Lookin' Through the Windows

Lookin' Through the Windows is the sixth studio album by the Jackson 5, released on the Motown label in May 1972. It has sold 3.5 million copies worldwide ^[6]

Lookin' Through the Windows
Studio album by the Jackson 5
Released	May 17, 1972 (1972-05-17)[1]
Recorded	1971–1972
Genre	Bubblegum soul
Length	33:04
Label	Motown
Producer	The Corporation Hal Davis Johnny Bristol Willie Hutch Jerry Marcellino Mel Larson
The Jackson 5 chronology
Greatest Hits (1971) Lookin' Through the Windows (1972) Skywriter (1973)
Singles from Lookin' Through the Windows
"Little Bitty Pretty One" Released: April 4, 1972[2] "Lookin' Through the Windows" Released: June 23, 1972[3]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
Christgau's Record Guide	B[5]

Production

Lookin' Through the Windows marks the beginning of lead singer Michael's vocal change, from the boy soprano who fronted the Jackson 5's early hits, to the tenor who would later become a successful solo artist. Though he could still reach his famed high notes, his voice was filling out, allowing him to also reach lower registers.^[7]

Most of the album tracks were recorded in late 1971 and intended to be on an album for their hit single at the time, "Sugar Daddy". Lookin' Through the Windows was the second-to-last Jackson 5 album to include any songs written by the Corporation (Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Deke Richards and Fonce Mizell). The album spawned two hit singles "Little Bitty Pretty One" and "Lookin' Through The Windows". The album peaked at No. 7 on Billboard 200 album chart. In Europe the album cut "Doctor, My Eyes" was a Top 10 hit. Two months after the album was released, Jermaine had his first solo album.

The album was arranged by James Anthony Carmichael, John Bahler, the Corporation, Eddie Munson, H.B. Barnum, Arthur G. Wright and Gene Page.

Track listing

Side one

1. "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (originally performed by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell) (Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson) – 2:30
2. "Lookin' Through the Windows" (Clifton Davis) – 3:46
3. "Don't Let Your Baby Catch You" (The Corporation) – 3:11
4. "To Know" (The Corporation) – 3:22
5. "Doctor, My Eyes" (originally performed by Jackson Browne) (Jackson Browne) – 3:14

Side two

1. "Little Bitty Pretty One" (originally performed by Bobby Day) (Bobby Day) – 2:51
2. "E-Ne-Me-Ne-Mi-Ne-Moe (The Choice is Yours to Pull)" (Johnny Bristol, Wade Brown, Jr., David Jones, Jr.) – 2:53
3. "If I Have to Move a Mountain" (The Corporation) – 3:20
4. "Don't Want to See Tomorrow" (Stephen Bowden, Jim Chambers, Hal Davis, Theodore McFaddin) – 2:46
5. "Children of the Light" (Michael Randall) – 2:27
6. "I Can Only Give You Love" (Richard Hutch, Willie Hutch) – 2:33

Re-release

In 2001, Motown Records remastered all the Jacksons' albums in a "Two Classic Albums/One CD" series. This album was paired up with Goin' Back to Indiana. The bonus tracks were "Love Song", the B-side of this album's title track single, and a live performance of "Who's Lovin' You", which first appeared on the soundtrack of the 1992 TV movie The Jacksons: An American Dream.

Charts

Chart (1972)	Peak position
Canadian Albums (RPM)[8]	16
UK Albums (OCC)[9]	16
US Billboard Top LPs & Tape[10]	7
US Billboard Top Soul Albums	3

Notes

1. Roberts, Chris (2018). The Complete Michael Jackson. Carlton Books. ISBN 978-90-447-5507-7.
2. Soulsation! (1995), liner notes
3. Soulsation! (1995), liner notes
4. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r1700763
5. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: J". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 27, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
6. Classic Pop Presents Michael Jackson 2016.
7. Brown, Geoff (1996). The Complete Guide To The Music of Michael Jackson & The Jackson Family. New York City, New York: Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-5303-1.
8. "RPM: The Jackson 5 (albums)". RPM Magazine. Archived from the original on October 14, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
9. "The Jackson 5 Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
10. "The Jackson 5 US Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2017.

External links

• Lookin' Through The Windows Overview at www.jackson5abc.com (in French)