The Motown Years
Box set by
Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5
ReleasedSeptember 9, 2008
Genre
Label
Producer
Michael Jackson chronology
King of Pop
(2008) 		The Motown Years
(2008) 		The Collection
(2009)
The Jackson 5 chronology
Gold
(2005) 		The Motown Years
(2008) 		I Want You Back! Unreleased Masters
(2009)

The Motown Years (also known as The Motown Years 50) is a 3-disc compilation box set by American singer Michael Jackson and the group The Jackson 5, released on September 9, 2008, by Motown Records and Universal Music Group to celebrate Jackson's 50th birthday. The 50-track album features all of the hits through the Motown years from both the Jackson 5 (like "ABC", "I Want You Back", "Never Can Say Goodbye") and Michael's solo material (including "You've Got a Friend", "Ben", "Ain't No Sunshine" and "One Day in Your Life"), all of them released during their tenure with Motown (1969–1975), with the exception of "Farewell My Summer Love" and "Girl You're So Together", which were released in 1984, long after Jackson and the group had left the company.[1][2]

Unlike Motown's previous Jackson 5 compilations, the 1995 4-disc Soulsation! and the 2005 2-disc Gold (both of which contain many of the same songs that appear in The Motown Years), the tracks on this 3-disc set are not ordered chronologically. Also in contrast to Soulsation!, there is no previously unreleased music. The only somewhat rare songs included are the B-sides "I'm So Happy" and "Love Song", both of which previously appeared on the 2000 version of The Jackson 5's Anthology (re-released with the title Gold in 2005), and also the 2001 "Two Classic Albums/One CD" series, as bonus tracks on Maybe Tomorrow and Lookin' Through the Windows, respectively.

A Chinese re-issue with different track selection was released on August 29, 2022 (what would've been Michael Jackson's 64th birthday) to celebrate 50th anniversary of Jackson's first solo album Got to Be There.[3]

