Going Back To Indiana - JACKSON 5***

I Want You Back/Maybe Tomorrow/The Day Basketball Was Saved/Stand/I Want To Take You Higher/Feelin' Alright/Walk On-The Love You Save (Medley)/Goin' Back To Indiana

The Jackson 5 live album Going Back To Indiana was a recording of their Gary, Indiana homecoming performance for the September 1971 TV special. It was the only live album featuring a young Michael Jackson. (US:16)

“I was a little disappointed. I like the live versions of I Want You Back and The Love You Save and their version of Sly & The Family Stone's Stand is excellent, but The Day Basketball Was Saved is pure annoying nonsense.”

“This live album has great harmonies by The Jackson 5. You can just feel the energy when you listen to this album. I just wish I could have seen them in concert.”

“One way or another, we could have done without this album, it was their fifth album in just over eighteen months and it seems that Berry Gordy was cashing in on the group before Michael's voice changed into a squeaky adolescent, and the pure childish tenor was lost forever.”

“The Jackson 5 experienced success right out of the box with their first four singles. To capitalize on their immense popularity, Motown produced a television special that centred around a homecoming concert they performed in their home state of Indiana. The resulting album, Goin' Back To Indiana, is a great snapshot of the band. They had cut their teeth on the road and despite their young ages, they exhibit an experienced professionalism.”

“The first three songs are from the special with stellar versions of I Want You Back and Maybe Tomorrow. The Day Basketball Was Saved is a goofy number that certainly loses something without the visual aid that television provided. It is excessively long and doesn't really work well on the album. Walk On is a funky, Isaac Hayes styled song that is combined with a rolling The Love You Save for a nicely contrasted medley. The album closes with a let it all hang out version of the title track.”

“The best thing about this album is hearing live versions of their songs. Michael is one of the few artists who sounded better live than in the actual recordings, because his creativity had no limits.”