Studio Album · No. 8
Dancing Machine Songwriting Credits by The Jacksons
Produced by Hal Davis, Donald Fletcher, Berry Gordy, Mel Larson, Jerry Marcellino
Motown
Progressive SoulFunkR&BDisco
0%
Authorship
The Jacksons wrote 0 of 9 documented tracks
Authorship Breakdown 0 / 9 documented
Who wrote the songs?
Scored across the 9 tracks with documented writers, by whether The Jacksons carries a lyricist or composer credit.
0 trackswritten by The Jacksons
9 tracksoutside writers
The Jacksons's roles on this album
Share of the 9 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
Lyricist0%
Composer0%
Producer0%
Performer100%
By the Numbers
9
Tracks
15
Lyricists
3
Producers
2.6 million
Worldwide Copies Sold
1974
Released
Data Insight
Dancing Machine was produced by Hal Davis with Mel Larson and Jerry Marcellino and was built around the group's breakout funk-disco single, repurposed from G.I.T.: Get It Together. The album's writing stayed with Motown's staff and outside contributors, including Leon Ware and Pam Sawyer, and the Jackson brothers again received no songwriting credits. The album marked the Jackson 5's last major commercial peak at Motown before their departure.
Dancing Machine is the ninth studio album by the Jackson 5, released in September 1974. It was a commercial success largely on the strength of the title track, a funk-inflected number that became one of the group's biggest Motown-era hits and is notable for the robot dance Michael Jackson debuted on Soul Train.
Track Listing & Credits 9 tracks
Written by the artist
Written by outside writers
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
I Am Love (Parts 1 & 2)
|
Don FencetonJerry MarcellinoMel LarsonRonnie Rancifer | Don FencetonJerry MarcellinoMel LarsonRonnie Rancifer | Hal DavisMel LarsonJerry Marcellino | Michael Jackson (Lead Vocals)Jackie Jackson (Vocals)Tito Jackson (Vocals)Jermaine Jackson (Vocals)Marlon Jackson (Vocals) |
| 2 |
Whatever You Got, I Want
|
Gene MarcellinoJerry MarcellinoMel Larson | Gene MarcellinoJerry MarcellinoMel Larson | Hal DavisMel LarsonJerry Marcellino | Michael Jackson (Lead Vocals)Jackie Jackson (Vocals)Tito Jackson (Vocals)Jermaine Jackson (Vocals)Marlon Jackson (Vocals) |
| 3 |
She's a Rhythm Child
|
Clarence DraytonHal DavisRuth Talmage | Clarence DraytonHal DavisRuth Talmage | Hal DavisMel LarsonJerry Marcellino | Michael Jackson (Lead Vocals)Jackie Jackson (Vocals)Tito Jackson (Vocals)Jermaine Jackson (Vocals)Marlon Jackson (Vocals) |
| 4 |
Dancing Machine
#2
|
Donald FletcherHal DavisDean Parks | Donald FletcherHal DavisDean Parks | Hal DavisMel LarsonJerry Marcellino | Michael Jackson (Lead Vocals)Jackie Jackson (Vocals)Tito Jackson (Vocals)Jermaine Jackson (Vocals)Marlon Jackson (Vocals) |
| 5 |
The Life of the Party
|
Clarence DraytonHal DavisTamy Smith | Clarence DraytonHal DavisTamy Smith | Hal DavisMel LarsonJerry Marcellino | Michael Jackson (Lead Vocals)Jackie Jackson (Vocals)Tito Jackson (Vocals)Jermaine Jackson (Vocals)Marlon Jackson (Vocals) |
| 6 |
What You Don't Know
|
Gene MarcellinoJerry MarcellinoMel Larson | Gene MarcellinoJerry MarcellinoMel Larson | Hal DavisMel LarsonJerry Marcellino | Michael Jackson (Lead Vocals)Jackie Jackson (Vocals)Tito Jackson (Vocals)Jermaine Jackson (Vocals)Marlon Jackson (Vocals) |
| 7 |
If I Don't Love You This Way
|
