#1 This Week In 1970

This week in 1970, the first single by the Jackson 5, I Want You Back, topped the singles chart for one week. It was the only single released from their debut album, Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5, although the group was actually brought to Motown by Gladys Knight after she saw them perform at Amateur Night At The Apollo in NYC. Motown was in the process of separating Diana Ross from the Supremes in the public's mind and and even had Ross introduce the group in concert and on television to help in that process. (I Want You Back was originally written as I Wanna Be Free and was intended for Ross to record.) In another bit of deception, Motown fudged Michael Jackson's age to the press, claiming him to be 8, not 11, and therefore, cuter. Foreshadowing, anyone?

TRIVIA: I Want You Back was the first of four consecutive #1's for the Jackson Five. It was followed by ABC, The Love You Save, and I'll Be There, all of which hit #1 in 1970 as well. The Jackson Five was the first act to hit #1 with their first four singles.