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Looking Back to Yesterday
Looking Back to Yesterday
Looking Back to Yesterday
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Looking Back to Yesterday
Compilation album by
Michael Jackson
ReleasedFebruary 11, 1986
RecordedDecember 1969 – December 1973
StudioMotown Recording Studios
(Los Angeles, California)
GenreR&B
Length36:46
LabelMotown
Producer
Michael Jackson chronology
Farewell My Summer Love
(1984) 		Looking Back to Yesterday
(1986) 		Anthology
(1986)
Singles from Looking Back to Yesterday
  1. "Love's Gone Bad"
    Released: 1986 (Canada)

Looking Back to Yesterday is a compilation album released on February 11, 1986, featuring tracks from American singer Michael Jackson during his tenure at Motown in the late 1960s and early 1970s, both by himself and with The Jackson 5. As part of Motown's Never-Before-Released series, all songs were previously unreleased except for "Love's Gone Bad" and "I Was Made to Love Her"; alternate, longer versions had already been released in 1979 on the Jackson 5 compilation Boogie.[1]

The album was re-released in August 1991 and re-titled Looking Back to Yesterday: A Young Michael and sold over half a million copies.[2] It was re-released again as part of Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection in 2009.

Track listing

[edit]

All songs by Michael Jackson except tracks 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 and 11, which are by The Jackson 5; all tracks produced by Hal Davis except tracks 6 (Jerry Marcellino and Mel Larson) and 12 (Bob Crewe). All writer info found in the Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection (2009) liner notes.[3]

No.TitleWriter(s)RecordedLength
1."When I Come of Age"Weldon Dean Parks/Don Fletcher/Hal Davisrecorded March 1972 – 1973, during the Jackson 5's G.I.T.: Get It Together sessions[4]2:37
2."Teenage Symphony"Gloria Jones/Hal Davis/Marilyn McLeodrecorded November 1972 – April 1973, during G.I.T.: Get It Together and Dancing Machine sessions[3]2:45
3."I Hear a Symphony"Holland-Dozier-Hollandoriginally recorded by Diana Ross & The Supremes; recorded January 1970, during ABC sessions3:01
4."Give Me Half a Chance"Clifton Davisrecorded December 1969 – June 1970, during ABC and Third Album sessions, mixed 1971[3]3:26
5."Love's Gone Bad" (originally released in longer form in 1979's Boogie)Holland-Dozier-HollandOriginally recorded by Chris Clark, recorded August 1972, mixed early 1973, during the Jackson 5's Skywriter sessions;[3]3:08
6."Lonely Teardrops"Berry Gordy, Jr./Gwen Gordy/Tyran Carlooriginal version by Jackie Wilson; recorded July – August 19722:40
7."You're Good for Me"Eddie Horanrecorded December 1973, during G.I.T.: Get It Together sessions[4]3:15
8."That's What Love Is Made Of"Robert Rogers/William Robinson/Warren Mooreoriginally by The Miracles; recorded December 1969 & January 1970 – December 1971, during the Jackson 5's Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 and ABC sessions, mixed 1971, Got to Be There sessions and outtake[3]3:24
9."I Like You the Way You Are (Don't Change Your Love on Me)"Willie Hutchrecorded March and May 1971 – 1972, during Maybe Tomorrow sessions2:57
10."Who's Lookin' for a Lover"Jacqueline D. Hilliard/Leon Warerecorded December 1972 – 1973, during Music & Me sessions2:50
11."I Was Made to Love Her" (originally released in longer form in 1979's Boogie)Henry Cosby/Lula Hardaway/Sylvia Moy/Stevie Wonderoriginally by Stevie Wonder, recorded December 1969 and 1972, during ABC sessions3:20
12."If'n I Was God"Robert Sherman/Richard Shermanoriginally by Bobby Goldsboro, recorded April 11 – May 1973, during Music & Me and the Jackson 5 G.I.T.: Get It Together sessions3:02

Singles

[edit]

"Love's Gone Bad" (b/w "I Hear a Symphony") (released as a promotional single in Canada).[5]

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Looking Back to Yesterday

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from Grokipedia
Looking Back to Yesterday is a by American singer , released on February 11, 1986, by Records. The album collects twelve tracks from Jackson's early career at , encompassing both his solo recordings and collaborations with , with most selections being previously unreleased masters from the late and early , as part of Motown's Never-Before-Released series. Issued after Jackson's departure from in 1975 and during the height of his global fame following the blockbuster Thriller (1982), the compilation served as a of his formative years with the . It highlights the and influences of his initial recordings, featuring youthful performances that showcase his emerging vocal talent alongside the group's harmonious style. Notable for its rarity, the album was reissued on CD in 1991 as Looking Back to Yesterday: A Young Michael and remains a valuable artifact for fans interested in Jackson's pre-superstardom work.

