older brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson and occasional film director...
, (c) Jackie Jackson
Jackie Jackson
Sigmund Esco "Jackie" Jackson is an American singer and musician, a member of The Jackson 5, and the second child in the Jackson family.-Life and career:...
, (d) Tito Jackson
Tito Jackson
Toriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson is an American singer and lead guitarist and original member of The Jackson 5. He is the older brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson.-Early life and rise to stardom:...
, (e) Marlon Jackson
Marlon Jackson
Marlon David Jackson is an American entertainer singer, dancer, former member of The Jackson 5, and elder brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson.-Personal life:...
- "Get It Together" (Hal DavisHal DavisHarold Edward "Hal" Davis was an African American songwriter and record producer, best known as the key figure in the latter part of the Motown career of The Jackson 5....
, Don Fletcher, Berry GordyBerry GordyBerry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
, Mel Larson, Jerry Marcellino) a, b (Recorded May 1973) – 2:48 - "Don't Say Goodbye Again" (Pam SawyerPam SawyerPamela Sawyer, an American-based songwriter from Romford, East London.Sawyer worked with artists at Motown Records from 1967 to 1977. Before Motown she had been involved in hit records for the Young Rascals and Lulu, and wrote with Lori Burton with whom she also recorded as the Whyte Boots.Sawyer...
, Leon WareLeon WareLeon Ware is a soul music singer, songwriter and producer. Best known for crafting the hit album, I Want You, originally recorded for Ware, until friend and Motown icon Marvin Gaye was assigned to the album in 1976...
) a (Recorded May 1973) – 3:24 - "Reflections" (originally by Diana Ross & the Supremes) (Lamont DozierLamont DozierLamont Herbert Dozier is an American songwriter and record producer, born in Detroit, Michigan. Dozier has either co-written or produced several US Billboard #1 hits.-Career:...
, Edward Holland, Jr.Edward Holland, Jr.Edward Holland, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter and record producer....
, Brian HollandBrian HollandBrian Holland is an American songwriter and record producer, best known as a member of Holland–Dozier–Holland. That songwriting and production team that was responsible for much of the Motown sound and numerous hit records by artists such as Martha and the Vandellas, The Supremes, The Four Tops,...
) a, b (Recorded April - May 1973) – 2:58 - "Hum Along and DanceHum Along and Dance"Hum Along and Dance" is a soul song written for the Motown label by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. Originally recorded by The Temptations, the song was later covered by Motown acts Rare Earth and The Jackson 5...
" (originally by The TemptationsThe TemptationsThe Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
and Rare EarthRare Earth (band)Rare Earth is an American rock band affiliated with Motown's Rare Earth record label , who prospered in 1970-1972. Although not the first white band signed to Motown, Rare Earth was the first big hit-making act signed by Motown that consisted only of white members...
) (Barrett StrongBarrett StrongBarrett Strong is an American singer and songwriter. Strong was the first artist to record a hit for Motown, although he is best remembered for his work as a songwriter, particularly in association with producer Norman Whitfield.-His career:Strong was among the first artists signed to Berry...
, Norman WhitfieldNorman WhitfieldNorman Jesse Whitfield was an American songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s...
) a, b, c, d, e (Recorded May 1973) – 8:37 - "Mama I Gotta Brand New Thing (Don't Say No)" (Norman Whitfield) a, b, c, d, e (Recorded June 1973) – 7:11
- "It's Too Late to Change the Time" (Pam Sawyer, Leon Ware) a (Recorded June - July 1973) – 3:57
- "You Need Love Like I Do (Don't You)" (originally by Gladys Knight & the PipsGladys Knight & the PipsGladys Knight & The Pips were an R&B/soul family musical act from Atlanta, Georgia, active from 1953 to 1989. The group was best known for their string of hit singles on Motown's "Soul" record label and Buddah Records from 1967 to 1975, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight...
and The Temptations) (Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield) a, b (Recorded June - July 1973) – 3:45 - "Dancing MachineDancing Machine"Dancing Machine" is a 1973 song recorded by The Jackson 5, released as a single in 1974. The group's first US Top Ten hit since 1971's "Sugar Daddy", "Dancing Machine" reached number two on the Billboard pop music charts in May 1974, and number one on the R&B charts...
" (Hal Davis, Don Fletcher, Dean Parks) a, b (Recorded April - May 1973) – 3:27
Re-release
In 2001, Motown Records remastered all J5 albums in a "Two Classic Albums/One CD" series (much like they did in the late 1980s). This album was paired up with SkywriterSkywriter
Skywriter was the sixth official studio album by The Jackson 5, released in March 1973. Lead singer Michael's vocals were now showing the signs of his maturing tenor voice, while Jermaine's voice had become much deeper in tone...
. The bonus tracks were the outtakes "Pride and Joy", "Love's Gone Bad" and "Love Is the Thing You Need".