I Want You Back 1/30/20

Today's "Great Song" of the '70s, barely qualifies, since it was released in late 1969...but it hit the top of the charts in January of 1970...and this is my blog...so I can choose whatever song I want. :-)

The official story has always been that Diana Ross discovered The Jackson Five, but in researching the song, I was surprised to learn it was actually Gladys Knight! Apparently, Motown was pushing Diana's solo career at that point, so they gave her credit instead.

But it really doesn't matter WHO discovered them. Once they WERE discovered, they took off like a rocket! They started the '70s with 4 #1 songs in a row. "I Want You Back" was the first, and in addition to hitting #1 in the U.S., it went to #2 in Canada and the U.K. It's #121 on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" and Pitchfork Magazine says it features "possibly the best chord progression in pop music history!"

And the hits just kept on coming--for the group--for Michael--and for other family members. I don't have enough time or space to talk about what happened between then and now...or jump into how people may perceive Michael post mortem.

I just want to feature a Great Song that started not just a career...but a year...and a DECADE full of Great Songs!