Leon WarePam Sawyer | Leon WarePam Sawyer | Hal DavisMel LarsonJerry Marcellino | Michael Jackson (Lead Vocals)Jackie Jackson (Vocals)Tito Jackson (Vocals)Jermaine Jackson (Vocals)Marlon Jackson (Vocals) |
| 8 |
It All Begins and Ends with Love
|
Don FencetonJerry MarcellinoMel Larson | Don FencetonJerry MarcellinoMel Larson | Hal DavisMel LarsonJerry Marcellino | Michael Jackson (Lead Vocals)Jackie Jackson (Vocals)Tito Jackson (Vocals)Jermaine Jackson (Vocals)Marlon Jackson (Vocals) |
| 9 |
The Mirrors of My Mind
|
Charlotte O'HaraDonald FletcherNita Garfield | Charlotte O'HaraDonald FletcherNita Garfield | Hal DavisMel LarsonJerry Marcellino | Michael Jackson (Lead Vocals)Jackie Jackson (Vocals)Tito Jackson (Vocals)Jermaine Jackson (Vocals)Marlon Jackson (Vocals) |
Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 20 contributors
JM
Jerry Marcellino
Writer · Producer
ML
Mel Larson
Writer · Producer
HD
Hal Davis
Writer · Producer
CD
Clarence Drayton
Writer
DF
Don Fenceton
Writer
DF
Donald Fletcher
Writer
GM
Gene Marcellino
Writer
CO
Charlotte O'Hara
Writer
DP
Dean Parks
Writer
LW
Leon Ware
Writer
NG
Nita Garfield
Writer
PS
Pam Sawyer
Writer
More from The Jacksons
1969
0%
Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5
Motown Records
12 tracksProd. The Corporation
1970
0%
ABC
Motown Records
12 tracksProd. The Corporation
1970
0%
Third Album
Motown
11 tracksProd. Corporation
1971
0%
Maybe Tomorrow
Motown
11 tracksProd. Corporation
1972
0%
Lookin' Through the Windows
Motown
11 tracksProd. Hal Davis
1973
0%
Skywriter
Motown
10 tracksProd. Berry Gordy
1973
0%
G.I.T.: Get It Together
Motown
8 tracksProd. Hal Davis
1975
0%
Moving Violation
Motown
9 tracksProd. Mel Larson
1976
20%
The Jacksons
Epic Records
10 tracksProd. Kenneth Gamble
1977
22%
Goin' Places
Epic Records
9 tracksProd. Kenny Gamble
1978
88%
Destiny
Epic Records
8 tracksProd. The Jacksons
1980
100%
Triumph
Epic Records
9 tracksProd. The Jacksons
1984
100%
Victory
Epic Records
8 tracksProd. The Jacksons
1989
73%
2300 Jackson Street
Epic Records
11 tracksProd. Michael Jackson
Frequently Asked Questions Dancing Machine
When was the Dancing Machine album released?
Motown released Dancing Machine on September 5, 1974. It built on the success of the title-track single that had been issued earlier that year.
Who produced Dancing Machine?
Hal Davis produced the album along with Mel Larson and Jerry Marcellino. The team pushed the Jackson 5 squarely into disco and funk.
How high did the single 'Dancing Machine' chart?
'Dancing Machine' reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped Billboard's R&B chart. It became one of the group's biggest hits.
Did the Jackson brothers write any songs on Dancing Machine?
No. The Jackson brothers were not credited as songwriters on the album. The material came from Motown staff and outside writers such as Leon Ware and Pam Sawyer.
What dance did 'Dancing Machine' popularize?
The song helped popularize the robot dance, which Michael Jackson performed on television. The single's success was tied closely to that televised performance.
Why is Dancing Machine considered a turning point for the Jackson 5?
It was the group's full pivot into disco and funk and their last big commercial success at Motown before they left the label. The title track restored them to the upper reaches of the pop chart.