Ben (Michael Jackson album)
Ben | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 4, 1972 | |||
Recorded | November 1971 ("Ben") December 1971 – February 1972 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 31:31 | |||
Bobby Taylor | ||||
Michael Jackson chronology | ||||
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Singles from Ben | ||||
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Ben is the second
The album released one single, the title track "
Background
In January 1972, while still a member of the Jackson 5, Jackson released his first studio album, Got to Be There, under Motown Records.[4] The album received generally mixed reviews from contemporary music critics, but was commercially successful worldwide. The album's three singles had a good chart performance on the Billboard Hot 100, with all charting within the top 20 positions on the chart, two peaking within the top 5.[5] Got to Be There was more successful in the U.S. than internationally, peaking at number 14 on the Billboard 200[6] while peaking at number 37 in the U.K.[7] and number 121 in France.[8]
Music
Recording sessions for Ben ran from November 1971 to February 1972. It was produced by six people, and executive-produced by Berry Gordy.[9] Songwriters for the 10 tracks of Ben include Mel Larson, Jerry Marcellino, Thom Bell, Linda Creed, The Corporation, Smokey Robinson, and Ronald White.[9] The album's songs have tempos ranging from 69 beats per minute on "Ben", to 130 on "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day".[10]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Rolling Stone | [11] |
The album generally received mixed to positive reviews from contemporary music critics. Lindsay Planer of
Commercial performance
The album was released by Motown Records, Jackson's second studio album for the label as a solo artist, in August 1972. As part of promotion for the album, "Ben" was released as the album's lead and only single in July 1972. "Ben" was a commercial success worldwide, generally charting within the top 10 and top 20 positions on the music charts. The song peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, which was Jackson's first, of what would be 13 songs, to top that chart during his career as a solo artist.
Ben was more successful on music charts in both the U.S. and worldwide than Jackson's previous studio album. The album peaked at number 5 on the U.S. Billboard 200, becoming Jackson's first of what would be six studio albums to peak within the top 10 on that chart.[19] Ben also peaked at number 4 on the U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[19] On January 13, 1973, Ben debuted on the U.K. Album Chart at its peak position, number 17.[20] The album remained within the country's music chart's top 50 positions for seven consecutive weeks.[20] On January 1, 1974, the album was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry for shipping 60,000 units across the U.K.[21] After Jackson's death in June 2009, his music surged in popularity. The album charted on the French music charts on July 25, 2009, at its peak position of number 162.[22] Ben remained within the country's top 200 positions for two consecutive weeks.[22] To date Ben has sold over 5 million copies worldwide.[23]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | " | 3:01 | |
5. | "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" |
| 2:58 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
6. | "My Girl" | 3:05 | |
7. | "What Goes Around Comes Around" |
| 3:35 |
8. | "In Our Small Way" |
| 3:39 |
9. | "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" | 3:19 | |
10. | "You Can Cry on My Shoulder" | Berry Gordy | 2:32 |
Personnel
- Michael Jackson – vocals
- The Corporation – producer
- Hal Davis – producer
- Berry Gordy – executive producer
- Mel Larson – producer
- Jerry Marcellino – producer
- Bobby Taylor– producer
Charts
Chart (1972–2009) | Peak position |
---|---|
French Albums ( SNEP)[22]
|
163 |
UK Albums (OCC)[20] | 17 |
US Billboard 200[19] | 5 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[24] | 4 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[25] | Silver | 60,000^ |
United States | — | 1,700,000[26] |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ Bernadette McNulty (June 26, 2009). "Michael Jackson's music: the solo albums". The Telegraph. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
Jackson proved he wanted to move on from the constraints of the R&B charts into the wider limelight of mainstream pop
- ^ Chery, Carl: XXL: Michael Jackson Special Collecters Edition, page 100. American Press.
- ^ Motown Records(2009)
- ^ Rob Theakston. "Michael Jackson - Got to Be There". AllMusic. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
- ^ a b c "allmusic ((( Michael Jackson > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
- ^ "allmusic ((( Got to be There > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
- The Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 2, 2010.
- ^ "Michael Jackson - Got to Be There (album)". LesCharts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
- ^ a b c "allmusic ((( Ben > Credits )))". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
- ISBN 1859094473
- ^ Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. Archived from the originalon June 18, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
- ^ Halstead, pp. 76–94
- ^ AllMusic. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
- ^ "Jermaine".
- ^ "T I T O J a C K S O N".
- ^ Time Warner Inc. Archived from the originalon September 11, 2010. Retrieved April 6, 2010.
- ^ a b "Michael Jackson - Ben (chanson)". LesCharts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
- The Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Michael Jackson Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ "BPI - Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Lescharts.com – Michael Jackson – Ben". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ The 1971 follow up album was even more successful, Ben sold five million copies. Classic Pop Presents Michael Jackson 2016.
- ^ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ "British album certifications – Michael Jackson – Ben". British Phonographic Industry.
- ISBN 9780755200917.
Further reading
- Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection liner notes. Sony BMG.