Maps of Music

Victory (1984)

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

The only Jacksons album with all six brothers as an official group, yet none of its songs were played on the tour meant to promote it.

Key places

Soundcastle, Los Angeles (1984)

Recording site Soundcastle — Listed in Discogs as a studio where the album was recorded. The point uses the listed studio location, not a verified building address. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Sunset Sound, Los Angeles (1984)

Recording site Sunset Sound — Listed in Discogs as a studio where the album was recorded. The point uses the listed studio location, not a verified building address. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Evergreen Studio, Burbank (1984)

Recording site Evergreen Recording Studios — Listed in Discogs as a studio where the album was recorded. The point uses the listed studio location, not a verified building address. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Image Recording Studios, Los Angeles (1984)

Recording site Record Plant (Los Angeles) — Listed in Discogs as a studio where the album was recorded. The point uses the listed studio location, not a verified building address. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

A&R Studios, New York City (1984)

Recording site Record Plant Studios — Listed in Discogs as a studio where the album was recorded. Only the city-center coordinate is available, so the exact building is not confirmed. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Victory is the 15th studio album by The Jacksons, billed on the LP as 'Jacksons'
• Released 2 July 1984 by Epic Records
• The only album to include all six Jackson brothers together as an official group
• Produced by the Jacksons with David Paich and Steve Porcaro of Toto
• Peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200
• Most successful single 'State of Shock' peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100

Background

• Supported by the Victory Tour, with Michael, who had recently released Thriller (1982), prominently featured on the setlist
• None of the songs from Victory were performed on the tour
• Michael and Marlon Jackson quit the group shortly afterward to pursue solo careers
• Jermaine, Tito, Randy and Jackie continued as the Jacksons and released 2300 Jackson Street in 1989
• Jermaine Jackson returned after a reunion on the Motown 25 television special in 1983
• He had left Motown after nine years as a full-fledged soloist
• The brothers had left Motown for Epic in 1975

Recording

• The brothers rarely worked together; the album is mainly solo songs each brother worked on
• Each brother has a solo song: Michael on 'Be Not Always', Randy on 'One More Chance' and 'The Hurt', Tito on 'We Can Change the World', Jackie on 'Wait', Marlon on 'Body'
• Jermaine sings co-lead vocals with Michael only on 'Torture', which was first planned as a duet between Michael and Jackie
• 'State of Shock' was first recorded with Freddie Mercury; the duo could not finish it, so Michael recorded a second version with Mick Jagger
• Two videos were made, for 'Torture' and 'Body'; neither Jermaine nor Michael appeared in either

Cover

• Tensions between the brothers meant minimal publicity photography
• At the label's request, the cover is an illustrated painting of the band commissioned from Michael Whelan
• From left to right: Marlon, Jackie, Randy, Michael, Jermaine, Tito
• The first release had a white dove on Randy's shoulder, removed on later issues

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · pt.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

Reappraisal

• AllMusic, in retrospect: a competent album of slick contemporary R&B, occasionally pushed toward greatness by one of pop's most identifiable voices
• AllMusic: the same can be said of nearly the entire Jackson 5/Jacksons catalog
• AllMusic: noted it as the only Jacksons album to feature all six brothers and the last to feature Michael Jackson

Records

• Billboard 200: peaked at number four in the week of 4 August 1984
• Hot 100: State of Shock No. 3; Torture No. 17; Body No. 47
• Wait: released in 1985 in the US, UK, Canada and Brazil; not known to have charted
• United States: certified double platinum in October 1984
• Worldwide sales: 7 million copies
• Only studio album by the Jacksons to top a national chart, and their only top 10 album in the UK
• France: first-week sales of 185,000 copies

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• A wax dummy of Michael from Madame Tussauds stood in for him in the Torture video
• State of Shock was first planned as a duet with Freddie Mercury before Mick Jagger took the part
• Neither Jermaine nor Michael appeared in either of the two videos, Torture and Body
• The first pressing of the cover had a white dove on Randy's shoulder that was removed from later issues

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

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