Track listing

International standard edition

Disc 1 (Jackson 5)
No.TitleWriter(s)First appeared onLength
1."ABC"The Corporation (Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Deke Richards, Alphonzo Mizell)ABC (1970)3:01
2."Never Can Say Goodbye"Clifton DavisMaybe Tomorrow (1971)3:03
3."Ready or Not (Here I Come)"Thomas Bell; William HartThird Album (1970)2:34
4."Love Song"The Corporation; Christine YarianB-side of "Lookin' Through the Windows"3:27
5."Forever Came Today"Brian and Eddie Holland; Lamont DozierMoving Violation (1975)6:23
6."The Life of the Party"Clarence Drayton; Hal Davis; Tanny SmithDancing Machine (1974)2:35
7."Doctor My Eyes"Jackson BrowneLookin' Through the Windows (1972)3:11
8."All I Do Is Think Of You"Brian Holland; Michael LovesmithMoving Violation3:13
9."I Am Love" (Pts. 1 & 2)Donald Fenceton; Jerry Marcellino; Mel Larson; Roderick H. RanciferDancing Machine7:26
10."Darling Dear"Allen Story; George Gordy; Rosemary GordyThird Album2:38
11."Maybe Tomorrow"The CorporationMaybe Tomorrow4:48
12."I Found that Girl"The CorporationABC3:10
13."It's Too Late to Change the Time"Leon Ware; Pamela SawyerG.I.T.: Get It Together (1973)4:00
14."Lookin' Through the Windows"Clifton DavisLookin' Through the Windows3:37
15."Who's Lovin' You"Smokey RobinsonDiana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 (1969)3:59
16."Whatever You Got, I Want"Gene Marcellino; Jerry Marcellino; Mel LarsonDancing Machine2:56
17."I'll Be There"Berry Gordy Jr.; Bob West; Hal Davis; Willie HutchThird Album3:59
Disc 2 (Jackson 5)
No.TitleWriter(s)First appeared onLength
1."I Want You Back"The CorporationDiana Ross Presents The Jackson 52:58
2."Dancing Machine" (album version)Donald Fletcher; Hal Davis; Weldon Dean ParksG.I.T.: Get It Together3:29
3."Sugar Daddy"The CorporationGreatest Hits (1971)2:33
4."Little Bitty Pretty One"Robert ByrdLookin' Through the Windows2:48
5."Hum Along and Dance"Barrett Strong; Norman WhitfieldG.I.T.: Get It Together8:37
6."Corner of the Sky"Stephen SchwartzSkywriter (1973)3:40
7."I'm So Happy"The CorporationB-side of "Sugar Daddy"2:48
8."Get It Together"Berry Gordy Jr.; Donald Fletcher; Hal Davis; Jerry Marcellino; Mel LarsonG.I.T.: Get It Together2:49
9."Goin' Back to Indiana"The CorporationThird Album3:32
10."Skywriter"Jerry Marcellino; Mel LarsonSkywriter3:10
11."The Love You Save"The CorporationABC (1970)3:01
12."Mama's Pearl"The CorporationThird Album3:09
13."Touch" (originally by The Supremes)Frank Wilson; Pamela SawyerSkywriter3:01
14."La-La (Means I Love You)" (long version)Thom Bell; William HartABC3:29
15."It's Great to Be Here"The CorporationMaybe Tomorrow3:00
16."Hallelujah Day"Christine Tarian; Freddie PerrenSkywriter2:45
17."Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"Haven Gillespie; J. Fred CootsJackson 5 Christmas Album (1970)2:25
Disc 3 (Michael Jackson)
No.TitleWriter(s)First appeared onLength
1."Farewell My Summer Love" (1984 mix)Kenny LewisFarewell My Summer Love (1984)3:46
2."You've Got a Friend" (originally by James Taylor)Carole KingGot to Be There (1972)4:45
3."My Girl" (originally by The Temptations)Ronald White; Smokey RobinsonBen (1972)3:11
4."One Day In Your Life"Samuel F. Brown III; Renee ArmandForever, Michael (1975)4:20
5."Just a Little Bit of You"Brian Holland; Eddie HollandForever, Michael3:17
6."Got To Be There"Elliot WillenskyGot to Be There3:26
7."We've Got a Good Thing Going"The CorporationBen3:05
8."Rockin' Robin" (originally by Bobby Day)Leon Rene (using pseudonym Jimmie Thomas)Got to Be There2:35
9."Ben" (from the film Ben)Don Black; Walter ScharfBen2:48
10."I Wanna Be Where You Are"Arthur Ross; Leon WareGot to Be There3:00
11."Girl You're So Together" (1984 mix)Kenny Lewis, Kenneth MelbourneFarewell My Summer Love3:11
12."We're Almost There"Brian Holland; Eddie HollandForever, Michael3:47
13."Wings of My Love"The CorporationGot to Be There3:24
14."Girl Don't Take Your Love from Me"Willie HutchGot to Be There3:50
15."Music and Me"Donald Fenceton; Jerry Marcellino; Mel Larson; Mike CannonMusic & Me (1973)2:40
16."Ain't No Sunshine" (originally by Bill Withers)Bill WithersGot to Be There4:10

Chinese limited re-release (2022)