Background

Context in Michael Jackson's career

Michael Jackson's association with Records began in 1969 when , featuring the then-11-year-old Jackson as lead singer, signed with the label after impressing founder during an audition. The group quickly achieved massive success, releasing a string of hits including "I Want You Back," "ABC," and "I'll Be There," which topped the and established them as Motown's premier act during the early 1970s. This period marked Jackson's emergence as a child performer, with the Jackson 5's bubblegum soul sound dominating the charts and selling millions of records worldwide. In 1972, Jackson launched his solo career while still with the Jackson 5, debuting with the album Got to Be There, which featured youthful, Motown-produced tracks like the title song and "Rockin' Robin," both of which reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100. Subsequent solo releases, including Ben (1972) and Music & Me (1973), showcased his transition from group frontman to independent teen artist, though they received less commercial attention than his Jackson 5 work. These early solo efforts, recorded during sessions from 1969 to 1973, highlighted Jackson's maturing vocal style and artistic growth amid Motown's controlled creative environment. By 1986, Jackson had long departed for , where his 1982 album Thriller had propelled him to unprecedented global superstardom, selling over 70 million copies and dominating the music industry. Looking Back to Yesterday emerged that year as part of 's "Never-Before-Released Masters" series, a strategic initiative to monetize archival material from Jackson's early career. This compilation drew from unreleased 1969–1973 sessions, allowing to leverage Jackson's post-Thriller fame while he focused on his Epic era, including preparations for Bad (1987).

Compilation and production

Looking Back to Yesterday was curated as a collection of 12 tracks drawn from the archives, blending Michael Jackson's early solo recordings with outtakes from sessions spanning 1969 to 1973. The selection emphasized rare, previously unreleased material to highlight Jackson's formative years at the label, including alternate versions and vaulted takes that captured the evolution of his vocal style and the group's harmonies during their tenure. The original recordings involved several key Motown producers, with Hal Davis overseeing the majority of the tracks, including early solo efforts and group collaborations. Additional production credits went to Jerry Marcellino and Mel Larson for select outtakes, while handled one track, "If'n I Was God," infusing it with his signature pop sensibilities. These sessions often featured experimental arrangements, such as covers and originals tested for potential album inclusion but ultimately shelved. The tracks were recorded primarily at Motown Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California, where Jackson and worked extensively in the early 1970s. For the 1986 release, focused on archival remastering to enhance audio fidelity while adhering strictly to the original mixes, avoiding any new overdubs to maintain the authenticity of the period recordings. This approach included outtakes from early 1970s sessions, providing fresh insights into shelved material.

Release

Initial release

Looking Back to Yesterday was released on February 11, 1986, by Records in the United States, with international releases following in countries including the (May 1986), , , and . The was available in vinyl LP and cassette formats. It runs for a total length of 36:46 and falls within the R&B genre. The album's features a black-and-white of a young gazing over his shoulder. Inner sleeve notes emphasize the archival significance of the recordings, highlighting previously unreleased Motown-era tracks from Jackson's early career. Initial marketing presented the album as part of Motown's series of never-before-released masters, aimed at fans interested in Jackson's pre-Epic work with the label.

Re-releases

In 1991, Motown Records reissued Looking Back to Yesterday on CD, expanding its availability beyond the original vinyl LP and cassette formats with no changes to the tracklist but offering the convenience of compact disc playback. The album's tracks were featured prominently in the 2009 box set Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection, a three-disc compilation released by Hip-O Select and Motown/Universal Music Group, where they comprised the entirety of disc three alongside remastered audio and detailed liner notes contextualizing Jackson's early Motown solo output. These re-releases maintained the core track selection while prioritizing enhanced audio fidelity through digital remastering, catering to collectors and fans seeking higher-quality reproductions of the 1970s-era recordings. pursued these editions amid heightened public fascination with Jackson's formative years following the blockbuster success of his album Bad, as well as in the of protracted legal tensions over and royalties for his Motown-era masters, stemming from a 1980 settlement agreement.

