Third Album


Third Album is the third studio album released by the Jackson 5 on the Motown label, and the group's second LP released in 1970, on September 8.
Third Album featured the group's fourth consecutive No. 1 single on the US pop charts, "I'll Be There", the Top 5 single "Mama's Pearl", and album tracks such as the semi-autobiographical "Goin' Back to Indiana" and "Darling Dear". The album peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Top LPs chart and No. 1 on both the US R&B Albums chart and on Cashbox. The release is considered one of the group's best efforts. It sold over 6 million copies worldwide.

Critical reception

Allmusic's Lindsay Planer rated Third Album four out of five stars. She stated that the album contains "the unmistakable Motown sound, expanding just enough to incorporate other significant influences as well." She also stated that a few of the tracks "are worthwhile spins."

Track listing

Side one
  1. "I'll Be There" – 3:59
  2. *Lead vocals: Michael Jackson and Jermaine Jackson
  3. *Background vocals: The Jackson 5
  4. "Ready or Not Here I Come " – 2:34
  5. *Lead vocals: Michael Jackson
  6. "Oh How Happy" – 2:16
  7. *Lead vocals: Jermaine Jackson
  8. *Secondary vocals: Michael Jackson
  9. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" – 5:52
  10. *Lead vocals: Jermaine Jackson
  11. "Can I See You in the Morning" – 3:09
  12. *Lead vocals: Michael Jackson
Side two
  1. "Goin' Back to Indiana" – 3:32
  2. *Lead vocals: Michael Jackson
  3. *Spoken vocals: The Jackson 5
  4. "How Funky Is Your Chicken" – 2:41
  5. *Lead vocals: Michael Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Jackie Jackson
  6. "Mama's Pearl" – 3:09
  7. *Lead vocals: Michael Jackson
  8. *Secondary vocals: Jermaine Jackson, Jackie Jackson
  9. "Reach In" – 3:28
  10. *Lead vocals: Jermaine Jackson, Michael Jackson
  11. "The Love I Saw In You Was Just a Mirage" – 4:22
  12. *Lead and spoken vocals: Michael Jackson
  13. "Darling Dear" – 2:40
  14. *Lead vocals: Michael Jackson

    Re-release

In 2001, Motown remastered all Jackson 5 albums in a "Two Classic Albums/One CD" series. This album was paired up with Maybe Tomorrow. The bonus tracks were "Sugar Daddy", the only new track on their 1971 greatest hits set, and "I'm So Happy", the B-side of that single.

Charts

Certifications