Today’s Pop Rescue from an uncertain future, is 1980’s 14th album Triumph by the legendary musical sibling group, The Jacksons. Will this album be a triumph for the ears, or are you just not feeling it? Read on…

This 9 track LP opens with the dramatic opening of huge hit Can You Feel It. From the moment that the thudding beat, brass notes, chime bells, and stabbing chords drop in, it’s an instant foot-tapping hit. The track is wonderfully catchy and flows seamlessly along between the vocalists. Obviously Michael Jackson shines here and is instantly recognisable with his big high notes, but his brother Randy Jackson also gets a lead vocal credit too. This catchy tune reached #6 in the UK chart.

Next up is lead single Lovely One, and this feeds a dose of disco, similar to the preceding single Shake Your Body Down (To The Ground). Michael leads us here as some funky guitars and snares gently lead us to the chorus. It’s a nice song, but it lacks the energy of the preceding track. When released as the lead single, the track stumbled at #29 in the UK chart.

Then it’s on to Your Ways, and we’re flush with brass bursts and finger clicks. The bass works a treat here, and is off-set by some high pitch vocals and almost ghostly backing vocals. As we approach the chorus, more disco strings swoop in but again it just lacks a little in strength and catchiness.

Side One closes with Everybody, which is led by a gentle beat, but some nice funky bass guitar. Brass bursts, and familiar disco tropes are here too, giving us a nice mellow ending to side one.

Side Two opens with Heartbreak Hotel, and this gives us a wonderfully creepy opening introduction that makes me think of a sort of proto-Thriller creepiness with a predatory piano chord sequence that’s repeated throughout, and a scream, provided by LaToya Jackson. It plods along nicely, loaded with strings and lead guitars. There’s an odd repeated noise that made me pause the record to see if it was a problem with my house pipes… but no, it’s there in the chorus for some reason. When released as the album’s second single, this track stumbled at #44.

Time Waits For No One is next, and we’re into a soft heartfelt ballad now, and it feels like quite a short song. It’s a chance for Michael to show off some big but soft slow vocals. He’s flanked by his brothers, showing off their perfect harmonies. It’s a ballad-by-numbers type of song.

By contrast, it’s Walk Right Now, and this picks up the pace and catchiness too. Musically, it sounds like a perfect sibling to Can You Feel It, and the melody isn’t far off from this either. Laid over some funky guitars and a simple beat and claps, it works a treat – giving plenty of space for Michael’s lead vocals to shine. The track also builds perfectly, as it adds thick layers of disco mastery. An excellent song which rightly reached #7 in the UK when released as the album’s fourth single.

That leads on to Give It Up, which is awash with pianos and harps. Guitars burst in periodically before the track settles into its first verse. Michael and Marlon Jackson are on vocal duties here, and joining them are some vibes too, which clank in about mid-way through. It’s a fairly catchy song.

The album closes with Wondering Who. It’s a fairly catchy song, complete with distorted vocal effects on the vocals which give it a sort of robotic sound. It’s a slick little track before it kind of fractures and ends.

Verdict

Over all, this album is a slick production, showing the Jacksons as well-versed musicians and vocalists. The album clearly continues to push Michael’s career ahead of that of Marlon or Jackie, who get co-lead roles with Michael at best.

The highest points here are Can You Feel It and Walk Right Now, which are fantastically catchy disco-styled songs that you’ll be challenged to sit still throughout. The lowest point here is probably the Time Waits For No One, which feels somewhat generic loved up ballad territory, and alongside the rest of the songs feels like a sleepy low point.

The album is laced with funk and disco sounds that make it a nice catchy album, but some tracks lack the energy that the others exude, making it a bit inconsistent.

• POP RESCUE 2023 ALBUM RATING: 4 / 5
• 1980 UK ALBUM CHART PEAK: #13
• POP RESCUE COST: £4.00 from a Discogs.com seller.