Third Album / Maybe Tomorrow
The Jackson 5'sThird Albumwas not only that, it was their third in nine months. "I'll Be There," the signature ballad and the album's best track, was already ruling airwaves when the LP appeared. The meld of fuzz-tone guitar and soul harmonies on "Ready or Not (Here I Come)" and "Can I See You in the Morning" makes for sweet listening, as does a cover of the beach-music favorite "Oh How Happy." And "How Funky Is Your Chicken" is worthy of the Rufus Thomashitit riffs on. "Goin' Back to Indiana," however, reeks of showbiz clichés, as does the next album's borderline-offensive "Honey Chile."The laid-backMaybe Tomorrownonetheless offers excellent ballad performances on its title single, "Never Can Say Goodbye," andJermainedoo-wop showcases "16 Candles" and "She's Good." But the late-'71 hit "Sugar Daddy," included here as a bonus track alongside its flip, "I'm So Happy," proves that the once-fresh "ABC"/"Love You Save" lyric formula was running on fumes.--Rickey Wright