I Want You Back - wikipedia I Want You Back This article is about the Jackson 5 song. For other uses, see I Want You Back ( disambiguation ). `` I Want You Back '' Single by The Jackson 5 from the album Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 B - side `` Who 's Lovin ' You '' Released October 7, 1969 ( U.S. ) Format Vinyl record ( 7 '' 45 RPM ) Recorded July 1969 The Sound Factory, West Hollywood Genre Pop, soul Length 2 : 59 Label Motown M 1157 Songwriter ( s ) The Corporation -- ( Berry Gordy Freddie Perren Alphonso Mizell Deke Richards ) Producer ( s ) The Corporation The Jackson 5 singles chronology `` We Do n't Have to Be Over 21 ( To Fall in Love ) '' ( String Module Error : Match not found ) `` I Want You Back '' ( 1969 ) `` ABC '' ( 1970 ) `` We Do n't Have to Be Over 21 ( To Fall in Love ) '' ( Steeltown 1968 ) `` I Want You Back '' ( 1969 ) `` ABC '' ( 1970 ) `` I Want You Back '' is a 1969 song by the Jackson 5 which became a number - one hit for the band and the Motown label in early 1970. The song, along with a B - side cover of `` Who 's Lovin ' You '' by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, was the only single used in the Jackson 5 's first album, Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5. It went to number one on the Soul singles chart for four weeks and held the number - one position on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for the week ending January 31, 1970. `` I Want You Back '' was ranked 121st on Rolling Stone 's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Contents 1 Production 2 Live performances 3 Reception and legacy 4 Personnel 5 Chart performance 5.1 Weekly charts 5.2 Year - end charts 6 References 7 External links Production Originally considered for Gladys Knight & the Pips and later for Diana Ross, as `` I Wanna Be Free '', `` I Want You Back '' explores the theme of a lover who decides that he was too hasty in dropping his partner. An unusual aspect about `` I Want You Back '' was that its main lead vocal was performed by a tween, Michael Jackson. `` I Want You Back '' was released on October 7, 1969 and was the first Jackson 5 single to be released by Motown and the first song written and produced by The Corporation, a team comprising Motown chief Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell, and Deke Richards. It also is the first of four Jackson 5 number - ones released in a row ( the others being `` ABC '' -- 1970, `` The Love You Save '' -- 1970, and `` I 'll Be There '' -- 1970 ) and the first Jackson 5 song recorded in Los Angeles, California ; the quintet had previously been recording Bobby Taylor - produced covers, including `` Who 's Lovin ' You '', the B - side to `` I Want You Back '', at Hitsville U.S.A. in Detroit, Michigan. The `` I Want You Back '' bassline is considered by many as the greatest of all time and thus has sparked many debates about who played the bass during the recording. Famously The Funk Brothers were Motown 's backup musicians and after the company 's relocation to Los Angeles band members changed. Many tend to believe that it was James Jamerson who played the bass during recording but he was most active from 1962 - 1968. During the later years of his career Jamerson had grown unreliable due to substance abuse. Most evidence suggest that a new member of the Funk Brothers, Wilton Felder, was the one who played the bass along with Bob Babbitt. Although Gladys Knight had been the first to mention the Jacksons to Berry Gordy, and Bobby Taylor brought the Jackson brothers to Motown, Motown credited Diana Ross with discovering them. This was done not only to help promote the Jackson 5, but also to help ease Ross ' transition into a solo career, which she began in 1970 soon after the Jackson 5 became a success. Live performances The Jackson 5 performed `` I Want You Back '' during all of their world tours, either as a full song or as a part of the Jackson 5 Medley in concerts ( which also included `` ABC '' and `` Mama 's Pearl '', later on switched with `` The Love You Save '' in 1973 ). During their second - ever television appearance ( in an episode of The Hollywood Palace hosted by Diana Ross & the Supremes ), the Jackson 5 performed `` I Want You Back '' along with Sly & the Family Stone 's `` Sing a Simple Song, '' The Delfonics ' `` Can You Remember, '' and James Brown 's `` There Was a Time ''. They also performed the song on American Bandstand and the Andy Williams Show. Michael Jackson performed the song as part of the `` Jackson 5 Medley '' ( which also included the songs `` The Love You Save '' and `` I 'll Be There '' ) during all of his world tours - the Bad World Tour, the Dangerous World Tour and the HIStory World Tour. The song was to be performed at Jackson 's This Is It comeback concerts in London, which were cancelled due to his death. The song was performed live at the Michael Jackson : 30th Anniversary Special in 2001, in which Jackson reunited with his brothers on stage for the first time since 1984. Reception and legacy The song has sold six million copies worldwide. In 1999, `` I Want You Back '' was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. `` I Want You Back '' ranks number 121 on Rolling Stone 's list of the ' 500 Greatest Songs of All Time '. It also ranks ninth on Rolling Stone 's list of the ' 100 Greatest Pop Songs since 1963 '. In 2006, Pitchfork Media named it the second best song of the 1960s, adding that the chorus contains `` possibly the best chord progression in pop music history. '' A June 2009 article by The Daily Telegraph called it `` arguably the greatest pop record of all time ''. Digital Spy called the song `` one of the most enduring pop singles of the sixties ''. The single has been awarded Silver certification on August 22, 2014 by the British Phonographic Industry Association. `` I Want You Back '' has long been considered one of the most sampled songs in all of Hip hop music. The song has been sampled over 60 times since its release in 1969. Prominent artists such as Jay - Z, The Notorious B.I.G. and Justin Bieber have all used parts of the song producing some of their biggest hits. The song is also considered to be one of the greatest Chord progression s in Pop music. In 2009 the indie duo Discovery covered the song for their album LP. Personnel Michael Jackson -- lead vocals Tito Jackson -- guitar, backing vocals Jackie Jackson -- vocals Jermaine Jackson -- backing vocals Marlon Jackson -- percussion, backing vocals Johnny Jackson - drums Gene Pello -- drums Freddie Perren - piano Fonce Mizell - piano Louis Shelton -- guitar David T. Walker - guitar Wilton Felder -- bass guitar Don Peake -- bass guitar ( doubling the bass line ) Ronnie Rancifer -- piano, keyboards Chart performance Weekly charts Chart ( 1969 -- 70 ) Peak position Australia 77 Canada ( RPM ) Ireland 6 New Zealand ( Listener ) 12 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) U.S. Billboard Hot 100 U.S. Billboard R&B U.S. Cash Box Chart ( 2009 ) Peak position Australia 53 France 26 Ireland 34 Sweden 47 UK Singles Chart 43 Year - end charts Chart ( 1970 ) Rank Canada 30 UK 32 U.S. Billboard 28 U.S. Cash Box 31 References Jump up ^ `` History 1969 ''. Thejacksons.com. Retrieved 5 December 2015. Jump up ^ ASCAP entry for song Archived 2011 - 05 - 30 at the Wayback Machine. ASCAP, accessed 28 May 2011 Jump up ^ Taraborrelli, J. Randy ( 2004 ). The Magic and the Madness. Terra Alta, WV : Headline. pp. 36 -- 37. ISBN 0 - 330 - 42005 - 4. Jump up ^ Neely, Tim ( 2000 ). Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records 1950 - 1975 2nd Ed. Iola, WI : Krause. ISBN 0 - 87341 - 934 - 0. ^ Jump up to : `` I Want You Back ''. Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 25, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2015 - 11 - 19. Retrieved 2015 - 10 - 08. ^ Jump up to : George, Nelson ( 2007 ). Where Did Our Love Go ? The Rise and Fall of the Motown Sound. Urbana and Chicago : University of Illinois Press. pp. 159 -- 60, 183 -- 188. ISBN 978 - 0 - 252 - 07498 - 1. ^ Jump up to : `` The Funk Brothers Biography & History AllMusic ''. AllMusic. Retrieved 2017 - 07 - 30. Jump up ^ `` Jackson 5 : `` I Want You Back '' -- Wilton Felder 's Isolated Bass ( Isolated Bass Week ) ``. No Treble. Retrieved 2017 - 07 - 30. Jump up ^ `` Jackson 5 On TV ! ''. Jackson5abc.