The First Recordings is an archival compilation of very early Jackson 5 studio sessions, recorded between late 1967 and early 1968 when the group was still working with the small Chicago label Steeltown, prior to their Motown debut. Released in various configurations in the 1990s and reissued in 2009 by labels such as Charly, the album gathers pre‑fame sides like “Big Boy,” “You’ve Changed,” and “We Don’t Have to Be Over 21 (To Fall in Love),” along with rehearsal‑style jams, monologues, and additional early tracks. These recordings capture a teenage Michael Jackson and his brothers as a raw, club‑tested soul act from Gary, Indiana, working in a more stripped‑down R&B and pop‑soul idiom than the polished Motown sound that would soon make them stars.Stylistically, the material emphasizes live‑band grooves, simple song structures, and call‑and‑response vocals, with Michael already displaying the phrasing, emotional intensity, and showmanship that would later be refined on Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 and subsequent Motown albums. Because these tracks were recorded on modest budgets and released (or shelved) before the group’s major‑label breakthrough, later compilations like The First Recordings have been marketed as historical documents rather than mainstream hits packages, appealing to collectors and fans interested in the group’s formative years. As such, the album functions less as a cohesive studio project and more as a window into the Jackson 5’s transition from regional talent‑show winners to a professional ensemble on the verge of Motown stardom.
