Customer Reviews

The Jacksons Live

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Absolutely one of the best CDs of all times! If you really liked the choreography of the Jackson 5 and Michael's first solo album, you will love this CD. You'll find yourself imagining the opening, all the moves they do, and the finale without having been to any Jacksons concert. This CD is almost a hidden treasure, since a lot of people don't know about its existence. I'm just sorry there isn't a DVD of the show to go along with it.

Here's the correct track listing:

1. Opening/Can You Feel It
2. Things I Do for You Listen
3. Off the Wall
4. Ben
5. This Place Hotel
6. She's Out of My Life
7. Movie and Rap (Including Excerpts of: I Want You Back/Never Can Say Goodbye)
8. Medley: I Want You Back/ABC/The Love You Save
9. I'll Be There
10. Rock With You
11. Lovely One
12. Working Day and Night
13. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
14. Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)

From the opening pounding of the drums, laced with striking horn riffs and the chant "Can You Feel It"?, the Jacksons break into a high-powered, high-energy performance that captures them in rare form. This cd is still hot till this day, because no other group had a front man like Michael Jackson

Being a musician, I really get off on live performances that are well done. The Jacksons deliver on this live set, about as comparable to their "Goin Back to Indiana" live set. If only Jermaine had been on this set, it would've been a phenomenal effort. But don't let that statement take anything away from how good this cd is.

Michael was really coming into his own at this point, having released the successful "Off The Wall" album in 1979. His trademark vocals became apparent, as he gave a flurry of "He-he's" "Wooo's"

I enjoy every song on this cd, but the truncated medley of their very first hit singles really didn't do it for me. I hate medley's, and feel they should be outlawed, because you lose the experience of having a song done in it's entirety. Ben, one of Michael's early hits was not medlized, and the performance Michael does on this song is extraordinary.

A real funky joint on here is, "HeartBreak Hotel". Tito's axe is wailing on the one through the whole piece. His guitar was clean, clear and precise as only Tito would have it. Dude can play, so I can only imagine how dynamic all of this would've been hearing Jermaine on the bass. The drummer, Jonathan Moffett is real good on this set as well.

After they whip through the medley, the Jacksons regroup, and let Michael break off into his "Off The Wall" groove. "Rock With You" was a very good choice to come back on, as the Jacksons took advantage of a little crowd chorus joining, and Michael gives 'em his patented "He-He" and they dazzle the rest of the way.

After RWY, the Jacksons go back/forth doing a cut from their collective stuff, and then give the reigns back to Michael doing Off The Wall stuff. They close the set out with "Shake Your Body Down To The Ground" and finish off in grand style.

This cd showcased the Jacksons live talent, and was a precursor to the phenomenal live shows that Michael would perform, on his was to being the Greatest Entertainer that ever lived. Second to None!

Give this performance 100 stars. To Michael, and the Jacksons, "I Love You". Michael rest in peace, we were all blessed to experience your creativity, energy, charisma, showmanship, dedication, and love. May God Bless & Keep You 4 Ever.

It's so hard losing someone so special. I'm celebrating Michael's life by listening to his music, and just can't believe this has happenned. I know I'll shed plenty of tears over this, but right now I just want to relive the magic, and be so proud of what he has left us all.

God Bless Joseph and Katherine Jackson, and the entire Jackson Family. Your lives has brought a lot of joy into my life, and that I'm so thankful to have experienced.

MJ 4 Ever!

nothing like the jackson's live especially back in the day. great singing and harmony and so many great songs. the backing band was grooving and everything was on point. a non stop jam and feel good session from start to finish.

The early 80's were truly a "trimphant" year for the Jackson brothers,no pun intended. Randy survived a near fatal car accident and Michael was riding high from the huge success of his album Off the Wall. Then the brothers went on tour and in 1981 released this album as a momento for their fans of the exciting Triumph tour. Sadly the visual element is not here but with the music and ambience you can really catch the flavor of what was going on. The result are spirited and funky stage versions of "Can You Feel It","Things I Do For You","Heartbreak Hotel","Lovely One" and "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)".Add to that Mike's solo numbers like "Off The Wall","Rock With You","Working Day And Night" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough' and you have this dizzying,kinetic concert experience complete with vocal adlibs and jamming solos on conga drums and bass that you won't hear on the studio versions. One of the most interesting aspects of this is how is illustrates Mike's attitude regarding his musicality. On the "movie and rap segment" a movie of the Jackson 5 on the Ed Sullivan Show is played until it comes to an abrupt stop while Randy eggs him on to play some of his classics with his brothers.Mike asks for the movie to be stopped because he wants to perform the newer material.He states he doesn't want to do the "old stuff 'cause it's old".It shows despite the rooteded of some of his brothers,including apparently Randy when it comes to their music that Mike was definately in the present and was interested in the possibilities of what was to come.But even he turns in a poignant version of "Ben" as well as "I'll Be There" with the smart mouthed retort "You want old fashioned?YOU GOT IT!!". This definately shows a family not only in transition but going out in fine funky style in the doing. Shortly after this Mike would begin recording Thriller,the album that would forever cement his status apart from The Jacksons as a group. More then anything this gives you a bright,delightful glimpse into the world of The Jacksons at a crucial point.

Please be warned that the track listing for this CD is incorrect. The listing shown is for the 1973 Live album by The Jackson 5 called In Japan. I don't know if when you buy this CD you actually get the 1981 Jacksons Live CD or not.

Wow, I didn't even know this album existed! I'll have to say, among all the Michael Jackson albums I have, this is the one I enjoy the most. Because I'm there. Right there at the concert itself, screaming with all the fans in the front row!

Hearing a grown-up rendition of "Ben" and "I'll Be There" already made it all worth it, but the other songs were superb as well. Michael's vocals are first-rate and he sings with so much verve and fire, I don't know if I can ever go back to the sanitized studio versions again.

I love a good live album and this counts as one. I would agree with another writer who says this album is a hidden treasure. One of the great things about this live concert is you get to hear the Jacksons interact with their audience and each other. It's quite fun to listen to and the music is out of this world. You feel that you are at the concert. This is not one of those studio made numbers where everybody sounds perfect; these guys are in their true form and that is what makes it all the way live. You get quite a few songs here; Shake your Body (Down to the Ground) is 8:31 in length, that's worth the price of the CD alone!

i am so glad i bought this cd! the songs are all great - especially "ben". it would have been wonderful to see the live show, but at least this cd lets you pretend you were there. highly recommended for fans of mj.

Man we need more live MJ/Jacksons albums. You really feel that you are apart of the Jackson magic when listening to this. Super

love this cd, it helps you be able to close your eyes and get a tiny glimpse into what it would have been like at one of these electrifying concerts.

it is so exciting to hear the jacksons playing with the crowd and joking with each other in some parts, (michael is all about theatrics and perfection) and the live music sounds incredible - you can tell it's live, but it is extremely true to the original versions.