Victory (The Jacksons album)

Victory
Studio album by The Jacksons
Released July 2, 1984
Recorded 1983–84
Genre Pop rock, R&B, glam rock,
Length 40:47
Label Epic
Producer Michael Jackson
Jackie Jackson
The Jacksons chronology
The Jacksons Live!
(1981)		 Victory
(1984)		 2300 Jackson Street
(1989)
Singles from Victory
  1. "State of Shock"
    Released: June 5, 1984
  2. "Torture"
    Released: July 20, 1984
  3. "Body"
    Released: November 21, 1984
  4. "Wait"
    Released: December 9, 1984
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[2]

Victory is the seventeenth studio album by The Jacksons. It was released on July 2, 1984 by Epic Records. The album was the first and only album to include all six Jackson brothers together as an official group; also, it was the last album entirely recorded with lead singer Michael Jackson. The album sold over seven million copies worldwide, opening at number four on the US Billboard 200, selling 185,000 copies in first week sales.[3] On July 17, 1984, the album was certified Gold by the BPI for the sales of at least 100.000 copies in the United Kingdom.[4] On October 30, 1984, the album was certified 2× Platinum by RIAA for the sales of over 2 million copies in the United States.[5]

Victory was supported by the Victory Tour, with lead singer Michael Jackson, who had recently released the world's all-time best-selling album, Thriller, prominently featured. Shortly after the tour ended, Michael and Marlon Jackson quit the group. Jermaine, Tito, Randy and Jackie Jackson continued on as the Jacksons, and releasing one more album, 1989's 2300 Jackson Street (whose title track did feature all six Jackson brothers, along with their sisters Janet and Rebbie) before splitting up.

Recording

After a successful reunion on the Motown 25 television special in 1983, Jermaine Jackson decided to return to the group, having left Motown after nine years as a full-fledged soloist. His brothers had left Motown for Epic in 1975, but despite the reunion, the brothers rarely worked together on the album; it was mainly composed of solo songs the brothers had each worked on during that time. Each brother had a solo song on the album: Michael on "Be Not Always", Randy on “One More Chance” and “The Hurt", Tito on “We Can Change the World", Jackie on “Wait" and Marlon on “Body.” Jermaine only sings co-lead vocals with Michael on "Torture". He also performs ad-libs on "Wait" and is additionally named as a background vocalist on "One More Chance" and "The Hurt". "Torture" was originally planned to be a duet between Michael and Jackie (the song's writer), but when Jermaine officially re-joined the group, he took over the parts intended for Jackie (who can still be heard during the song's chorus and ad-libs).

The album only had two videos—for the songs "Torture" and "Body"—and neither Jermaine nor Michael appeared in either one. A wax dummy of Michael acted as a stand in for the "Torture" video.

Michael recorded "State of Shock", a duet originally recorded with Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury. The duo were unable to finish the track, so Michael ended up recording a 2nd version of the track with Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger for the album.

Artwork

Tensions reportedly grew between the brothers during the recording sessions and as a result, minimal publicity photography was done.

The album cover art was commissioned from famed illustrator Michael Whelan. On the first release of the record there was a white dove on Randy's shoulder (third from left). On later issues the bird was removed.

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Torture" ((recorded November 11, 1983 – May 7, 1984, at the Soundcastle Studios) (lead singers: Jermaine, Michael, Jackie))Jackie Jackson, Kathy Wakefield 4:53
2. "Wait" ((recorded 1983, at the Record One, Sunset Sound, The Villa & Hog Manor Studios) (lead singer: Jackie, Michael, Jermaine))Jackie Jackson, David Paich 5:25
3. "One More Chance" ((recorded at the Soundcastle Studios) (lead singer: Randy, Jermaine))Randy Jackson 5:06
4. "Be Not Always" ((recorded 1984, at the Image Recorders & Evergreen Studios) (lead singer: Michael))Michael Jackson, Marlon Jackson 5:36
5. "State of Shock" (with Mick Jagger (recorded 1983 – 1984, at the Westlake Audio & A & R Recording (N.Y.)) (lead singers: Michael, Mick Jagger))Michael Jackson, Randy Hansen 4:30
6. "We Can Change the World" ((recorded at the Soundcastle Studios & The Ponderosa Studio) (lead singer: Tito))Tito Jackson, Wayne Arnold 4:45
7. "The Hurt" ((recorded at the Soundcastle Studios, Can-Am Recorders & Hog Manor Studio) (lead singer: Randy))Michael Jackson, Randy Jackson, David Paich, Steve Porcaro 5:26
8. "Body" ((recorded November 11, 1983 – May 7, 1984, at the Soundcastle Studios) (lead singer: Marlon))Marlon Jackson 5:06

Production

Personnel

Additional personnel

Singles

The song "State of Shock" peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single, "Torture", reached #17, and "Body", the third single, became a moderate hit peaking at #47. The album debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200 in the week of August 4, 1984.

Charts

Chart positions

Chart (1984) Peak
position
US Billboard 200 4
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 1

Remastered version

A remastered version was released in July 2009 in Japan only, with cardboard sleeve (mini LP) packaging. It was part of a six-album The Jacksons cardboard sleeve (mini LP) reissue series, featuring the albums The Jacksons, Goin' Places, Destiny, Triumph, The Jacksons Live!, and Victory.

See also

References

  1. ↑ William Ruhlmann. "Victory". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
  2. ↑ Brackett, N.; Hoard, C.D. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. p. 410. ISBN 9780743201698. Retrieved 2014-12-10.
  3. ↑ Chery, Carl: XXL: Michael Jackson Special Collecters Edition, page 100. American Press.
  4. ↑ "Certified Awards". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-12-10.
  5. ↑ "Recording Industry Association of America". RIAA. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
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