Content

Track listing

All tracks on Looking Back to Yesterday are previously unreleased recordings from Michael Jackson's solo career and with , spanning 1969 to 1975, except for alternate versions of "Love's Gone Bad" and "I Was Made to Love Her," which were previously issued on other compilations. The album was produced primarily by Hal Davis, with arrangements by David Blumberg and others from the original sessions.
No.TitleWriter(s)LengthNotes
1."When I Come of Age"Hal Davis, Don Fletcher, Weldon Dean Parks2:42Solo recording from 1972–1973 sessions for the Jackson 5's G.I.T.: Get It Together album, produced by Hal Davis.
2."Teenage Symphony" (with the Jackson 5)Gloria Jones, Hal Davis, Marilyn McLeod2:40Jackson 5 recording from November 1972 sessions at Motown Studios, originally intended for Michael Jackson's Music & Me album.
3."I Hear a Symphony" (with the Jackson 5)Holland–Dozier–Holland3:03Cover of the Supremes' 1965 hit; Jackson 5 version recorded in January 1970 during sessions for ABC, produced by Hal Davis.
4."Give Me Half a Chance" (with the Jackson 5)Clifton Davis3:30Jackson 5 recording from December 1969–June 1970 sessions for ABC and the third album, mixed in 1971, produced by Hal Davis.
5."Love's Gone Bad"Holland–Dozier–Holland3:08Cover of Chris Clark's 1966 Motown single; Michael Jackson version from August 1972 sessions, mixed in 1973 for Music & Me but unreleased until this compilation (alternate mix from 1979 Boogie). Produced by Hal Davis.
6."Lonely Teardrops"Berry Gordy Jr., Gwen Fuqua, Roquel Davis2:36Cover of Jackie Wilson's 1958 hit; Michael Jackson solo recording from early 1970s Motown sessions.
7."You're Good for Me" (with the Jackson 5)Hal Davis, Nekeisha Inmon3:16Jackson 5 recording from 1973 sessions, produced by Hal Davis.
8."That's What Love Is Made Of"William "Mickey" Stevenson, Ivy Jo Hunter3:27Cover of the Miracles' 1964 B-side; Michael Jackson solo from late 1969-early 1970 sessions for Got to Be There.
9."I Like You the Way You Are (Don't Change Your Love on Me)" (with the Jackson 5)Willie Hutch2:56Jackson 5 recording from 1975 sessions, originally for Joy but used here as an outtake. Produced by Hal Davis.
10."Who's Looking for a Lover"Freddie Perren, Christine Yarian, Scherrie Payne2:52Michael Jackson solo from 1973 sessions for Music & Me, produced by Freddie Perren.
11."I Was Made to Love Her" (with the Jackson 5)Stevie Wonder, Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Lula Mae Hardaway3:16Cover of Stevie Wonder's 1967 hit; Jackson 5 version from 1971 sessions, previously released on 1979 Boogie (alternate mix).
12."If'n I Was God"Bob West, Willie Hutch3:00Michael Jackson solo from early 1970s sessions, produced by Bob West.

Singles

The sole single extracted from Looking Back to Yesterday was "Love's Gone Bad", released exclusively in in 1986 as a promotional 7-inch vinyl record. This promo single, issued by under catalog number MSP-8634, featured "Love's Gone Bad" (running 3:08) on the A-side, performed by , and "I Hear a Symphony" (running 3:03), credited to , on the B-side; both tracks appeared on the . The release was marked "Promotional Use Only—Not For Sale" and manufactured by , reflecting 's strategy to leverage archived material amid Jackson's ongoing exclusivity with , which precluded a commercial U.S. single. Intended primarily for radio stations, the single received limited airplay focused on Motown's nostalgic catalog, but it generated no music video and failed to achieve any major chart positions. Its rarity as a promo-only item has since made it a sought-after collector's piece among Jackson enthusiasts. "Love's Gone Bad" originated as an outtake from the 1973 sessions, where it was recorded in August 1972 and mixed in early 1973, highlighting the album's emphasis on previously unreleased archival recordings from Jackson's early solo career.

Reception

Commercial performance

The original 1986 release of Looking Back to Yesterday achieved limited commercial success in the United States, failing to chart on the amid competition from Michael Jackson's blockbuster album Bad and constrained promotional efforts by Records. The compilation also did not receive any certification from the (RIAA). The 1991 re-release, retitled Looking Back to Yesterday: A Young Michael, performed better, with reported sales surpassing 500,000 units globally. This uptick was driven by Motown's strategy of targeting collectors with archival material from Jackson's early career, capitalizing on his enduring superstardom from the 1980s. Internationally, the album saw negligible chart impact, with only minor radio airplay in Canada associated with its singles, but no prominent positions on global album charts. Overall, the project's market reception underscored its niche appeal as a retrospective rather than a mainstream blockbuster.