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Jackson 5 On TV ! ''. Jackson5abc.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Michael Jackson Average Setlists of tour : Michael Jackson : 30th Anniversary Special ''. Setlist.fm. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Pop Review : A Cautious Return To His Throne with Air Kisses for Loyal Subjects ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. ^ Jump up to : Boy bands throughout history. By Ed Masley. The Arizona Republic. Viewed 30 June 2009. Jump up ^ `` GRAMMY Hall Of Fame ''. GRAMMY.org. Archived from the original on 2015 - 07 - 07. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. Jump up ^ The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s. By Mark Ricardson. Pitchfork Media. Published August 18, 2006. Viewed 30 June 2009. ^ Jump up to : Michael Jackson and Motown : the boy behind the marketing. By Helen Brown. The Daily Telegraph. Published 26 June 2009. Viewed 30 June 2009. Jump up ^ Levine, Nick ( July 7, 2009 ). `` Michael Jackson 's Top 20 Singles : Part One ''. Digital Spy. Retrieved May 15, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on February 6, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2014. ^ Jump up to : `` History of the Jackson 5 song I Want You Back ''. ThoughtCo. Retrieved 2017 - 07 - 31. ^ Jump up to : `` Samples of I Want You Back by The Jackson 5 on WhoSampled ''. WhoSampled. Retrieved 2017 - 07 - 31. ^ Jump up to : `` I Want You Back ''. AllMusic. Retrieved July 20, 2017. Jump up ^ All Music Guide to Soul : The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul, Hal Leonard Corporation, 2003, p. 166 Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2016 - 10 - 03. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 04. Jump up ^ `` flavour of new zealand - search listener ''. Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` Cash Box Top 100 1 / 24 / 70 ''. 11 February 2016. Archived from the original on 11 February 2016. Jump up ^ `` Download French Single Top 50 ''. France. lescharts. Archived from the original on 2011 - 08 - 16. Retrieved 2009 - 12 - 31. Jump up ^ Steffen Hung. `` The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back ''. swedishcharts.com. Archived from the original on March 25, 2012. Retrieved 2012 - 03 - 31. Jump up ^ `` Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada ''. collectionscanada.gc.ca. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 1970 - UK Music Charts ''. Uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Hits of 1970 / Top 100 Songs of 1970 ''. Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2016 - 03 - 04. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 07. External links Overview of `` I Want You Back '', featuring picture sleeves from all over the world Preceded by `` Someday We 'll Be Together '' by Diana Ross & the Supremes Billboard Best Selling Soul number - one single January 10, 1970 -- January 31, 1970 Succeeded by `` Thank You ( Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin ) / Everybody Is a Star '' by Sly & the Family Stone Preceded by `` Raindrops Keep Fallin ' on My Head '' by B.J. Thomas Billboard Hot 100 number - one single January 31, 1970 ( 1 week ) Succeeded by `` Venus '' by The Shocking Blue The Jackson 5 / The Jacksons Jackie Jackson Tito Jackson Jermaine Jackson Marlon Jackson Michael Jackson Randy Jackson Studio albums The Jackson 5 Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 ABC Third Album Jackson 5 Christmas Album Maybe Tomorrow Goin ' Back to Indiana Lookin ' Through the Windows Skywriter G.I.T. : Get It Together Dancing Machine Moving Violation The Jacksons The Jacksons Goin ' Places Destiny Triumph Victory 2300 Jackson Street Live albums The Jackson 5 in Japan The Jacksons Live ! Live at the Forum Compilations Greatest Hits Anthology Joyful Jukebox Music Boogie Soulsation ! Jackson 5 : The Ultimate Collection The Essential Jacksons The Very Best of The Jacksons I Want You Back ! Unreleased Masters Come and Get It : The Rare Pearls Concert tours First National Tour Second National Tour Destiny World Tour Triumph Tour Victory Tour Unity Tour Television The Jackson 5ive The Jacksons The Jacksons : An American Dream The Jacksons : A Family Dynasty Specials Motown 25 : Yesterday, Today, Forever Michael Jackson : 30th Anniversary Special Related articles Discography Songs Chronology Jackson family Steeltown Records Book Category Portal The Jackson 5 / The Jacksons singles Singles on Steeltown Records `` Big Boy '' `` We Do n't Have to Be Over 21 ( To Fall in Love ) '' Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 `` I Want You Back '' ABC `` ABC '' `` The Love You Save '' / `` I Found That Girl '' `` Never Had a Dream Come True '' `` I 'll Bet You '' `` Do n't Know Why I Love You '' `` La La ( Means I Love You ) '' Third Album `` I 'll Be There '' `` Mama 's Pearl '' `` The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage '' Jackson 5 Christmas Album `` Santa Claus Is Coming to Town '' `` I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus '' `` Give Love on Christmas Day '' Maybe Tomorrow `` Never Can Say Goodbye '' `` Maybe Tomorrow '' `` 16 Candles '' Greatest Hits `` Sugar Daddy '' Lookin ' Through the Windows `` Little Bitty Pretty One '' `` Lookin ' Through the Windows '' `` Doctor My Eyes '' Skywriter `` Corner of the Sky '' `` Hallelujah Day '' `` Skywriter '' G.I.T. : Get It Together `` Get It Together '' `` Dancing Machine '' Dancing Machine `` Dancing Machine '' `` The Life of the Party '' `` I Am Love '' `` Whatever You Got, I Want '' Moving Violation `` Forever Came Today '' `` All I Do Is Think of You '' The Jacksons `` Enjoy Yourself '' `` Show You the Way to Go '' `` Dreamer '' Goin ' Places `` Goin ' Places '' `` Even Though You 're Gone '' `` Different Kind of Lady '' `` Music 's Taking Over '' `` Find Me a Girl '' Destiny `` Blame It on the Boogie '' `` Shake Your Body ( Down to the Ground ) '' `` Destiny '' Triumph `` Lovely One '' `` This Place Hotel '' `` Can You Feel It '' `` Walk Right Now '' The Jacksons Live ! `` Things I Do for You '' ( Live ) Victory `` State of Shock '' `` Torture '' `` Body '' 2300 Jackson Street `` Nothin ' ( That Compares 2 U ) '' `` 2300 Jackson Street '' `` Art of Madness '' Notable collaborations and album tracks `` Who 's Lovin ' You '' `` Hum Along and Dance '' `` Time Out for the Burglar '' `` Feelin ' Alright '' `` That 's How Love Is '' `` This Is It '' Book Category Portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I_Want_You_Back&oldid=823429421 '' Categories : The Jackson 5 songs 1969 singles Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Billboard Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs number - one singles Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients Songs written by Berry Gordy Songs written by Freddie Perren Songs written by Deke Richards Motown singles Victorious 1969 songs Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Music infoboxes with Module : String errors Articles with hAudio microformats Articles with specifically marked weasel - worded phrases from December 2017 All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from July 2016 Articles with unsourced statements from July 2017 Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Français Galego 한국어 Italiano Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Português Русский Simple English Suomi ไทย Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt Edit links This page was last edited on 1 February 2018, at 05 : 00. 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Question: who was the lead singer in i want you back
Answer: Michael Jackson