Lookin' Through the Windows

Lookin' Through the Windows is the sixth studio album by the Jackson 5, released on the Motown label in May 1972. It has sold 3.5 million copies worldwide

Production

Lookin' Through the Windows marks the beginning of lead singer Michael's vocal change, from the boy soprano who fronted the Jackson 5's early hits, to the tenor who would later become a successful solo artist. Though he could still reach his famed high notes, his voice was filling out, allowing him to also reach lower registers.
Most of the album tracks were recorded in late 1971 and intended to be on an album for their hit single at the time, "Sugar Daddy". Lookin' Through the Windows was the penultimate Jackson 5 album to include any songs written by the Corporation. The album spawned two hit singles "Little Bitty Pretty One" and "Lookin' Through The Windows". The album peaked at No. 7 on Billboard 200 album chart. In Europe the album cut "Doctor, My Eyes" was a Top 10 hit. Two months after the album was released, Jermaine had his first solo album.
The album was arranged by James Anthony Carmichael, John Bahler, the Corporation, Eddie Munson, H.B. Barnum, Arthur G. Wright and Gene Page.

Personnel

Motown Records chose to not disclose the studio musicians who played on most Jackson 5 records until some records in 1974. Based on the known session musicians who played for Motown Records in 1972 it can be assumed that the musicians who played on the album are as follows:

Bass - Wilton Felder, James Jamerson and Ron Brown
Guitar - Don Peake, Louie Shelton and David T. Walker
Drums - Gene Pello, Hal Blaine and Paul Humphrey
Keyboards/Piano - Joe Sample and Freddie Perren
Percussion - Bobbye Hall Porter and Sandra Croutch

Track listing

Side one

"Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" – 2:30
"Lookin' Through the Windows" – 3:46
"Don't Let Your Baby Catch You" – 3:11
"To Know" – 3:22
"Doctor, My Eyes" – 3:14

Side two

"Little Bitty Pretty One" – 2:51
"E-Ne-Me-Ne-Mi-Ne-Moe " – 2:53
"If I Have to Move a Mountain" – 3:20
"Don't Want to See Tomorrow" – 2:46
"Children of the Light" – 2:27
"I Can Only Give You Love" – 2:33

Re-release

In 2001, Motown Records remastered all the Jacksons' albums in a "Two Classic Albums/One CD" series. This album was paired up with Goin' Back to Indiana. The bonus tracks were "Love Song", the B-side of this album's title track single, and a live performance of "Who's Lovin' You", which first appeared on the soundtrack of the 1992 TV movie The Jacksons: An American Dream.