MJJ Tribute website - Discography
Many people think that Michael's music career started at Motown. But this is not where the Jackson Five started. Before their legendary era at the famous Motown Records, the Jackson 5 launched their career in Gary, Indiana. At that time nephew Johny was also included in the group playing the drums. In November 1967, Joe Jackson signed the boys (Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael) to their very first professional recording contract. They recorded for the independent Steeltown Records in 1967. The label released the group's very first single, "Big Boy," in January 1968, which became a regional hit.
Steeltown
The Jackson 5 recorded a total of four songs during their time with Steeltown Records, which were released as two official singles: "Big Boy" backed with "You've Changed" (released January 1968)"We Don't Have to Be Over 21 (to Fall in Love)" backed with "Jam Session" (released 1968)
Though these two 45 rpm records are the only ones commercially issued by the Steeltown label, the brothers recorded a total of 8 to 10 tracks during these 1967 studio sessions in Chicago, with the remaining songs (like "Michael the Lover") eventually being released on later compilation albums.
Steeltown Big Boy
The Jackson Five Big Boy single came out with 4 different label variations. Because Steeltown was a tiny, independent label operating out of Gary, Indiana, it relied on multiple pressing plants and a later distribution deal with Atlantic Records to fulfill demand. So the difference between the label variations of the Jackson Five's 1968 debut single "Big Boy" (Steeltown 681) comes down to original localized pressings vs. national distribution and radio promotion.
White Labels (Promotional Pressing) TThe ultra-rare Radio Promo / Disc Jockey (DJ) copy. Tiny regional labels like Steeltown printed a tiny handful of white-label records specifically to send to local radio stations (like WWCA-AM in Gary) to entice DJs to play the song. They were never sold in stores so this is the ultimate "holy grail" for Jackson 5 collectors. A genuine, clean white-label promo of Big Boy can easily command $1,000 to $2,500+ on the collector’s market...
Orange Labels (First Local Pressing) The original, earliest commercial release from January 1968. These were pressed locally in small quantities for the Chicago and Gary, Indiana region before any major outside distribution deals. It's value is highly coveted by collectors as the true first state of the record.
Red / Dark Red Labels (National Distribution Pressing) The subsequent 1968 commercial pressing variant. In March 1968, Steeltown's owner, Gordon Keith, signed a national distribution deal with Atlantic Records / Atco. While some red label variants carry identical matrix runout numbers to the orange pressing, many red/burgundy variations represent the expanded stock sent across the country via Atlantic’s manufacturing supply chain. Still extremely valuable, though generally considered the second batch or concurrent pressing variation depending on the specific pressing plant used.
Steeltown We Don't Have to Be Over 21 (To Fall in Love)
The second single released by The Jackson 5 on the Steeltown Records label was "We Don't Have to Be Over 21 (To Fall in Love)". It was backed with the B-side track "Jam Session" and was released shortly after their debut Steeltown single, "Big Boy", before the group officially signed with Motown Records in 1969.
Other Reord companies
Epic Records
Frustrated by restrictive creative control and low royalty rates (approx. 2.8%), the brothers left Motown in 1975 to sign with Epic Records. Because Motown owned the rights to the name "Jackson 5," they rebranded as The Jacksons. Jermaine chose to stay with Motown because he was married to Berry Gordy’s daughter, so youngest brother Randy joined the group. Under Epic, the group secured better royalties and creative control, releasing highly successful albums like Destiny and Triumph
Sequins & Shades by Carol D. Terry
This book is a great help for any collector as it contains detailed information on Michael's earlie releases from the Jackson five up till his BAD release. Published in 1987 and a must have for any serieus collector on his music.
Motown Records
Discovered by Motown artist Bobby Taylor, the group was signed to Motown Records in 1969. Founder Berry Gordy bought out the Steeltown contract and relocated the family to Los Angeles. The Jackson 5 made pop history as the first group to have their first four charting singles reach Number One on the Billboard Hot 100: "I Want You Back," "ABC," "The Love You Save," and "I'll Be There".
Sony Music
In 1988, Sony acquired CBS Records, which included the Epic Records label. This move placed The Jacksons' Epic catalog under the broader Sony Music corporate umbrella. By this point, Michael Jackson was pursuing his monumental solo career, cementing a legacy that remains tied to the Sony Music corporation.
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Collaborations
The E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial storybook
and audiobook was released by MCA Records
on November 15, 1982.The project was a
famous companion piece to the classic
Steven Spielberg film. The album was
narrated by Michael Jackson.
"We Are the World" released by
Colombia Records was an iconic
1985 charity single recorded by
the supergroup USA for Africa.
Written by Michael Jackson and
Lionel Richie, and produced by
Quincy Jones, it brought together
over 45 of the biggest music stars
of the era to raise funds for victims
of the devastating hunger epedamic
in Ethiopia
The "We are the World "broke records
by selling 800,000 copies in its first
three days and eventually moving over
20 million copies worldwide to raise
more than $60 million for hunger relief
