Got to Be There

Got to Be There is the solo debut album by Michael Jackson, released by Motown Records on January 24, 1972. It includes the song of the same name, which was released in the October 7, 1971 as Jackson's debut solo single. It would go on to sell over 5.2 million copies worldwide.Chery, Carl: XXL: Michael Jackson Special Collecters Edition, page 100. American Press. The album was later remastered and reissued in 2009 as part of the 3-disc compilation The Motown Solo Collection.

Album information

Motown released Jackson's solo album around the same time that another famous brother from a famous family was doing the same: Donny Osmond, who was hitting with songs like "Sweet & Innocent" and "Puppy Love". "Got To Be There" (at #8) and Osmond's "Hey Girl/I Knew You When" (at #9) were back-to-back on the Hot 100 on 15 January 1972. Jackson's and Osmond's debut efforts almost paralleled each other, as Jackson scored a hit with the title track and "Rockin' Robin", which like Osmond's "Puppy Love", was a remake of an old '50s rock song.

Those two hits were back-to-back on the Hot 100 at #5 and #6, respectively, on 8 April 1972. Jackson's "I Wanna Be Where You Are" (at #27) and Osmond's "Too Young" (at #28) would be back-to-back on the Hot 100 on 24 June 1972. The album also included covers of Bill Withers'...
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