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The Jackson 5, later known as The Jacksons was formed in 1964 and composed of Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Micheal Jackson, all members of the Jackson family.
The musically talented group is credited as the first African American performers to achieve a crossover following. They also became the first group to debut with four back-to-back number-ones on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Jackson 5 have sold up to 150 million records and the group was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1980. Their hit songs, I’ll Be There, ABC and I Want You Back were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
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In 1997, the Jackson 5 was presented with their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
On September 16, 2024, the family of Tito Jackson announced his sad passing in an Instagram post:
“It’s with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Tito Jackson is no longer with us,”
They ended the post with the statement:
“It will forever be ‘Tito Time’ for us. Please remember to do what our father always preached and that is ‘Love One Another’ We love you Pop.”
In memory of the Rock & Roll legend, this article explores the most popular Jackson 5 songs of all time.
I Want You Back, ABC, and other most popular songs of the Jackson 5
This list is ranked according to Spotify streams at the time of writing this article.
1) I Want You Back (951,290,235 Spotify streams)
The Pop and Soul track, originally considered for Gladys Knight and Diana Ross, became the group’s first nationwide hit. I Want You Back ranked number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B Charts.
The song explores themes of desperation and longing as a guy who took his girl for granted, wants her back now that she’s gone.
The first verse encapsulates this:
"When I had you to myself, I didn't want you around/ Those pretty faces always made you stand out in a crowd/ But someone picked you from the bunch, one glance was all it took/ It's much too late for me to take a second look,"
2) ABC (403,191,216 Spotify streams)
ABC, upon its release in 1970, replaced the Beatles’ Let It Be as the number-one song on the Billboard Hot 100. The Bubble-gum soul song remained number one on the Soul Singles chart for four weeks and has sold more than four million copies worldwide.
ABC compares the process of budding love to learning the letters of the alphabet using lyrics in the chorus:
"A, B, C/ Easy as 1, 2, 3/ Or simple as Do-Re-Mi/ A, B, C, 1, 2, 3, baby, you and me, girl, B, C/ Easy as 1, 2, 3/ Or simple as Do-Re-Mi/ A, B, C, 1, 2, 3, baby, you and me, girl,"
3) Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (301,840,234)
The Jackson 5’s version of the hit Christmas song written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie was included in the group’s 1970 Christmas Album.
The album spent four weeks at the number one position of Billboard’s magazine special Christmas chart with Santa Claus Is Coming To Town becoming a frequent radio request during the Holidays.
The Christmas and R&B song, which has also been covered by Mariah Carey, captures the excitement for the Holiday season and the arrival of the mythical Santa Claus.
The first verse and chorus reads:
"You'd better watch out/ You'd better not cry/ You'd better not pout/ I'm telling you why/ Santa Claus is comin' to town/ Santa Claus is comin' to town/ Santa Claus is comin' to town,"
4) I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (193,984,930 Spotify streams)
Jackson 5 also released a cover of the Christmas song by British songwriter Tommie Connor in their 1970 Christmas album. Their version of the song alongside that of the Ronettes is regarded as the most famous version.
The song peaked at number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song tells the story of a kid who reports his mother’s encounter with Santa Claus to other people.
The Bridge reads:
"I did! I did! I really did see Mommy kissing Santa Claus/ You gotta believe me! You just gotta believe me! / Come on, fellas, believe me! / You just gotta believe me! (I told you, I told you)/ Come on, you gotta believe me! I did!"
5) I’ll Be There (148,114,965 Spotify streams)
I’ll Be There became the Jackson 5’s fourth number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 in a row. The soul song made the Jackson 5 the first to have their first four singles reach number one and the first black male group with four back-to-back number-one hits.
I’ll Be There is a song about a steadfast relationship in which the male reassures his lover that he will always be there for her. The first verse from Micheal Jackson reads:
"You and I must make a pact/ We must bring salvation back/ Where there is love, I'll be there (I'll be there)/ I'll reach out my hand to you/ I'll have faith in all you do/ Just call my name and I'll be there (I'll be there),"
The Jackson 5's musical legacy is one of many firsts, millions of records sold and multiple hits that have resonated with listeners worldwide.
