The Jackson Five passed their sell by date by 1974 and realized it before anyone at Motown did. Jumping to Philadelphia International via Epic, they dropped the "5" for legal reasons, and started fresh. "Enjoy Yourself" got them off to a good start in 1976 but the Jackson juggernaut did not happen until they took creative control in 1978 and the "Destiny" album was released, spawning the platinum single "Shake Your Body Down To The Ground" and the dance floor classic, "Blame It On The Boogie". At the time it was impossible to see what was coming but 1979 brought Michael's "Off The Wall" with The Jackson's "Triumph" album hot on its heals in 1980. The first single, "Lovely One", played it safe and does not stray far from the sound of "Shake Your Body..." but the second single, "Heartbreak Hotel", stood out as something we'd not heard from them before. Writing credit is Michael's alone, and in hindsight, it's clear that it is here that he first encountered "Billy Jean", "Dirty Diana", and all the other women who seem to have caused him so much anxiety over the years. All the MJ hallmarks of recrimination, paranoia, and fear of adult sexual intimacy are on display as things go bump and crash in the night and we all get our cheap thrills by observing. "Heartbreak Hotel" is obviously the warm up for "Thriller" and, considering how well this nightmare swings, Michael may not have needed Quincy Jones as much as we thought.
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