Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 / ABC

This CD contains their debut album, Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5 and the follow-up disc, ABC. In terms of sheer performance talent, the Jackson 5 are unquestionably among the best. The sibling-tight harmonies as well as youthful soul and funk exuberance sent these albums not only to the top of the R&B, but also the pop album charts in 1969 and 1970, respectively. It is not hard to understand why. Musically, both albums are propelled by the same exceedingly funky grooves previously sported by the likes of James Brown and Sly & the Family Stone -- an obvious influence, as their cover of "Stand" is among the highlights of the debut long-player. The same can be said of the George Clinton-penned "I Bet You," which arguably eclipses the Funkadelic version featured on their eponymously titled release. Their pursuit of fresh soul sounds also inevitably led to the sophisticated arrangements of Philly soul mavericks Thom Bell and William Hart, who provide "Can You Remember" on Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5, as well as "La La (Means I Love You)" on ABC. The Corporation -- a self-contained Motown contingent of writers, producers, and musicians -- provide material from within. Their contributions include "I Want You Back" from the first album, as well as "The Love You Save" and the title track from ABC, each of which were crossover chart-toppers on the pop as well as R&B surveys. ~ Lindsay Planer|