Soldier of Love
Proud Member
Hi everybody! I'm Soldier of Love and I'm new in the MJJ Community. I've been a HUGE Michael Jackson fan since forever, and I'm also an equally HUGE fan of Janet Jackson and The Jacksons/Jackson 5! For the past couple of years, I've been studying recording dates for the Jackson family's music. It started when I was making a playlist to celebrate Michael's birthday and I wanted to arrange each song in the order they were recorded. I am continuing to study now and I have also been studying Janet's recording dates extensively, and also other members of the Jackson family. I have learned A LOT of info on their recording sessions by studying archives of defunct fan websites interviews, old newspapers (on the Google News Archive), music magazines (www.worldradiohistory.com has a bunch), master tapes on auction websites (like www.worthpoint.com), anything I could find. I will discuss recording sessions of the other family members more extensively in the 2300 Jackson Street thread, but here I want to focus specifically on the Motown era Michael/J5 songs.
Years ago, proud member @jaorecords posted a list of the Motown sessions in chronological order, which I myself and other fans have used as a guide to listen to those songs in order. Also, @SeriousFX has used that list to compile songs for his MJ session calendar. First off, shout out to these two members for their effort in documenting all (or as many as possible) of Michael's recording sessions in chronological order! I myself have been working on spreadsheets of Michael, Janet, and The Jackson 5/Jackson's recording sessions, and I'm just starting to research the other siblings. I would love to collaborate with you guys and share my notes so we can hopefully make the most accurate recording session calendar for the Jackson family!
Anyway, I found a picture of side B of an acetate of Michael's unreleased Motown album recorded in 1973, which became Farewell, My Summer Love in 1984. The acetate has the date 11/8/73 on it and features the track "I'll Come Home to You", along with 4 other tracks from the 1984 album. I don't know the track list for side A, so if anyone can provide a picture of side A, or some other info, I would appreciate it. Anyway, that acetate confirms that "I'll Come Home to You" was recorded before December 1973, which is the recording date according to older list. What's more is that the label on the acetate has master numbers listed beside each track. Putting the tracks in numerical order lines up with the order that the songs were recorded in. "Melody" recorded on the 5th and 15th of January 1973, has the number 61836-6-A. "Girl, You're So Together" and "Farewell (My Summer Love)" are numbers 62352-6-A & 62353-3-A (both were recorded the same day on Sept. 4, 1973). Arranging them numerically, along with other tracks from those sessions, I'm convinced that "I'll Come Home to You" was recorded in June 1973. In fact, listening to the song, I would place it somewhere before "It's Too Late to Change the Time" and after "If I Don't Love You This Way" (I think it sounds like a middle ground between those two), and/or somewhere near "Make Tonight All Mine".
But the master numbers on the acetate got me asking questions about master numbers, and came across a book titled Off the Record : Motown by Master Number, 1959-1989 written by Reginald J. Bartlette. Among other things, the book lists the master numbers for every Motown single and b side. It's available on archive.org to borrow. You guys should DEFINITELY check it out! I've just started reading it, so I'm still learning what those master numbers mean. I'm pretty sure those first 5 digits are the session numbers, and the number after that might be which take it is, while the letter could indicate where it is on the tape. If anyone knows more about Motown's master numbers and what they mean, please inform me.
I compared the master numbers on the 1973 acetate with those in the book, and they matched. I made a spreadsheet of the songs from late 1970 to 1975. The earlier songs didn't seem to follow the same numbering system (I'll have to get to those later). Then, I arranged every MJ/J5 song from the book in master number order (I also included Jermaine's songs from the J5 era), and the order I came up with was fascinating! I also added known recording/mixing dates from CD booklet liner notes (except where noted). See below:
So first off, what do you guys think? Do you think the master numbers are a good indication (or at least a clue) to when the songs were recorded? Of course, master numbers alone don't provide the same info that actual recording dates do. After all, recording a song is a complicated process. Songs could be started on one day, and finished months later, with other songs being recorded in between. Personally, I feel there is no right or wrong order to put the songs in. One might choose to go by when the lead vocals were recorded. Others might go by when the song was first worked on. Others my go by when the song was completed. And with multiple songs being recorded at the same time, It's almost impossible to know which song came first. But I think these numbers can at least give a basic idea of when the songs started.
