Ben
- Producers
- Hal Davis, Freddie Perren, Berry Gordy, Fonce Mizell, Deke Richards, Mel Larson, Jerry Marcellino
- Studios
- Motown studios, Hollywood
- Recorded
- 1 January 1972 to 1 June 1972
- Label
- Motown
- Runtime
- 31:43 · 10 tracks
- Awards
- 1 win · 1 nomination Read more
Tracklist
- 01 Ben 2:47
- 02 Greatest Show on Earth 2:51
- 03 People Make the World Go Round 3:17
- 04 We've Got a Good Thing Going 3:06
- 05 Everybody's Somebody's Fool 3:01
- 06 My Girl 3:11
- 07 What Goes Around Comes Around 3:34
- 08 In Our Small Way 3:40
- 09 Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day 3:23
- 10 You Can Cry on My Shoulder 2:40
Ben is Michael Jackson’s second solo studio album, released on 4 August 1972 by Motown Records. Recorded when Jackson was 13, the album takes its title from his recording of the theme from the 1972 horror sequel Ben (about a killer rat). The single reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 — Jackson’s first solo chart-topper — and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.
| Country | Chart | Peak | Weeks at #1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Billboard 200 | #5 | |
| United Kingdom | UK Albums Chart | #17 | |
| Australia | Kent Music Report | #7 |
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★Nominated 1973Academy AwardBest Original Song ("Ben")
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★Won 1973Golden Globe AwardBest Original Song ("Ben")
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The title track elevates Ben above its rather thin context. Jackson sells a song about a rat with such commitment that it earned an Oscar nomination.
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Michael Jackson is a singer in full command of a gift that the rest of his family cannot match. Ben proves he can carry a film theme as comfortably as a soul ballad.
| Country | Body | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | RIAA | Gold | 1 November 1972 |
Album Shoot (1)
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Michael Jackson releases “Ben” LP — original “Rats Cover” withdrawn
The Ben LP by Michael Jackson is released. The album's original cover features a horde of rats superimposed on the bottom of Michael's picture. It is soon withdrawn after complaints that children find the rats disturbing — making the original "Rats Cover" a much sought-after collectors' item.
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“Ben” hits number one — Michael Jackson’s first solo number one
"Ben" / "You Can Cry on My Shoulder" by Michael Jackson, released in July by Motown, enters the US Pop singles chart and peaks at number one — becoming Michael's first solo number-one hit and selling over a million copies.
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“Ben” LP enters the US Pop albums chart
The Ben LP enters the US Pop albums chart, peaks at number five and remains on the chart for 32 weeks.
31 people credited across this album.
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F
Freddie Perren Keyboards · Producer · Songwriter10 tracks
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Michael Jackson Lead Vocals10 tracks -
Wilton Felder Bass10 tracks -
J
James Gadson Drums10 tracks
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D
David T. Walker Guitar10 tracks
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Joe Sample Piano10 tracks -
D
Don Randi Piano10 tracks
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H
Hal Davis Producer9 tracks
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Berry Gordy Producer · Songwriter8 tracks -
F
Fonce Mizell Producer · Songwriter7 tracks
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D
Deke Richards Producer · Songwriter7 tracks
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W
Walter Scharf Songwriter1 track
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Don Black Songwriter1 track -
M
Mel Larson Producer · Songwriter1 track
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J
Jerry Marcellino Producer · Songwriter1 track
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T
Thom Bell Songwriter1 track
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L
Linda Creed Songwriter1 track
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G
Gladys Hampton Songwriter1 track
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R
Regina Adams Songwriter1 track
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A
Ace Adams Songwriter1 track
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Smokey Robinson Songwriter1 track -
R
Ronald White Songwriter1 track
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A
Allen Levinsky Songwriter1 track
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A
Arthur Stokes Songwriter1 track
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D
Dana Meyers Songwriter1 track
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F
Floyd Weatherspoon Songwriter1 track
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B
Beatrice Verdi Songwriter1 track
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C
Christine Yarian Songwriter1 track
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S
Sylvia Moy Songwriter1 track
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H
Hank Cosby Songwriter1 track
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Stevie Wonder Songwriter1 track
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The title track was written for the 1972 horror sequel Ben — a film about a killer rat. The song became Jackson's first solo U.S. #1 single.
Wikipedia -
"Ben" was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song and won the Golden Globe in the same category at the 1973 ceremony.
IMDB -
Jackson sang "Ben" at the Oscars ceremony in March 1973, his first major awards-show performance as a solo artist.
Wikipedia
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