Maps of Music

Destiny (1978)

Where the lyrics of Destiny take you, and where it was really made.

The Jacksons wrote and produced this album themselves, something Motown had never allowed them to do.

Key places

Cherokee Studios, Hollywood (1978)

Recording site Cherokee Studios — Listed as a recording location for Destiny. The point marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Filmways/Heider Recording, Los Angeles (1978)

Recording site Hollywood Sound — Listed as a recording location for Destiny. The point marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

The Record Plant, Los Angeles (1978)

Recording site Record Plant Studios — Listed as a recording location for Destiny. The point marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Total Experience Recording Studios, Hollywood (1978)

Recording site Total Experience Recording Studios — Listed as a recording location for Destiny. The point marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Dawnbreakers Studios, San Fernando (1978)

Recording site Red Wing Studio (San Fernando) — Listed as a recording location for Destiny. Only the city center is known, so the point shows the city, not the building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Destiny: thirteenth studio album by the American band the Jacksons
• Released November 1978 by Epic Records and CBS Records
• First album on which the band had complete artistic control
• The brothers produced the album themselves
• Most songs credited to the Jacksons as a band or to Michael and Randy
• Exception: lead single Blame It on the Boogie, co-written by British singer-songwriter Mick Jackson
• Sold over four million copies worldwide, two million in America during its initial run
• Promoted with a year-long world tour

Background

• The band left Motown in 1975; brother Jermaine stayed after marrying Berry Gordy's daughter Hazel Gordy
• After a few years with Philly International, the group targeted Epic, one of Columbia Records' most popular labels
• Their previous albums on Epic were led by producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff
• Motown did not permit the brothers to write and produce their own material
• Like other acts that left Motown, the group had to accept that it might not keep the same level of success
• Motown reiterated that possibility after learning Michael Jackson was moving to a full-fledged solo career following Destiny's release

Recording

• Much of the album was composed in the group's home-made recording studio at their gated Hayvenhurst mansion
• The group finished recording the album within two months

Cover

• Artwork painted by Gary Meyer
• Jackie, Tito, Michael, Randy and Marlon appear on top of the word DESTINY, carved in stone during a thunderstorm
• Back cover shows a peacock with a message from Michael and Jackie for Peacock Productions

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Formed in Gary, Indiana, in 1964 as the Jackson Brothers, managed by father Joe Jackson.
• Original lineup: Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael.
• Among the first African American performers to build a following across multiple genres.

Members

• Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael Jackson; Randy joined in 1975 when the group became the Jacksons.
• Michael Jackson's solo career became the most successful of the brothers.

Career

• Signed with Motown in 1968 and became the first group to debut with four consecutive Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits: "I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save", and "I'll Be There".
• Achieved seventeen Top 40 singles on the Hot 100 within five years.
• Left Motown for Epic Records in 1975–1976 and renamed themselves the Jacksons, releasing albums including Destiny and Triumph.
• Reunited in 1983 for Motown 25 and released Victory in 1984; Michael and Marlon left the group afterward.
• Sold over 150 million records worldwide.
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.
• Continued to tour as the Jacksons, including the Unity Tour (2012–2013).

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Destiny re-established the band as a top-selling group
• Blame It on the Boogie returned the Jacksons to the Hot 100 but peaked at No. 54
• The same single reached No. 3 on the R&B chart and No. 8 in the UK
• Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) became a Top 10 single in spring 1979 and drove the album's success

Reappraisal

• AllMusic: the album was the group's most successful release since 1974's Dancing Machine, both commercially and creatively
• AllMusic: the first two Epic albums with Gamble, Huff and other Philly soul figures had strong singles but were uneven
• AllMusic: on this album the brothers wrote and produced on their own
• Destiny received generally positive reviews

Records

• Billboard Pop Albums chart: peaked at number eleven
• Billboard Black Albums chart: peaked at number three
• Certified gold on 13 March 1979
• Certified platinum on 8 May 1979
• First RIAA-certified platinum seller by the Jacksons
• Most of the group's Motown recordings were not certifiable despite their chart success
• Over four million copies sold worldwide

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Mick Jackson, co-writer of Blame It on the Boogie, is British and not related to the band members
• Blame It on the Boogie was the band's comeback attempt, but Shake Your Body was the single that made the comeback succeed
• The back cover peacock message was provided by Michael and Jackie for Peacock Productions
• Motown reacted to Michael Jackson's move toward a solo career by restating that lower success was possible for its former acts
• The album was finished in about two months, recorded in the group's home studio

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Maps of Ages ↗ (mapsofages.com)

Privacy · Contact