The Jacksons 2004

[updated in 2009 with added chapters]
 
 
10. Our First Recording


  Already in 1966 children have rehearsed their dancing skills so perfectly, that they easily could breathe between separate tunes. Jackie, Jermaine, Tito and Marlon were perfectly singing, and I taught Michael what to do with the breath during singing and how to use a microphone. On the weekends we went to Chicago where we performed in hotels of the city, we then accepted any offers. During one of such performances I have for the first time heard about a promising 20year-old guitarist by name Phil Upchurch. He was considered as the hottest sessional musician in all Chicago and has already worked with such celebrities, as Woody Herman, Stan Getz, Curtis Mayfield or Donny Hathaway. After I once have heard him play in the evening, I have immediately invited him to work, and he has agreed to arrive to Gary and to record with us our first demo.

   Boys heard about Fill so much, and they have started to jump with joy, when I have told them that he will come with us to the studio. Michael has rushed to him the first second and has asked for the autograph. Fill then thought of my sons also, as well as the big recording companies with which I soon had to adjoin. He thought that Michael was a simply pretty little guy which in the future will choose a different job for himself . Despite of it he has been friendly adjusted and has written on a scrap of a paper his name, and Michael has received his first autograph. When in some years Phil's wife has remembered this story, Phil has written a letter to Michael's office. This time he asked the autograph from Michael, which Michael, certainly, has sent right away. Almost in 20 years after the first record they once again worked together: Phil played on " Workin' day and night ", Michael's hit from an album " Off the wall ".

   In 1967 I was happy, that I in general can allow myself to pay the rent of the studio and charges of the recording of the first demo of my group. When I held a ready tape in my hands, I knew, that our heavy work, our efforts have worth it. It has given me hope for the future of my children. Now I had to achieve only that any record company will hear the group and have enabled my sons to record their first album. I have transferred the tape to several people from Gary, and one friend has brought it to an independent company Steeltown.

   Before there were more independent companies and they were better, than today because now the big enterprises supervise almost the whole market. Therefore in some cases for the unknown musician it was better, if it was produced by a small company because there in him were engaged more and gave him more attention. Besides small labels are more often, than big, had representations in small towns.

   In any case the principal of Steeltown has wanted to meet me at once after listening to the demo - record, and my friend has arranged, that director has come to our home. He wanted to produce a vinyl with Jackson 5 and has offered me the contract. At that time contracts for recordings were signed in most cases for the term of from 7 till 10 years, and I have explained to him, that I do not want to connect myself more than for half-year (I still hoped for the contract with Motown), and he eventually has agreed, that was rather unusual.

   Steeltown has written down 6 songs. 2 of them were released in 1968 on our first single: "I`m a big boy now", and on an underside "You`ve changed" (Motown has once again released this song which has been originally written down on Steeltown, later, on their first album). Michael was the soloist, the others sang on a back-vocal. "I`m a big boy now" was a hit in 5 states: Chicago, Indiana, Missouri, New York and Kansas. Due to this we became even more famous in the Mid-West and in New York. And when this song has appeared in the best top 20 of the Jet magazine , I have understood, that we were on the right way. Today the single "I`m a big boy now" is of great value for any collector.

   Another song which has been written by Steeltown - " We don`t have to be 21 to fall in love", became the 2d single and was on sale only in Indiana, on the other side of "Jam session". And one more less known song of this period "I never had a girl ". The text was quite good, but the recording, on four rounds, was an awful quality. Today they record on 48 and more rounds!

   We then played in many clubs, among them the night club in Gary called "Mr. Lucky". they paid not much but when Michael during his dancing numbers jumped out to the crowd, there was enough money in his pockets.

