My review:
Of the 12 tracks found on IWYB!-UM 8 are never before released J5 songs, and 2 of them were written by Curtis Mayfield (Man’s Temptation) and Stevie Wonder (Buttercup). The classic J5 bubblegum soul energy we remember from the early 1970’s is there on tracks like ‘That’s How Love Is’, ‘Love Call’ and a very enjoyable ‘Lucky Day’.
4 tracks are alternate versions of J5 hits that collectors will want in their music library. The CD opens with a studio recorded medley of the J5 songs ‘I Want You Back/ABC/The Love You Save’, then follows with ‘ABC ‘, and in this version we hear little MJ call out during the songs bridge, ‘Repeat after me! Say A! Say B! Say C!’. Then there’s ‘Dancing Machine’. Not only does it offer a completely different vocal take and mix, but it runs at 4:25, far longer than the original 2:30 version we’ve grown up with. Frankly this track steals the whole spotlight of IWYB!-UM for me. It begins with a coin operated computerized female voice saying, ‘Thank you master for turning me on’ and then MJ and his brothers take off from there.
Many fans have been waiting to hear MJ sing Stevie Wonder’s ‘Buttercup’ on CD and no doubt it will become a beloved track. MJ’s teenage vocals are satisfying throughout, a fine piece of mid-70’s soul with Stevie playing on keyboards.
I recommend J5: IWYB! UM for MJ fans and especially collectors, in many respects it is a better overall release than the dry ‘Stripped Mixes’ and the poor ‘Remix Suite’ projects.While you won’t find any major ‘new’ hits, there’s still plenty here for MJ fans to appreciate and savor.
Marty In LA