Disc 1 (Jackson 5)
No.TitleWriter(s)First appeared onLength
1."Big Boy"Ed Silversnon-album single2:59
2."I Want You Back"The CorporationDiana Ross Presents The Jackson 53:00
3."Who's Loving You"Smokey RobinsonDiana Ross Presents The Jackson 54:03
4."Can You Remember"Thom Bell, William HartDiana Ross Presents The Jackson 53:08
5."Stand!"Sylvester StewartDiana Ross Presents The Jackson 52:36
6."ABC"The CorporationABC2:56
7."The Love You Save"The CorporationABC3:00
8."La La (Means I Love You)"Thom Bell, William HartABC3:29
9."I'll Bet You"George Clinton, Sidney Barnes, Theresa LindseyABC3:17
10."It's Your Thing"Ronald Isley, O'Kelly Isley Jr., Rudolph IsleySoulsation!3:42
11."I'll Be There"Berry Gordy, Bob West, Hal Davis, Willie HutchThird Album3:58
12."Goin' Back to Indiana"The CorporationThird Album3:31
13."Mama's Pearl"The CorporationThird Album3:09
14."Darling Dear"George Horgay Gordy, Robert Gordy, Allen StoryThird Album2:38
15."Give Love on Christmas Day"The CorporationChristmas Album3:04
16."Maybe Tomorrow"The CorporationMaybe Tomorrow4:42
17."Never Can Say Goodbye"Clifton DavisMaybe Tomorrow2:59
18."It's Great to Be Here"The CorporationMaybe Tomorrow3:00
19."Sugar Daddy"The CorporationGreatest Hits2:30
20."Feelin' Alright" (studio version)Dave MasonGoin' Back to Indiana / Come and Get It: The Rare Pearls3:11
21."Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing"Nickolas Ashford, Valerie SimpsonLookin' Through the Windows2:30
22."Lookin' Through the Windows"Clifton DavisLookin' Through the Windows3:45
23."Doctor My Eyes"Jackson BrowneLookin' Through the Windows3:14
24."Love Song"The Corporation, Christine Yariannon-album single3:25
Total length:77:46
Disc 2 (Jackson 5)
No.TitleWriter(s)First appeared onLength
1."Skywriter"Mel Larson, Jerry MarcellinoSkywriter3:10
2."Hallelujah Day"Freddie Perren, Christine YarianSkywriter2:49
3."Touch"Pam Sawyer, Frank WilsonSkywriter3:01
4."Corner of the Sky"Stephen SchwartzSkywriter3:31
5."Superstition" (live in Japan)Stevie WonderIn Japan!2:54
6."Get It Together" (alternative version)Hal Davis, Donald Fletcher, Berry Gordy, Mel Larson, Jerry MarcellinoG.I.T.: Get It Together2:47
7."Hum Along and Dance"Barrett Strong, Norman WhitfieldG.I.T.: Get It Together8:35
8."It's Too Late to Change the Time"Pam Sawyer, Leon WareG.I.T.: Get It Together3:56
9."Dancing Machine" (uncut version)Hal Davis, Donald Fletcher, Dean ParksG.I.T.: Get It Together4:25
10."I Am Love"Don Fenceton, Jerry Marcellino, Mel Larson, Ronnie RanciferDancing Machine7:29
11."Whatever You Got, I Want"Gene Marcellino, Jerry Marcellino, Mel LarsonDancing Machine2:57
12."The Life of the Party"Clarence Drayton, Hal Davis, Tamy SmithDancing Machine2:34
13."You're My Best Friend"Sam Brown, Christine YarianJoyful Jukebox Music3:25
14."We're Here to Entertain You"Hal Davis, Nita Garfield, Charlotte O'HaraJoyful Jukebox Music3:03
15."Buttercup"Stevie WonderI Want You Back! Unreleased Masters3:53
16."Forever Came Today" (alternative version)Holland–Dozier–HollandMoving Violation6:12
17."Body Language (Do the Love Dance)"Hal Davis, Donald FletcherMoving Violation4:07
18."All I Do Is Think of You"Michael Lovesmith, Brian HollandMoving Violation3:15
19."Breezy"Mel Larson, Jerry MarcellinoMoving Violation3:38
20."Joyful Jukebox Music"Tom Bee, Michael Edward CampbellJoyful Jukebox Music3:16
Total length:78:57
Disc 3 (Michael Jackson)
No.TitleWriter(s)First appeared onLength
1."Ain't No Sunshine"Bill WithersGot to Be There4:11
2."I Wanna Be Where You Are"Arthur "T-Boy" Ross, Leon WareGot to Be There3:01
3."Got to Be There"Elliot WillenskyGot to Be There3:23
4."Rockin' Robin"Leon ReneGot to Be There2:32
5."Maria (You Were the Only One)"Lawrence Brown, Linda Glover, George Gordy, Allen StoryGot to Be There3:40
6."Ben"Walter Scharf, Don BlackBen2:46
7."People Make the World Go 'Round"Thom Bell, Linda CreedBen3:17
8."We've Got a Good Thing Going"The CorporationBen3:03
9."With a Child's Heart"Sylvia Moy, Henry Cosby, Vicki BasemoreMusic & Me3:33
10."Happy"Michel Legrand, Smokey RobinsonMusic & Me3:26
11."Morning Glow"Stephen SchwartzMusic & Me3:37
12."Music and Me"Jerry Marcellino, Mel Larson, Don Fenceton, Mike CannonMusic & Me2:38
13."Little Christmas Tree"George Clinton, Artie WayneA Motown Christmas3:38
14."Farewell My Summer Love" (original 1973 mix)Keni St. LewisFarewell My Summer Love3:37
15."Call on Me" (original 1973 mix)Fonce Mizell, Larry MizellFarewell My Summer Love3:21
16."Girl You're So Together" (original 1973 mix)Keni St. LewisFarewell My Summer Love2:59
17."Make Tonight All Mine" (original 1973 mix)Freddie Perren, Christine YarianOne Day in Your Life3:03
18."If I Don't Love You This Way" (1987 remix)Leon Ware, Pam SawyerThe Original Soul of Michael Jackson3:25
19."We're Almost There" (DJ Spinna remix radio edit)Eddie Holland, Brian HollandForever, Michael4:25
20."Just a Little Bit of You"Eddie Holland, Brian HollandForever, Michael3:12
21."One Day in Your Life"Sam Brown, Renée ArmandForever, Michael4:18
22."Dear Michael"Hal Davis, Elliot WillenskyForever, Michael2:39
23."If 'n I Was God" (original 1973 mix)Robert Sherman, Richard ShermanLooking Back to Yesterday4:06
Total length:77:50