   Earlier children received money from me if they made their beds every morning, or did other small works in the house. They could spend their money, as they wanted. Each Saturday morning Michael ran to a shop and bought huge amount of sweets. When I have for the first time found him behind it, I have asked myself, how does he plan to eat all of that alone. But in some minutes I have seen him in our garden, surrounded with neighbour's children, he handfuls distributed to them these sweets. No one of the candy has been eaten by him, and he was pleased, that other children like them! He was then so little, about 6, or may be 7 years, but he shined with joy, from the thought that he could make other people happy. And it is, in my opinion, an attribute of real great artist. Michael had the ability to entertain children and adults since his birth, and only father could see such things, in this rare hidden from others moments that show us what are our children really are. Michael liked to perform in front of our neighbours, and due to that he constantly improved his dancing art, he could become the world famous star and make happy many people. The realisation of that has allowed me to achieve my purpose even more persistently. I was inspired by my family.

   I started to work with the principle of Steeltown, and we have arranged some performances for promotion, with them we have put in pawn a basis of our future success. Michael in the meantime has learned to use the whole territory of the stage for dances. For example, he danced almost at the edge, the viewers breath was taken away. After that children were literally swimming in money that was thrown on stage, the record sales also have increased.

   The principle of Steeltown from the very beginning had a high opinion of our family. Once he has told me, that Jackson 5 is a dream of any promoter because they quickly perceived everything what they were taught. And he held the opinion that my boys worked more persistently, than any other group which he knew. Years later he recollected, that already at our first meeting he has noticed, how many attention I put in each detail and how carefully I prepared to everything. He said, that they were able to keep on a stage like no other.

   There were some talented groups that begun simultaneously with my children, but they have not sustained, because nobody advanced them, did not support, and did not pay attention to the some unimportant at first sight details, like for example clothes. I especially watched, that my children have always been dressed as stars. We never had extra money, but we came to this business creatively and used our imagination for creation of own style. Boys, as well as all musical groups, have been dressed similar, all of them carried bell-bottomed trousers, shirts and jackets which were unimportantly different in details. In other words: the basic motive was identical, but elements of design reflected style and the individuality of each one of guys, and were variations on one theme. And that was exactly what the public accepted.

   Though we had good relations with Steeltown, we continued our concerts that the number of our fans would grow and the records sales would increase and has achieved such scales, which to us were required to draw attention of Motown. One evening in New York I have returned after Jackson 5 concert to my room, and someone knocked at my door. I have opened and saw a shirt white man in a suite in front of me. He has explained, that his name is Richard Aarons, and his father is a chairman of trade union of musicians in New York. He had put and idea that he has to become a lawyer of the group to his head.

   "Joe, I by all means would like to represent these guys", He swore to me. I did not absolutely trusted him, therefore have not immediately agreed . "We'll see", I have answered.

   Richard has followed me the whole next day. all next day was dragged for me on. When in the evening I again was in my room, He has nailed down on his knees in front of me. "Please, please, allow me to become your lawyer. I can do a lot for Jackson 5".

   After hesitating for some time, I have agreed: " Well all right, we will try ".

   Our short-term contract with Steeltown soon expired, and because it was a small label, and I dreamed of the big future for my group, I started to search for a record company which was capable of more.

   So I have supplied our new lawyer with a marketing package which has consisted from Steeltown's Boy's hits, enthusiastic reviews and the promotional material, and have sent him to pass on some record companies. We have divided work and have bypassed a lot of companies - from Atlantic up to CBS, and from Warner up to Capitol, but all refused us (despite of these failures, Richard has remained our lawyer and within several years has made a small fortune on us).

   Certainly, I have taken care of that Motown has received our package. They have sent it back and have written to me, that they are not interested. I was surprised, how it was incredibly hard - to get a contract with a known label. The group performed together with many known artists, but record companies did not want us because they did not see a way to make money on children.

   Nobody in the big record companies did believe, that children can really sell records. Today everyone know, that exactly the youth spends the most money on compact discs but then nobody still has not revealed the purchasing capacity of teenagers, and I had to do a tiring explanatory work.

   Though no children group had ever had an international success, I unshakably adhered to the plan. I trusted in unique talent of my sons and in spite of the fact that no record company did understand me, have strongly decided to make stars from Jackson 5 .

   Then it was very uneasy to me, because I had to constantly convince everybody, that views are not just a dream of the proud father. I had to give them proofs, that their children's group or exactly the children's group can make hits. I continued to assert the dream irreconcilably.