Destiny

Jackson 5 | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 27, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 1978
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B001BKMC9A
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,550 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2008 digitally remastered and expanded Legacy Edition of this album from the R&B legends formerly known as The Jackson 5 (their defection to CBS left Jermaine and their old name behind with the Motown empire). Includes two bonus tracks. On this 1978 album, The Jacksons were turned loose to write and produce themselves, and the result is their best studio album ever. The dance tracks like 'Blame It On The Boogie' and the hit 'Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)' still sound fresh while the ballads are heartfelt and smooth. The album peaked at #3 on the Billboard albums chart in 1979. 10 tracks.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Jackson Album Ever!, October 20, 2000

By 

mediaagent "mediaagent" (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Destiny (Audio CD)

Many people simply do not understand why this album is so good. Let me break it down. After leaving Motown (Last Album there was Moving Violation -- which was excellent by the way), Jacksons moved over to Epic. Had 2 good albums, "The Jacksons" & "Going Places". Both were not big sellers. Then they hit paydirt with this one. This Album, I believe was released during their 10 year in show business. This had the funkiness that had always been in the Jacksons, but because of the bubble gum tunes that they had previously recorded, there true potential never came out.

"The Things I Do For You" -- Hey, who hasn't been there, you know you have been tired of someone who hasn't appreciated what you do. This is another groovin side.

"Blame it on the Boogie" makes you want to dance, but for those of us who REALLY REMEMBER -- (PRE "THRILLER" or "VICTORY") The Jacksons were some serious brothers. 10 foot afros, serious sequined jumpsuits, spins, dips, the woodpecker dance(Leg bent, bent over, head moving like a woodpecker, arm pointing straight out...this same move is recreated in the new movie with "Remember the Titans" with Denzel Washington, those of us who remember our roots do know about all of this). "Shake your Body Down To The Ground" is the song EVERYONE danced to ---Grandma, Uncle Billy, Cousin Jeff, Ned the wino, Miss Jane up the block, y'all know what I'm talking about. Hell everyone wanted to be the Jacksons! Even the Osmonds ripped them off when their barbershop quartet gig wasn't working!

If you really want to remember Black America as it was back in the day, community, family reunions, block parties, and loving you some Jacksons, get this Album. And really listen to the song "Destiny". It's a song that I think really captures what was in Michael's heart at the time. Reminiscence y'all.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Manifest Destiny, July 18, 2001

By 

Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Destiny (Audio CD)

When The Jacksons left Motown in 1976 for Epic, the driving force was to gain creative control over their music. Despite getting some songwriting credits, their first two albums for Epic were masterminded and controlled by the production team of Gamble & Huff. After the initial success of their first Epic album, The Jacksons, their second effort, Goin' Places, stiffed. The band decided that they finally would take complete control of their music for their next album. Epic relented and the band entered the studio in control of their own destiny for the first time. The album took its title from that change and Destiny turned out to be major breakthrough. Michael asserted his creative forces and the album's style is precursor for his Off The Wall album. The band updated their sound to mirror the disco trends of the day. The opening track "Blame It On The Boogie" is a magical dance workout that practically begs you to get up and move. "The Things I Do For You" is another high energy track. "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)" was the big single on the album peaking at number seven and becoming their first ever to reach platinum status. They slowed things down on the title track and the pretty "Bless His Soul". Not only did Michael step up, but so did youngest brother Randy who displays his multi-instruments skills. The album was the highest charting album in seven years eventually reaching number eleven. Destiny proved that the band was capable of writing and producing their own music and never again would they not be in control of their music

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Destiny is full of great music!, September 13, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Destiny (Audio CD)

Destiny is the first album written and produced by the Jacksons, and it is an excellent introduction of what lay in store for the jacksons, especially michael's blossoming solo career. The vocals are strong, clear and soulful, the melodies are soothing and catchy, the music is pleasing and exciting to listen to, the perfect harmonies add the icing to the cake, and the live instrumentation is the root of the freshness on this record. Here is a review of each track

Blame It On the Boogie-a simple disco track that isn't so fast, but it gets you moving anyways! It's a big club hit, and you can hear the excitement and energy in michael's voice, and it blends in perfectly with the groove of the music

Push Me Away-A soft ballad with strings and hints of pianos and michael's loneliness in the voice completely wins listeners over

Things I Do For You-a fast dance song that fits in well with the dance music of the late 70's, but in a timeless way. The melody is extremely catchy and michael's vocals are so loose and fit in with the music greatly. The sounds on this song set the blueprint for what was to come with michael's off the wall CD

Shake Your Body Down To The Ground=okay who doesn't know this song? It was very popular and it has been sampled in recent years, by Shaggy for example. It's a little bit long, but nonetheless, very exciting as the song progresses and the layers of instruments keep on building as the song plays.

Destiny=being a 20 year old myself, I can truly relate to the words michael sings on this masterpiece. You can hear the pain and emotion in his voice and feel it so much it makes you cry. And the music equals the emotion too. It really does.

Bless His Soul=the music for this song is so beautiful and so timeless. The chorus is great, and the bridge is awesome as michael's voice gets edgier when he sings "the life you're living is dangerous" hmmmm I wonder if this was the inspiration for the song Dangerous in 91...

All Night Dancing-this is the funkiest and most upbeat song on the album. It's a mixture of funk, blues, soul and disco! Michael is really belting out the rawness in his vocals and totally losing himself in the song. Nothing short of a masterpiece

That's What You Get For Being Polite-A perfect and mellow way to end the album. With it's horns and superb production, michael's smooth honey-butter vocals tells the tale of a man being dismissed of love, because he's too polite. A true masterpiece

So there you have it. A great collection of songs from the Jacksons. This is recommended to ALL, and I mean ALL lovers of great and classic r&b, hip hop and dance music, I mean that from the bottom of my heart. This one's for all the youngin's too, this is real r&b music, forget the mess you hear on the radio these days.