Very Best of the Jacksons [ENHANCED] [IMPORT]

Jackson5,the Jacksons, Jackson 5

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 5, 2004)
• Original Release Date: August 17, 2004
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Enhanced, Import
• Label: Epic Europe
• ASIN: B0001XPY1G
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #174 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #1 in	Music > Imports > R&B
  #8 in	Music > Dance & Electronic > Disco
  #11 in	Music > R&B > Motown

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Although there have been countless compilations over the decades, The Very Best of the Jacksons could well be the most definitive. Split across two discs, disc one primarily features the early Mowtown days and the second, mainly their hits as the Jacksons (as opposed to Jackson 5) released on Epic. Often overshadowed by Michael's subsequent success as a solo artist, this anthology demonstrates why the Jacksons' perfect balance of pop and soul has endured when compared to one-time peers such as the Osmonds. The irresistible funk of 'ABC' and 'I Want You Back' are classics of the period as are the incredible ballads 'Got to Be There' and little Michael's ode to a loveable rodent, 'Ben'. Highlights of disc two are predominantly from their massive albums Destiny and Triumph, released in the late 1970s, early 1980s; 'Can You Feel it', 'Blame it on the Boogie' and 'Shake Your Body' to name but three. It was around this time that Michael began his adult solo career and The Very Best of the Jacksons appropriately ends with a live version of "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" from MJ's Off the Wall. Michael may have gone on to eclipse his family but there can be little dispute that the Jacksons are one of the most important musical dynasties ever. Sony. 2004. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Most comprehensive, cross-label J5/Jacksons compilation yet, August 23, 2004

By	Music Fan Jeff (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Very Best of the Jacksons (Audio CD)

At the same time that Hip-O in the U.S. released a cross-label Jackson 5/Jacksons compilation (called "The Jacksons Story"), Sony and Universal in the UK issued this title. The differences between the two titles are considerable. First off the Hip-O collection is only one disc, so it obviously does not include many of the tracks that are available here. The first disc of this collection (track list below; Amazon's description only shows the tracks on disc two of this collection) focuses on the Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson's years at Motown. It has all of the big hits that the Hip-O disc has but also contains some album tracks and the hit "Lookin' Through the Windows." The one omission is the Jermaine Jackson hit "Let's Get Serious," available on the Hip-O collection but not here.

Disc two focuses on the Jacksons' Epic years. It's here that this disc really trumps the Hip-O compilation. Included here is "Torture," mysteriously missing from both the Hip-O disc and the "Essential Jacksons" disc that Sony issued in the U.S. last year. Also included here are popular Jacksons tracks like "Goin' Places," "Dreamer," and "Even Though You're Gone," the latter two also being missing from Epic's earlier "Essential Jacksons." What's also great about disc two of this collection is that, apart from "Lovely One," it contains the original 45 rpm single edits. (The "Essential Jacksons" disc contains the full length album versions.)

I am giving this collection only 4 instead of 5 stars because the track selection on disc one could have been better. Instead of the Jackson 5 singing "Doctor My Eyes" or "Ain't No Sunshine," it would have been nice to have had other hits like "Maybe Tomorrow," "Little Bitty Pretty One," and "I Am Love" or the popular b-side "I Found That Girl" or the stand-out early Michael Jackson-led "Who's Loving You." It also would have been nice if they had used the original mono mixes for the Motown tracks (they are all stereo here). The stereo versions are much easier to find on cd. Given the focus on single edits on disc two, it's curious that the compilers did not pay attention to using the original singles mixes on disc one.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Material, October 10, 2004

By	[e-mail] "mistermaxxx" (usa) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

you know Michael Jackson truly did something incredible in 3 phases of His career. first starting out as a Member of the Jackson 5&also as a Adult Member of the Jacksons&we aren''t even gonna talk about His Greatness as a Solo Artist.this is a truly Ultimate Collection of the Jacksons Work on Motown through sony. you gotta get this ASAP if you are a Jacksons Fan.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE VERY BEST, DOUBLE COMPLETE ANTHOLOGY, March 2, 2006

By	Bernardino. "BERNIE." (MEXICO CITY.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Very Best of the Jacksons (Audio CD)

IF YOURE LOOKING FOR A COMPLETE COMPILATION FROM THE JACKSONS THIS IS THE ONE YOURE LOOKING FOR, CD ONE CONTAINS THE HITS FROM THEIR MOTOWN YEARS INCLUDING SOME SOLO RECORDINGS BY MICHAEL, CD TWO THE EPIC YEARS, THE DISCO SONGS "CAN YOU FEEL IT" & "SHAKE YOUR BODY (DOWN TO THE GROUND)" WERE A LITTLE LONGER AND THIS CD CONTAINS THE RADIO EDITS OF THEM, SOUNDS GOOD. HIGHLY RECOMENDABLE.