Critical reception

Upon its release in 1986, Looking Back to Yesterday garnered limited critical attention, often viewed as a niche compilation for dedicated fans amid the dominance of Jackson's blockbuster Epic albums like Thriller and the impending Bad. Reviewers acknowledged its archival significance in unearthing previously unreleased Motown-era masters from 1969 to 1973, but critiqued it as non-essential material lacking the polish of Jackson's mature output. Retrospective assessments have been mixed, with the album praised for highlighting teenage Jackson's raw R&B roots and quintessential sound through covers and originals like "If'n I Was God," yet frequently dismissed as filler outtakes with dated production and no standout hits. Aggregated user ratings reflect this , averaging 2.6 out of 5 on based on over 100 reviews. A Qobuz review emphasized its value as a "decent sampling" for those unfamiliar with Jackson's early solo work, though it questioned the overall importance of these tracks post his Epic success. The compilation earned no major awards, but Jackson biographies occasionally reference it for preserving rarities that capture his vocal from to .

References

  1. https://www.allmusic.com/album/looking-back-to-yesterday-mw0000313148
  2. https://genius.com/albums/Michael-jackson/Looking-back-to-yesterday
  3. https://www.discogs.com/master/101816-Michael-Jackson-Looking-Back-To-Yesterday
  4. https://www.motownmuseum.org/artist/the-jackson-5/
  5. https://classic.motown.com/artist/the-jackson-5/
  6. https://americansongwriter.com/top-10-jackson-5-songs-the-motown-years-1969-1975/
  7. https://albumism.com/features/tribute-celebrating-50-years-of-michael-jackson-debut-solo-album-got-to-be-there
  8. https://foxync.com/1249521/michael-jackson-and-the-motown-years-the-beginning-of-a-legacy/
  9. https://theseconddisc.com/2010/06/24/back-tracks-michael-jackson-part-1-the-motown-years/
  10. https://foxync.com/1249491/a-guide-to-michael-jacksons-albums/
  11. https://www.discogs.com/release/758022-Michael-Jackson-Looking-Back-To-Yesterday
  12. https://michael-jackson.fandom.com/wiki/Looking_Back_to_Yesterday
  13. https://www.emjey.com/media/kunena/attachments/2219/fortherecord.pdf
  14. https://www.discogs.com/release/935531-Michael-Jackson-Looking-Back-To-Yesterday
  15. https://www.discogs.com/master/311224-Michael-Jackson-Hello-World-The-Motown-Solo-Collection
  16. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/jackson-sues-universal-over-motown-royalties-71113/
  17. https://jacksondynasty.net/2022/12/29/michael-jackson-in-the-studio-1967-2009/
  18. https://michael-jackson.fandom.com/wiki/Teenage_Symphony
  19. https://www.rateyourmusic.com/release/album/michael-jackson/looking-back-to-yesterday/
  20. https://michael-jackson.fandom.com/wiki/I_Hear_a_Symphony
  21. https://jacksondynasty.net/2022/08/23/michael-jackson-songs-from-a-to-z/
  22. http://j5collector.blogspot.com/2010/09/song-of-week-give-me-half-chance.html
  23. https://www.discogs.com/release/9433188-Michael-Jackson-Loves-Gone-Bad
  24. http://j5collector.blogspot.com/2010/05/love-s-gone-bad-i-hear-symphony.html
  25. http://www.mjjcollectors.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=283:michael-jackson-rarest-a-promo-vinyl-7q-singles&catid=60:memorabilia-spotlight&Itemid=151
  26. https://jacksondynasty.net/2020/05/23/motown-years-compilation-albums/
  27. https://www.billboard.com/artist/michael-jackson/chart-history/billboard-200/
  28. https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=michael+jackson
  29. https://chartmasters.org/cspc-michael-jackson-popularity-analysis/
  30. https://www.ukmix.org/forum/chart-discussion/artist-chart-analysis/62109-michael-jackson-charts-sales-history
  31. https://www.discogs.com/release/1488896-Michael-Jackson-Looking-Back-To-Yesterday
  32. https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/michael-jackson/looking-back-to-yesterday/
  33. https://www.qobuz.com/ca-en/album/looking-back-to-yesterday-michael-jackson/0060253746063
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