Personally, I think the order makes a lot of since in some ways, maybe not so much in others. For example, I had always been convinced that "If I Have to Move a Mountain" and "You Can Cry on My Shoulder" were recorded BEFORE the Lookin' Through the Windows sessions began. Between Michael's pitch and pronunciation, to the music similarities between "Mountain" and "Maybe Tomorrow" I was convinced that those 2 were recorded near the end of the Maybe Tomorrow sessions. The old forum list, however, said they came later. But the master numbers seem to confirm my theory that those 2 songs were recorded during the late Maybe Tomorrow sessions! Another interesting song is "I Am Love". I originally thought that it was one of the left-over outtakes from Get it Together, but listening to the ad-libs, and reading the aforementioned list, I figured it came later. But according to master number order, it is from the Get it Together sessions. Frankly, it really makes sense now because I can definitely hear the song fitting between "Pride and Joy" and "Hum Along and Dance". Also, "We're Almost There" being recorded right before "Just A Little Bit of You" makes perfect sense! I always thought Michael sounded younger on the former, and in the leaked multitrack session for "Just A Little Bit of You", there is a "warm-up" at beginning where the musicians play some of "We're Almost There!" Plus the All the Songs book says that those songs (and some others) were recorded June - October 1974, in between the Dancing Machine and Moving Violation sessions.
There are some songs, however, where his voice sounds like he could've been older like "Morning Glow". Perhaps some songs had new vocals recorded much later in the process (like the Dancing Machine album for example). I think that some new ad-libs were recorded for 'I Am Love", same with "Morning Glow" where he sounds a little older. Nevertheless, I do feel that these master numbers give you a good idea of the chronology, And before anyone dismisses me, keep in mind that the aforementioned list from years ago was heavily based on Wikipedia dates, and Wikipedia is terribly inaccurate sometimes. In fact, many of the edits on those Wiki articles were from now defunct accounts like Bradock.MJ (who has a YouTube channel) and Jlpirc376. You can see their edits in the edit history of the J5 album Wikipedia pages like Joyful Jukebox Music. If anyone knows more about these Wikipedia users, please inform me.
Looking forward to hearing any info and/or comments you guys might have!
Years ago, proud member @jaorecords posted a list of the Motown sessions in chronological order, which I myself and other fans have used as a guide to listen to those songs in order. Also, @SeriousFX has used that list to compile songs for his MJ session calendar. First off, shout out to these two members for their effort in documenting all (or as many as possible) of Michael's recording sessions in chronological order! I myself have been working on spreadsheets of Michael, Janet, and The Jackson 5/Jackson's recording sessions, and I'm just starting to research the other siblings. I would love to collaborate with you guys and share my notes so we can hopefully make the most accurate recording session calendar for the Jackson family!
Anyway, I found a picture of side B of an acetate of Michael's unreleased Motown album recorded in 1973, which became Farewell, My Summer Love in 1984. The acetate has the date 11/8/73 on it and features the track "I'll Come Home to You", along with 4 other tracks from the 1984 album. I don't know the track list for side A, so if anyone can provide a picture of side A, or some other info, I would appreciate it. Anyway, that acetate confirms that "I'll Come Home to You" was recorded before December 1973, which is the recording date according to older list. What's more is that the label on the acetate has master numbers listed beside each track. Putting the tracks in numerical order lines up with the order that the songs were recorded in. "Melody" recorded on the 5th and 15th of January 1973, has the number 61836-6-A. "Girl, You're So Together" and "Farewell (My Summer Love)" are numbers 62352-6-A & 62353-3-A (both were recorded the same day on Sept. 4, 1973). Arranging them numerically, along with other tracks from those sessions, I'm convinced that "I'll Come Home to You" was recorded in June 1973. In fact, listening to the song, I would place it somewhere before "It's Too Late to Change the Time" and after "If I Don't Love You This Way" (I think it sounds like a middle ground between those two), and/or somewhere near "Make Tonight All Mine".
