Ben

About

"Ben" is the second studio album by American singer Michael Jackson, released by Motown on August 4, 1972, while he was still a member of the Jackson 5. The album received mixed reviews from contemporary music critic. It performed better on music charts than Jackson's previous studio album, "Got to Be There", peaking within the top 10 on the Billboard 200 in the United State. Internationally, it achieved lower chart position, reaching number 12 in Canada and appearing within the top 200 in Australia and France. The album produced one single, the title track "Ben", which became a commercial succe. It reached number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the Australian ARIA chart, becoming Jackson's first number-one single in the United States and internationally. It also reached the top 10 in several other countrie. A second single, "Everybody's Somebody's Fool", was planned but not released for unspecified reason. Two tracks from the album were later included in edited form in the 2009 compilation "Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection". Recording sessions for "Ben" took place between November 1971 and February 1972. The album was produced by multiple producers and executive-produced by Berry Gordy. Songwriters involved included Mel Larson, Jerry Marcellino, Thom Bell, Linda Creed, The Corporation, Smokey Robinson, and Ronald White. The album contains cover versions of songs originally recorded by artists including The Temptation, The Stylistic, Lionel Hampton, Brenda Holloway, and Stevie Wonder. The title track was written for the 1972 film "Ben" and received a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song, losing to "The Morning After" from "The Poseidon Adventure". The album also includes variations in tempo across track, ranging from slower ballads to more upbeat song. Several critics gave mixed to positive assessments of the album. AllMusic rated it four out of five star, highlighting selected tracks positively while noting some material as weaker or dated. Rolling Stone gave a lower rating, stating that while the album contained more original material than its predecessor, it lacked some of the earlier album's standout song, though it also noted a stronger overall consistency. Entertainment Weekly graded the album a "B" and stated that the title track was a key example of Jackson's vocal development, while also suggesting the album is primarily remembered for that song. .

via Last.fm

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