Notes & Personnel Info |  | 2 LPs on 1 CD: GOIN' BACK TO INDIANA (1971)/LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDOWS (1972). | | The Jackson 5: Michael Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Tito Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Jackie Jackson (vocals). | | Producers: Guy Costa, Mel Larson & Jerry Marcellino, Hal Davis, Willie Hutch, The Corporation. | | Reissue producer: Harry Weinger. | | GOIN' BACK TO INDIANA recorded for ABC-TV on September 19, 1971 and live in Gary, Indiana on May 29, 1971. GOIN' BACK TO INDIANA originally released on Motown (742). LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDOWS originally released on Motown (750). Includes liner notes by Brian Chin. | | Digitally remastered by Suha Gur (Universal Mastering Studios-East). | | This single disc contains the CD debut of Goin' Back to Indiana -- the Jackson Five's hour-long television variety special -- and their subsequent studio platter Lookin' Through the Windows. Either could qualify as unique by any standards, however together they provide transition -- chronologically as well as creatively -- to the next and decidedly more independent phase of the Jackson Five. Although many of the visual gags are lost to the medium, the audio from the hour-long ABC-TV network special Goin' Back to Indiana remains at the very least a time capsule, not to mention providing an outlet for some stellar live selections at a Gary, IN homecoming show. "The Day Basketball Was Saved" is a memorable fantasy sketch featuring a "dream team" consisting of Bill Russell, Elvin Hayes, Elgin Baylor, and Ben Davison going up against the Jackson Five. Musically, the nucleus of the album is the May 29, 1971 Gary concert. Highlights include a cover of Dave Mason's "Feelin' Alright" and a maniacally funky take of the project's title composition "Goin' Back to Indiana." The performance also yielded "Who's Lovin' You," one of the two bonuses on the disc. The Motown movers and shakers known collectively as "The Corporation" were a handpicked quartet of Motown producers, arrangers, and musicians. It was their prime directive to oversee the Jackson Five and by the time of Lookin' Through the Windows evidence of their conspicuous absence is more than apparent. Ironically, the songs "Don't Let Your Baby Catch You" and "If I Have to Move a Mountain" are unquestionably among the best non-hits from The Corporation's tenure with the band. Likewise, the long player gathers some memorable cover versions. Chiefly, the brilliant remake of Jackson Browne's "Doctor My Eyes," the Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson composition "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," and "Little Bitty Pretty One" -- which was chosen as a single. The final bonus is "Love Song" -- one of the combo's concurrent non-LP B-sides. ~ Lindsay Planer | | This single disc contains the CD debut of Goin' Back to Indiana -- the Jackson 5's hour-long television variety special -- as well as their subsequent studio album, Lookin' Through the Windows. Either could qualify as unique by any standard, however, together they provide transition -- chronologically as well as creatively -- to the next and decidedly more independent phase of the Jackson 5. Although many of the visual gags are lost in the medium, this soundtrack to the hour-long ABC network special Goin' Back to Indiana remains at the very least a time capsule. The show provided the context for some stellar live performances from the quartet's homecoming concert in Gary, IN. "The Day Basketball Was Saved" is a memorable fantasy sketch featuring a dream team consisting of Bill Russell, Elvin Hayes, Elgin Baylor, and Ben Davison going up against the Jackson 5. Musically, the nucleus of the album is the May 29, 1971, Gary homecoming concert. Highlights include a cover of Dave Mason's "Feelin' Alright" as well as a maniacally funky reading of the title track. Also from this performance is "Who's Lovin' You," one of the two bonus tracks on the disc. Although the Corporation -- a handpicked quartet of Motown producers, arrangers, and musicians whose prime directive was to oversee the Jackson 5 -- had more or less disbanded, there was enough excess material to develop the album. Ironically, tracks such as "Don't Let Your Baby Catch You" and "If I Have to Move a Mountain" are among the best non-hits from the Corporation. Likewise, the album gathers some memorable cover versions as well. Chief among them are brilliant readings of Jackson Browne's "Doctor My Eyes," the Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson composition "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," and "Little Bitty Pretty One," which was chosen as a single. The final bonus track is "Love Song," a non-LP B-side. ~ Lindsay Planer |
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