Michael Jackson’s funeral and memorial were today in Los Angeles. Like so many other people, many of my childhood memories were connected to Michael’s music and artistry. One of the first records that I bought (or rather was bought for me, since three year olds don’t really buy records) was the soundtrack to the Wiz, featuring Michael as the Scarecrow. I can remember missing the Motown celebration (My mom was a teacher and it was a school night!) and waking up in a completely different world, where everybody was talking about and trying to imitate the moonwalk. My first concert was the Jacksons Victory reunion tour at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium in 1984. As a DJ, I’ve marveled at the sheer joy that’s unleashed on the dance floor when you drop the needle on classic J5. On the day of his passing I was fortunate to celebrate and pay tribute to Michael on KCRW, playing 2 hours of music from what I consider his “golden era” from the Steeltown, pre-motown recordings of 1967 to Thriller in 1982. Music critic/scholar Oliver Wang stopped by to share some thoughts on the legacy of Michael Jackson, but most of the focus is where I hope it will remain in the future, on the pure magic in his music.
Michael Jackson Tribute 6/25/09 Playlist:
1. The Jackson 5 – Big Boy
2. The Jackson 5 – Let Me Carry Your School Books
3. The Jackson 5 – A Fool For You
4. Michael Jackson – Ain’t No Sunshine
5. The Jackson 5 – I’ll Bet You
6. The Jackson 5 – ABC
7. The Jackson 5 – I Want You Back
8. Michael Jackson – Rockin’ Robin
9. The Jackson 5 – The Love You Save
10. The Jackson 5 – I’ll Be There (alt. mix)
11. The Jackson 5 – 2 – 4 – 6 – 8
12. The Jackson 5 – Hum Along And Dance
13. The Jackson 5 – It’s Great To Be Here (Kenny Dope Remix)
14. Michael Jackson – We’ve Got A Good Thing Going
15. The Jackson 5 – Dancing Machine (alt. mix)
16. The Jacksons – Enjoy Yourself
17. The Jacksons – Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)
18. Michael Jackson – Ease On Down The Road
19. Michael Jackson – Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
20. Michael Jackson – Off The Wall
21. Michael Jackson – I Can’t Help It
22. Michael Jackson – Rock With You
23. The Jacksons – Can You Feel It
24. Michael Jackson – Wanna Be Startin’ Something
25. Michael Jackson – For All Time
Hate to break it to you but… "Let Me Carry Your School Books" is fake. It was a unrelated band that people thought sounded like the Jackson 5.
Thanks Steve,
You're absolutely right, and if I had had more time to prepare this show, (I was called in to do it approx. 4 hrs before it began on the day he died), I probably would have done a bit of research on those Steeltown recordings. "Let Me Carry Your Schoolbooks" is featured on the Pre-History: Lost Steeltown Recordings CD, but according to this well researched website, it belongs to a group called Ripples & Waves plus Michael, also from Gary, IN, but not featuring Michael Jackson.
http://www.classicurbanharmony.net/Early%20Jackso…
Hopefully, MJ will give me a pass on that one given the nature of the show, but at least we know that "Big Boy" (and everything else) is all J5 and Michael Jackson.
Thanks for checking out the show!
we would surely miss the King of Pop. Michael Jackson is definitely a legend in the history of music.
PMP,
I think we're only starting to understand exactly what we've lost, though I think the thing that has been really clear to me, is that MJ was lost to us from the moment his addiction set in, really helps to explain so much of the eccentricities…a tragic loss, but so much music to continue to love. Thanks for check out the show & the blog!
Michael