Get It Together Is Released

In September 1973, the Jackson 5 release Get It Together, their eighth studio album on Motown Records. The album marks a stylistic shift for the group, incorporating a funkier, more dance-oriented sound with extended grooves and fewer traditional pop structures. This change reflects Motown’s evolving production style and the influence of disco, which is beginning to take shape in the early ’70s.

The title track, “Get It Together,” is released as the album’s lead single in August 1973, a month before the LP’s release. Written by Norman Whitfield, the song features an energetic, funk-driven arrangement with a prominent bassline and layered instrumentation. It reaches No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the R&B chart, becoming one of the group’s biggest R&B hits of the year.

Shortly after the album’s release, Motown issues a second single, “Dancing Machine,” in February 1974. Initially a modest success, the song picks up momentum when the Jackson 5 perform it on Soul Train in May, with Michael introducing his now-iconic robot dance. The performance captivates audiences, and the song skyrockets up the charts, eventually peaking at No. 2 on the Hot 100 and No. 1 on the R&B chart. It becomes one of the group’s signature hits and one of Motown’s biggest crossover records of the decade.

The Get It Together album, while not as commercially successful as the Jackson 5’s earlier work, marks an important transition in their sound. It reaches No. 100 on the Billboard 200 and No. 4 on the R&B albums chart. The extended funk grooves, especially in tracks like “Hum Along and Dance” and “Reflections,” highlight a more sophisticated production style from Whitfield, who is also known for his work with the Temptations.

By the time Get It Together is in full promotion, the Jackson 5 are already preparing for their next album, Dancing Machine, which will capitalize on the success of the song. The shift toward a funkier sound foreshadows the group’s eventual departure from Motown and transition to CBS/Epic, where they will gain greater creative control over their music.