Got To Be There
- Producers
- Hal Davis, Freddie Perren, Berry Gordy, Fonce Mizell, Deke Richards, Willie Hutch, Mel Larson, Jerry Marcellino
- Studios
- Motown / Hitsville USA, Detroit
Los Angeles studios - Recorded
- 1 August 1971 to 1 January 1971
- Label
- Motown
- Runtime
- 32:30 · 10 tracks
- Read full description ↓
Tracklist
- 01 Ain't No Sunshine 4:13
- 02 I Wanna Be Where You Are 3:03
- 03 Girl Don't Take Your Love from Me 3:51
- 04 In Our Small Way 3:41
- 05 Got To Be There 3:25
- 06 Rockin' Robin 2:35
- 07 Wings of My Love 3:25
- 08 Maria (You Were the Only One) 3:43
- 09 Love Is Here and Now You're Gone 2:54
- 10 You've Got a Friend 4:53
Got to Be There is Michael Jackson’s debut solo studio album, released on 24 January 1972 by Motown Records. Recorded while Jackson was 13 and still part of the Jackson 5, the album was Motown’s bid to position him for a parallel solo career. It produced two top-five U.S. hits — the title track and a cover of Bobby Day’s “Rockin’ Robin” — and reached #14 on the Billboard 200.
| Country | Chart | Peak | Weeks at #1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Billboard 200 | #14 | |
| United Kingdom | UK Albums Chart | #37 | |
| Australia | Kent Music Report | #31 |
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Got to Be There is the work of a 13-year-old prodigy with a voice already several stages ahead of his years. Quincy-era polish years away, but the talent is unmistakable.
Read review → -
Michael Jackson's solo debut shows what the J5 hype was really about. Even with Motown's standard backing, his voice is the headline.
| Country | Body | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | RIAA | Gold | 1 March 1972 |
Album Shoot (1)
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“Got To Be There” released as single
"Got To Be There" released as a single from Got To Be There.
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“Got to Be There” enters the charts — Michael Jackson’s first solo single
Michael Jackson's debut solo single "Got to Be There" / "Maria (You Were the Only One)", released on 7 October, enters both the Black and Pop singles charts and peaks at number four on each — launching his solo career.
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“Rockin’ Robin” released as single
"Rockin’ Robin" released as a single from Got To Be There.
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“Rockin’ Robin” enters the charts — Michael Jackson’s second solo single
"Rockin' Robin" / "Love Is Here And Now You're Gone", released in February, enters both the US Black and Pop singles charts at number two. It is Michael's second solo single and a remake of Bobby Day's 1958 hit.
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“I Wanna Be Where You Are” released as single
"I Wanna Be Where You Are" released as a single from Got To Be There.
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“I Wanna Be Where You Are” enters the charts — Michael’s third solo single
"I Wanna Be Where You Are" / "We've Got A Good Thing Going" by Michael Jackson, released in May by Motown, enters the US Pop singles chart, peaks at number 16 and remains on the chart for eleven weeks. This is Michael's third solo single.
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“Got to Be There” LP enters the UK Top 50 albums chart
The Got to Be There LP enters the UK Top 50 albums chart, peaks at number 37 and remains on the chart for five weeks.
30 people credited across this album.
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Michael Jackson Lead Vocals10 tracks -
Wilton Felder Bass10 tracks -
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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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F
Freddie Perren Keyboards · Producer · Songwriter10 tracks
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J
James Jamerson Bass9 tracks
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H
Hal Davis Producer8 tracks
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Berry Gordy Producer · Songwriter2 tracks -
F
Fonce Mizell Producer · Songwriter2 tracks
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D
Deke Richards Producer · Songwriter2 tracks
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Bill Withers Songwriter1 track -
A
Arthur Ross Songwriter1 track
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L
Leon Ware Songwriter1 track
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W
Willie Hutch Producer · Songwriter1 track
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B
Beatrice Verdi Songwriter1 track
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C
Christine Yarian Songwriter1 track
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E
Elliot Willensky Songwriter1 track
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J
Jimmie Thomas Songwriter1 track
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M
Mel Larson Producer1 track
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J
Jerry Marcellino Producer1 track
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L
Lawrence Brown Songwriter1 track
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L
Linda Glover Songwriter1 track
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G
George Gordy Songwriter1 track
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A
Allen Story Songwriter1 track
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B
Brian Holland Songwriter1 track
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Lamont Dozier Songwriter1 track -
E
Eddie Holland Songwriter1 track
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Carole King Songwriter1 track
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Got to Be There was released while Jackson was 13 and still very much active in the Jackson 5.
Wikipedia -
Two of the album's singles, "Got to Be There" and "Rockin' Robin", reached the U.S. top five.
Billboard -
The Bobby Day cover "Rockin' Robin" hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1972, kept off the top spot only by "A Horse with No Name".
Billboard
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