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[23] Gold 35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] Gold 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "50 Best Songs - The Motown Years ~ CD ~ Michael Jackson & The Jackson 5". Mighty Ape NZ.
  2. ^ "The Motown Years - Michael Jackson, The Jackson 5 - Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic.
  3. ^ "The Motown Years: The Ultimate Collection Of Michael Jackson & Jackson 5 Hits". Douban.
  4. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Michael Jackson & Jackson 5 – 50 - The Motown Years". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  5. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Michael Jackson & Jackson 5 – 50 - The Motown Years" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  6. ^ "Ultratop.be – Michael Jackson & Jackson 5 – 50 - The Motown Years" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  7. ^ "Ultratop.be – Michael Jackson & Jackson 5 – 50 - The Motown Years" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  8. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Michael Jackson & Jackson 5 – 50 - The Motown Years". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  9. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Michael Jackson & Jackson 5 – 50 - The Motown Years" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  10. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Michael Jackson & Jackson 5 – 50 - The Motown Years" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  11. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Michael Jackson". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  12. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Michael Jackson & Jackson 5 – 50 - The Motown Years". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  13. ^ "Charts.nz – Michael Jackson & Jackson 5 – 50 - The Motown Years". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  14. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Michael Jackson & Jackson 5 – 50 - The Motown Years". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  15. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  16. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Michael Jackson & Jackson 5 – 50 - The Motown Years". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  17. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Michael Jackson & Jackson 5 – 50 - The Motown Years". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  18. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Michael Jackson & Jackson 5 – 50 - The Motown Years". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  19. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  20. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2009". Ultratop. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  21. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2009". Ultratop. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  22. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2009". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  23. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2009 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  24. ^ "British album certifications – Jackson Five – The Motown Years". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 24, 2022.Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type The Motown Years in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.

External links

Michael Jackson
The Jackson 5 / The Jacksons
Authority control databases
Categories