Jackie Jackson (1973) Bad Girl - LOST 70s GEMS

The oldest Jackson brother released a solo album on Motown records inspired by little brother Michael and younger sibling Jermaine's solo outings and its a doozy. It's filled with that masterful Motown meets Philly early 70s magic that you heard all over at the time, particularly in the Jackson Five's own recordings, Chi Lites and the Stylistics. Full of incandescent musicianship and all the tracks graced with Jackie's clean falsetto that marked so many Jackson albums, the best of the bunch is Bad Girl a long drawn out romantic sweep of a song. Jackie swoons endlessly in his super high voice over a standard Jackson Five use of Harpsichord; the lyrical beautifully stating over and over again 'She's not a bad girl because..'.

 Jackie Jackson may not have a distinctive vice, or capability to deliver the same weight as his famous younger brother but he sure as one hell of a smooth and clear falsetto voice still strong in concert today.The swirling production of call and response vocals, sweeping strings, perky string plucks and insistent drums that climaxes in a very high note by Jackie. The song has a incredibly melodic hook going for it that sets it up as a potential classic soul hit due to the album's poor sales. It's just a shame as when Jackie hits those high notes singin 'she wants to be freee' while a flute swoops alongside him in a a fairy tale package of a song.
I also do love the eye catching 70s Marvin Gaye/ Shaft swagger of the album cover featuring Jackie with a leather jacket slung over one shoulder in a photo cutout of his own silhouette; very Blaxploitation!