Got to Be There (song)
"Got to Be There" is the debut solo single by the American singer Michael Jackson, written by Elliot Willensky and released as a single on October 7, 1971, on Motown Records. The song was produced by Hal Davis and recorded at Motown's Hitsville West studios in Hollywood.
| "Got to Be There" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Solid centre variant of the UK single | ||||
| Single by Michael Jackson | ||||
| from the album Got to Be There | ||||
| B-side | "Maria (You Were the Only One)" | |||
| Released | October 7, 1971 | |||
| Recorded | June 1971 | |||
| Studio | Motown Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California) | |||
| Genre |
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| Length | 3:22 | |||
| Label | Motown | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Elliot Willensky | |||
| Producer(s) | Hal Davis | |||
| Michael Jackson singles chronology | ||||
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| Audio | ||||
| "Got To Be There" on YouTube | ||||
The single became an immediate success, reaching number one on Cashbox's pop and R&B singles charts, while reaching number four on Billboard's pop and R&B singles charts. Released to select European countries, it also found success, reaching number five in the UK. The song was composed as a pop ballad with soul and soft rock elements. The song was musically arranged by Dave Blumberg while Willie Hutch produced its vocal arrangements.
Motown label mates the Miracles released their version on their 1972 album Flying High Together, while Diana Ross recorded a version of the song for her unreleased 1973 album To the Baby which was eventually issued as part of the 2010 Expanded edition of her Touch Me in the Morning album. R&B group Black Ivory recorded a version on their 1972 debut album entitled, "Don't Turn Around", which peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard's R&B chart.
A cover version of the song by Chaka Khan from her eponymous fourth solo album reached #5 on the R&B Charts in 1983.