Chart entered : 12 February 1972
Chart peak : 5
Number of hits : 57 ( not including hits with The Jackson Five or The Jacksons )
When The Jackson 5 broke through it didn't take anyone long to determine who was the star. Less than eighteen months later he was in the studio recording material for a solo album, the start of a career that would leave his brothers permanently in the shade.
"Got To Be There" was the title track of , and the first single from, his album. It was written by American songwriter Elliott Wilensky ( who actually wrote little else of note ). It's a little dubious to have a twelve -year old singing of waking up next to a woman ( something of which the adult MJ would have little experience of course ) but these were more innocent times and young Michael's voice was unbroken, obviously so on the frequent high notes. If the group's records hadn't made it obvious that he was a prodigiously gifted singer there was no missing it now.
Dave Blumberg's arrangement is sugary, perhaps influenced by Carpenters, which does make it sound a bit twee today. Michael had brother Marlon to keep him company at the sessions and he does some of the backing vocals. In a British context it's worth noting that this single followed hot on the heels of home -grown Opportunity Knocks winner Neil Reid's big hit Mother Of Mine helping to make 1972 probably the peak year for pre-pubescent pop.
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