Skywriter Is Released

In March 1973, the Jackson 5 release Skywriter, their seventh studio album for Motown. By this time, their once-dominant grip on the charts has started to loosen, as changing musical trends and Motown’s control over their material begin to stifle their creative direction. Unlike their earlier albums, which are packed with hits, Skywriter struggles to produce a major crossover success.

The album’s lead single, “Corner of the Sky,” is released in November 1972, months before the album. Originally from the Broadway musical Pippin, the song is a dramatic departure from the group’s usual bubblegum soul sound. While it reaches No. 18 on the Billboard R&B chart, it fails to crack the Top 40 on the Hot 100, peaking at No. 45.

When Skywriter arrives, it finds modest success, reaching No. 44 on the Billboard Top LPs chart and No. 8 on the R&B albums chart. Despite its underwhelming performance compared to their earlier albums, it still produces notable moments. The title track, written by Mel Larson and Jerry Marcellino, showcases a funkier side of the group, while “Uppermost” and “Touch” bring a mix of polished pop and smooth harmonies. “Ooh, I’d Love to Be With You,” a rare original composition by Michael and Marlon, hints at the brothers’ growing desire to break away from Motown’s strict control.

One of the more controversial tracks, “Touch,” was first recorded by the Supremes in 1971 and is later remixed in the 1980s to highlight Michael’s vocals more prominently. The song takes on a second life when British singer Omar revives it in the ’90s.

Skywriter marks a transitional period for the Jackson 5, as they begin to outgrow their teen idol image. Their declining chart performance signals trouble within their relationship with Motown, which continues to resist their push for artistic freedom. The album becomes one of their least successful releases at the time, but in retrospect, it reflects the growing tension that will ultimately lead them to leave Motown for CBS/Epic three years later.