But the master numbers on the acetate got me asking questions about master numbers, and came across a book titled Off the Record : Motown by Master Number, 1959-1989 written by Reginald J. Bartlette. Among other things, the book lists the master numbers for every Motown single and b side. It's available on archive.org to borrow. You guys should DEFINITELY check it out! I've just started reading it, so I'm still learning what those master numbers mean. I'm pretty sure those first 5 digits are the session numbers, and the number after that might be which take it is, while the letter could indicate where it is on the tape. If anyone knows more about Motown's master numbers and what they mean, please inform me.
I compared the master numbers on the 1973 acetate with those in the book, and they matched. I made a spreadsheet of the songs from late 1970 to 1975. The earlier songs didn't seem to follow the same numbering system (I'll have to get to those later). Then, I arranged every MJ/J5 song from the book in master number order (I also included Jermaine's songs from the J5 era), and the order I came up with was fascinating! I also added known recording/mixing dates from CD booklet liner notes (except where noted). See below:
| Performer | Song Title | Master # | Confirmed Recording Dates (Hello World & Soulsation! CD Booklets) |
| The Jackson 5 | One More Chance | Q-Q-Q-802S03 | |
| The Jackson 5 | Darling Dear | R2-B8-K-SS-Q-823S09 | May 24 & 25, 1970 |
| The Jackson 5 | Santa Claus is Coming to Town | Q-Q-Q-84701 | |
| The Jackson 5 | Christmas Won't Be the Same This Year | Q-Q-Q-84702 | |
| The Jackson 5 | Up On the Housetop | 60108-15B | |
| The Jackson 5 | I'll Be There | 60196 | |
| The Jackson 5 | I'm So Happy | 60198 | |
| The Jackson 5 | Never Can Say Goodbye | 60238 | |
| The Jackson 5 | I WIll Find a Way | 60244-6B | |
| The Jackson 5 | If I Have to Move a Mountain | 60264 | |
| Michael Jackson | You Can Cry on My Shoulder | 60265 | |
| The Jackson 5 | She's Good | 60294 | |
| The Jackson 5 | Love Song | 60370 | |
| The Jackson 5 | Maybe Tommorow | 60374-2K/60374-3K | |
| The Jackson 5 | You Made Me What I Am | 60463 | |
| Michael Jackson | Got to Be There | 60497-4B | |
| Michael Jackson | Maria | 60498-5A | |
| The Jackson 5 | Sugar Daddy | 60573 | |
| Jermaine Jackson | I Lost My Love In the Big City | 60634 | |
| The Jackson 5 | Love Call | 60666-1A | October 12, 1971 (confirmed in For the Record book) |
| Michael Jackson | Rockin' Robin | 60767 | |
| Michael Jackson | Love is Here and Now You're Gone | 60800 | |
| Michael Jackson | We've Got a Good Thing | 60804 | |
| Michael Jackson | I Wanna Be Where You Are | 60812 | |
| Jermaine Jackson | Take Me in Your Arms | 60819-2A | |
| The Jackson 5 | To Know | 60943-15-A | |
| The Jackson 5 | Little Bitty Pretty One | 60959 | |
| Jermaine Jackson | That's How Love Goes | 61098-2A | January 8, 1972 |
| The Jackson 5 | Lookin' Through the Windows | 61105 | |
| Michael Jackson | Ben | 61234 | |
| Jermaine Jackson | Daddy's Home | 61286 | |
| The Jackson 5 | Corner of the Sky | 61511-10A | |
| Jermaine Jackson | Does Your Mama Know About Me | 61539-7B | |
| Michael Jackson | Morning Glow | 61562 | |
| Michael Jackson | Doggin' Around | 61578 | |
| Michael Jackson | With a Child's Heart | 61664-S | |
| The Jackson 5 | I Can't Quit Your Love | 61807 | |
| Michael Jackson | Melody/Melodie | 61836-6-A | January 5 & 15, 1973; Mixed November 1973 |
| The Jackson 5 | Touch | 61879-5B | |
| The Jackson 5 | Hallelujah Day | 61899-26C | |
| Jermaine Jackson | You're In Good Hands | 62081-S | |
| The Jackson 5 | I Am Love Pt. 1 | 62222-RE1 | |
| The Jackson 5 | I Am Love Pt. 2 | 62222-8B | |
| Michael Jackson | You've Really Got a Hold on Me | 62254-4-A | June 13 & 22, August 29 and October 11, 1973; Mixed November 1973 |
| Michael Jackson | Touch the One You Love | 62255 | June 14, 1973; Mixed November 1973 |
| Michael Jackson | I'll Come Home to You | 62263-2-A | |
| The Jackson 5 | It's Too Late to Change the Time | 62276 | |
| The Jackson 5 | Get It Together | 62284-21B | |
| The Jackson 5 | Dancing Machine | 62285 | |
| Michael Jackson/Jackson 5 | Whatever You Got, I Want | 62303 | |
