I'll Be There is one of The Jackson 5 songs and singles in the albums, Third Album and Greatest Hits. It was released on August 28, 1970 and was recorded in Hitsville West, Los Angeles, June 1970. It was written by Berry Gordy, Hal Davis, Bob West, and Willie Hutch and was produced by Hal Davis. It is cited by Michael, in the early 1970's, as one of his three favourite songs he had recorded for Motown, along with ABC and Never Can Say Goodbye. It was featured in the Jackson 5ive episode, Pinestock U.S.A. in 1971 and used as the closing for The Jacksons TV series in the US in 1976 and 1977. Mariah Carey made a cover out of this song.[1][2]
Lyrics
- You and I must make a pact
- We must bring salvation back
- Where there is love
- I’ll be there
- I’ll reach out my hand to you
- I’ll have faith in all you do
- Just call my name and I’ll be there
- I’ll be there to comfort you
- Build my world of dreams around you
- I’m so glad that I found you
- I’ll be there with a love that’s strong
- I’ll be your strength
- I’ll keep holding on
- Holding on, holdin On
- Yes I will, yes I will
- Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter
- Togetherness, girl, is all I’m after
- Whenever you need me
- I’ll be there
- I’ll be there to protect you, yeah baby
- With an unselfish love that respects you
- Just call my name
- And I’ll be there
- I’ll be there to comfort you
- Build my world of dreams around you
- I’m so glad that I found you
- I’ll be there with a love that’s strong
- I’ll be your strength
- I’ll keep holding on
- Holding on, holdin On
- Yes I will, yes I will
- If you should ever find someone new
- I know he better be good to you
- ’Cause if he doesn’t
- I’ll be there
- Don’t you know, baby, yeah, yeah
- I’ll be there
- I’ll be there
- Just call my name and I’ll be there
- Just look over your shoulders, honey
- I’ll be there
- I’ll be there
- Whenever you need me
- I’ll be there
- Don’t you know, baby, yeah, yeah
- I’ll be there
- I’ll be there
- Just call my name
- I’ll be there
- I’ll be there
In Third Album
This song is the 1st song in this album.[3]
In Greatest Hits
This song is the 5th song in this album.[4]
Charts
It became the fouth no.1 from as many Motown releases on both charts in the US (R&B singles and Hot 100) - a new record at the time. Achieved no.4 in the UK. It also became the no.1 best selling single of 1970 in the US, ahead of Simon & Garfunkel's classic, Bridge Over Troubled Water. Estimated global sales: 6 million - good enough, at the time, to make it the second best selling Motown single of all time, after Marvin Gaye's I Heard It Through The Grapevine.
History
It was hastily re-wroked by Willie Hutch, after Motown producer Hal Davis contacted him in the middle of the night; Motown boss Berry Gordy liked the title but not the song, and he wanted it finished for a recording session the following morning. Hutch stayed up all night, working on the song, before presenting it to Gordy at 8.00am; pleased with the new song, Gordy ordered Hutch into the studio, to arrange the vocals for the Jackson 5.