Got to Be There
Got to Be There is the first solo album by Michael Jackson. It was published by Motown Records on January 24, 1972., Jackson was at the time of publication 13 years old. It contains the song Got to Be There, which was released on 7 November 1971, thus Jackson's first solo single. The album has sold over five million copies worldwide. Got to Be There was later remastered and as part of the compilation Hello World 2009: republished The Motown Solo Collection.
Publication
Motown released Jackson's album around the same time as another brother from a famous family, namely Donny Osmond, who scored with songs like " Sweet & Innocent " and " Puppy Love" hits. Jacksons and Osmonds Debuts ran almost parallel. Jackson scored hits with the title track of the album and the song " Rockin ' Robin ", which like Osmond " Puppy Love," also is a cover of a song from the 50s. In addition, the album gets even covers of Bill Withers "Is not No Sunshine", Carole King's " You've Got a Friend" and " Love Is Here and Now You're Gone " by The Supremes.
Reviews
The Rolling Stone Magazine from December 7, 1972 referred to the album as "... clever, artful, and just as good as the Jackson 5" and describes Jackson's voice as " sweet and touching ." Furthermore, it was evaluated as " innocent and totally professional " and a " fascinating and irresistible ."
Charts
Got to Be There peaked in the Billboard 200 and the 14th position in the " U.S. R & B album chart " the third position.
After Jackson's death in June 2009, the album debuted in the French charts at position 121
Singles
Four singles were released from the album. Is not No Sunshine came out in 1972 but only in the UK as a single. Got To Be There was sold worldwide about 2.245 million times. In the U.S., sales of about 1.6 million resulted. The single I Wanna Be Where You Are has sold well worldwide 1.3 million times. In the U.S., about 660,000 times.