Mixerr Album Reviews #2,231

Got To Be There is a highlight album in Michael Jackson’s career which did not get much attention or the attention it deserved. The album today is considered by Michael Jackson fans to be an amazing classic. The album has amazing pop classics such as You've Got A Friend, Ain’t No Sunshine, Got To Be There, and In Our Small Way. However the album is mostly cover songs. Despite the album being mostly cover songs of songs by different artists and groups, Got To Be There is the soundtrack to many people’s lives. That is what makes this album a classic.


In Our Small Way is cute, special, and moving. Not to mention the cheerful mood. After all, this is a Michael Jackson song that features Michael in the spotlight of course. The song teaches us that a smile makes all the difference in the world. He changes the world in a small way through smiles. Love is all we need. Michael Jackson and Beatrice Verdi wrote a portion of the lyrics.

These lyrics in Verse 3 say it all. “Just a little time is all it takes/What a difference just a smile can make, you will see/Love is all we need” Love and smiles are what we need. This is the song summarized in nut shell.

So do these lyrics. “Maybe you and I cannot do great things/We may not change the world in one day/But we still can change some things today/In our small way” “In despair we will be the hope/And the prayer that frees the soul/We will be there to share each lonely road/Because we love, I know/We care enough”


Michael covers Carole King - You've Got A Friend on the song You've Got A Friend. Michael did an amazing job of singing the lyrics despite not having sung the song before. So you have to give the man credit for that.

Here is an interesting fact about the song You've Got A Friend. “You've got a friend in me" were the lyrics later used in Randy Newman's song You've Got A Friend In Me that was used in the Toy Story movies series. Randy Newman gave Michael Jackson credit of course.


Michael Jackson did an amazing job singing and covering Bill Withers - Ain’t No Sunshine on the song Ain’t No Sunshine. You can hear and feel emotion as he is singing the leads and hooks. Even as a kid, you already tell Michael had that soul touch inside of his voice. That’s how beautiful his singing is. You don’t often hear a cover song as perfect as the original version.

Read the lyrics and you can hear Michael Jackson singing the song.

[Verse 1]
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
It's not warm when she's away
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And she's always gone too long
Anytime she goes away

[Verse 2]
Wonder this time when she's gone
Wonder if she's going to stay
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And this house just ain't no home
Anytime she goes away


Maria (You Were The Only One) was about how a girl named Maria was the only one for Michael. He begs her to come back into his life repeatedly. She keeps running away. The song serves as a plea for sympathy.

I rate this album 4/5****.