Maps of Music

Music & Me (1973)

Where the lyrics of Music & Me take you, and where it was really made.

Michael Jackson was not allowed to write songs or play instruments on this album, and it remains his lowest-selling record.

Place unknown

Do you know where this album was recorded, or where its cover was shot? Tell us and we will add it to the map.

Music & Me: third studio album by American singer Michael Jackson
Released 13 April 1973 by Motown
Arranged by Dave Blumberg, Freddie Perren, Gene Page, and James Anthony Carmichael
Remains Jackson's lowest-selling album
Reissued in 2009 in the three-disc compilation Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection

Jackson was 14 years old at release, going through vocal changes and a changing music landscape
Influenced by Motown label mates Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder
Wanted to include his own compositions and play instruments on the album, but Motown refused
He voiced this frustration to his father, Joe Jackson, who later worked to end the contract with Motown and negotiate deals with Epic Records

Arrangements credited to Dave Blumberg, Freddie Perren, Gene Page, and James Anthony Carmichael

Born August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana; eighth of ten children in the Jackson family.
Debuted at age six as lead singer of the Jackson 5; the group signed with Motown in 1968 and had early number-one hits such as "I Want You Back".
Moved to Epic Records in 1975 as the Jacksons, and began a solo career with Off the Wall (1979).
Thriller (1982) became the best-selling album of all time, with an estimated 70 million copies sold.
Bad (1987) was the first album to produce five US Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles.
Known as the "King of Pop"; credited with transforming music videos and popularizing the moonwalk.
Died June 25, 2009 from a propofol overdose; a posthumous catalog continued to sell strongly.

The album received favorable reviews from music critics overall
AllMusic critic Ron Wynn found the production and arrangements routine at best, sometimes inferior
Robert Christgau in The Village Voice said Jackson has a natural sense of rhythm but is a singer, not a marionette
Christgau was doubtful about Jackson as a real interpreter
Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly gave the album a B rating
Greenblatt described Jackson on the cusp of a deepening, more adult voice
Greenblatt cited the title song and the cover of With a Child's Heart

The US single With a Child's Heart reached number 14 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100
Music and Me and Morning Glow were released as UK singles but did not chart
French Wikipedia gives sales of 800,000 copies worldwide
Remains Jackson's lowest-selling album

Motown refused Jackson's wish to include his own songs and play instruments on the record
Jackson's father later worked to end the contract with Motown and negotiate deals with Epic Records
Jackson's world tour with The Jackson 5 from March 1973 to December 1975 limited promotion for this album
Johnny Raven was moved to Track 7 in later releases
The 1990s CD release, issued only outside the US, received some changes, including different text and a darker shade of green