5/5 AT LAST !!!
  by Matthew G. Sherwin (last seen screaming at Amazon customer service)
With all the J5 did over the years, there simply had to be unreleased material--and I'm thrilled that this CD has finally come to be! This is an absolute must have for Jackson 5 fans; these young men take on these songs so well that every one's a gem--there's not a single dud in the track set! The quality of the sound is excellent and I like that artwork, too.

The CD gives us all sorts of goodies--we get the much anticipated "Buttercup" that gets me tapping my feet to the beat even when I don't realize I'm doing it! Michael sings his vocals to perfection and his brothers never let go of a superfluous note. The music fits in perfectly with their singing, too. "That's How Love Is" shines bright with lots of energy; this awesome tune features a young Michael Jackson singing his words out like a pro; his genius was obvious from a very early age and again his brothers perform very well as they make "That's How Love Is" a terrific highlight of this album.

Listen also for "Love Comes in Different Flavors;" I really like this tune and the way they handle it makes it shine. "Lucky Day" and "Listen I'll Tell You How" are equally special.

Of course there are fresh renditions of other, more familiar J5 songs that are wonderful to hear. The CD starts with a great medley of "I Want You Back;" "ABC" and "The Love You Save;" and it all holds its own very well to make these three songs cohesive. "Never Can Say Goodbye" is gorgeous--Michael's singing is quite good and the musical arrangement is creative and pleasing to my ear at once. "ABC" gets a fine treatment from the J5 and the CD ends strong with these fine young men performing an alternate rendition of "Dancing Machine" that works flawlessly.

J5 fans, rejoice! This is one heck of an album that should have been released sooner. Could there be more unreleased masters hidden in the vaults somewhere, waiting to be recorded onto CD and made available to the world? Probably so--and I hope we get more of these amazing songs very soon. They can't come fast enough for me!

4/5 Exciting new release!
  by Kyle (Minnesota)
For the first time since 1995's J5 box set "Soulsation!" comes a significant package of previously unreleased music from the Jackson 5. While there are only 8 truly new releases, the 4 familiar tracks are here in alternate versions; for a long time fan like me, I never would have dreamed they'd put the TV performance versions on CD, but I am glad they are here. The J5 medley (I Want You Back/ABC/The Love You Save) is familiar but lively; Never Can Say Goodbye emphasizes the clavi-synth and a new ending. What's more, ABC is here in an earlier version--it's amazing how much it changed from what seemed to be a pretty much complete song (presented here) to what eventually came to be. Lastly, Dancing Machine is also here in a similar form to its eventual release, the main draw being nearly 2 additional minutes over the single version.

As for the newly released songs, well, they're awfully good. "Listen I'll Tell You How" is among the best, combining a driving beat with soulful lead and harmony vocals. Hearing them take on Curtis Mayfield's "Man's Temptation" is a unique approach for the group, while "That's How Love Is" is exemplary in their trademark vein of bubblegum pop. And what can be said of "Buttercup," from the often-rumoured Stevie Wonder-produced J5 album that never came to be. Sure makes me wish it had! The album represents the group dynamic well, as all 5 of the boys get turns at lead vocal lines throughout the disc. You even get to hear Jackie sing without his crazy-high falsetto, for the first time on a Motown release. Things do lose a bit of steam toward the end; "I'll Try You'll Try" is perhaps a bit out of place, and there's a piece of fluff or two here ("Love Comes In Different Flavors," "Lucky Day") but overall this CD had me smiling and ready to play it again immediately.

Now if only Sony/Epic would some day do the same with the post-Motown Jacksons' music...

5/5 Fantastic!
  by S. J. Walker (London)
Some 14 years after the last previously-unreleased Jackson 5 tracks came out on the "Soulsation" box set, finally we have some more - and they're incredible! Some of these tracks are easily the equal of the classics that came out on the group's original albums, and it's also great to hear some intriguingly different versions of some of the hit singles. The booklet essay hints that there are "dozens" more unreleased Jackson 5 masters still in the Motown vaults (and I recall once reading an interview with Jackie Jackson in which he said that he thought there were "about 400" unreleased tracks - though maybe he was exaggerating), so let's hope we don't have to wait another 14 years to here another collection of them.

5/5 Should never have been hidden so long!
  by Jane Doe (Ohio)
These songs are amazing! Why is this the first time we are hearing them!? Regardless, I am glad they are out now. Very excited to receive and blast in the car!

5/5 Great rarities collection!
  by BamBam2365
This is an example of a rarities album done the right way! The Dancing Machine and Never Can Say Goodbye alternate versions are really interesting and stand very much on their own. The whole album is an enjoyable listen and a must-have for J5 and Michael fans!