| Michael Jackson | Girl, You're So Together | 62352-6-A | August 31, September 10, 19 & 26 and October 8, 1973; Mixed November 1973 |
| Michael Jackson | Farewell (My Summer Love) | 62353-3-A | September 4, 10 & 11, 1973; Mixed November 1973 |
| Michael Jackson | Call On Me | 62355 | September 4, 5, 13 & 25, 1973; Mixed October 4, and November 1973 |
| Stevie Wonder feat. The Jackson 5 | You Haven't Done Nothin' | 62859-17A | |
| Michael Jackson | We're Almost There | 62934-17A | |
| Michael Jackson | Just A Little Bit of You | 62936-2A | |
| Michael Jackson | One Day in Your Life | 62968 | |
| Michael Jackson | Dear Michael | 63035 | |
| Michael Jackson | Take Me Back | 63065 | |
| The Jackson 5 | All I Do is Think of You | 63118 | |
| The Jackson 5 | Forever Came Today | 63121 | |
| The Jackson 5 | Body Language | 63144-S-03A |
So first off, what do you guys think? Do you think the master numbers are a good indication (or at least a clue) to when the songs were recorded? Of course, master numbers alone don't provide the same info that actual recording dates do. After all, recording a song is a complicated process. Songs could be started on one day, and finished months later, with other songs being recorded in between. Personally, I feel there is no right or wrong order to put the songs in. One might choose to go by when the lead vocals were recorded. Others might go by when the song was first worked on. Others my go by when the song was completed. And with multiple songs being recorded at the same time, It's almost impossible to know which song came first. But I think these numbers can at least give a basic idea of when the songs started.
Personally, I think the order makes a lot of since in some ways, maybe not so much in others. For example, I had always been convinced that "If I Have to Move a Mountain" and "You Can Cry on My Shoulder" were recorded BEFORE the Lookin' Through the Windows sessions began. Between Michael's pitch and pronunciation, to the music similarities between "Mountain" and "Maybe Tomorrow" I was convinced that those 2 were recorded near the end of the Maybe Tomorrow sessions. The old forum list, however, said they came later. But the master numbers seem to confirm my theory that those 2 songs were recorded during the late Maybe Tomorrow sessions! Another interesting song is "I Am Love". I originally thought that it was one of the left-over outtakes from Get it Together, but listening to the ad-libs, and reading the aforementioned list, I figured it came later. But according to master number order, it is from the Get it Together sessions. Frankly, it really makes sense now because I can definitely hear the song fitting between "Pride and Joy" and "Hum Along and Dance". Also, "We're Almost There" being recorded right before "Just A Little Bit of You" makes perfect sense! I always thought Michael sounded younger on the former, and in the leaked multitrack session for "Just A Little Bit of You", there is a "warm-up" at beginning where the musicians play some of "We're Almost There!" Plus the All the Songs book says that those songs (and some others) were recorded June - October 1974, in between the Dancing Machine and Moving Violation sessions.
There are some songs, however, where his voice sounds like he could've been older like "Morning Glow". Perhaps some songs had new vocals recorded much later in the process (like the Dancing Machine album for example). I think that some new ad-libs were recorded for 'I Am Love", same with "Morning Glow" where he sounds a little older. Nevertheless, I do feel that these master numbers give you a good idea of the chronology, And before anyone dismisses me, keep in mind that the aforementioned list from years ago was heavily based on Wikipedia dates, and Wikipedia is terribly inaccurate sometimes. In fact, many of the edits on those Wiki articles were from now defunct accounts like Bradock.MJ (who has a YouTube channel) and Jlpirc376. You can see their edits in the edit history of the J5 album Wikipedia pages like Joyful Jukebox Music. If anyone knows more about these Wikipedia users, please inform me.
Looking forward to hearing any info and/or comments you guys might have!
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