Throughout their 25-year musical career, The Jacksons (or The Jackson 5) have delighted us with albums or hits that have become undisputed classics. Albums such as Destiny or Triumph, or hits like Blame It on the Boogie or I Want You Back. However, within all the vast material they’ve produced, there’s an album we consider doesn’t have all the recognition it deserves: Victory (1984). Stay with us to know why it’s one of the best albums the band has ever released.
After the unprecedented success of Michael Jackson’s Thriller in 1982 and the impact of The Jacksons in the televised performance in Motown 25, the band joined together once again to record their fifteenth studio album, Victory. The first album that involved all the members from both The Jackson 5 (1964-1976) and The Jacksons (1976-1989) eras.
Despite the reunion, the brothers rarely worked together on the album. That’s the reason why there’s not so much photographic material from that era. Unlike past projects, where Michael or Jermaine used to be the lead singers, each brother separately wrote their songs and soloed them. The only exception was Torture, a duet between Michael and Jermaine.
The album is quite different from previous projects. On the one hand, it incorporates the most characteristic sounds of the eighties. On the other hand, due to Michael and Jermaine’s lower profile in Victory, each brother has a moment to shine and show their talent. However, the latter denoted a lack of unity between the band.
Two tracks from Victory reached the top of the charts in the US, State of Shock and Torture. Both have such an interesting background that we’ll devote an article to each one of them in the future. On this occasion, we’d like to remark some songs that are also worth a listen. Songs such as One More Chance, likely the most underrated tune of the album; Be Not Always, an acoustic ballad composed and performed by Michael Jackson; and We Can Change the World, an enjoyable funky piece with a hopeful message behind it.
Regarding the cover art, its designer was the illustrator, Michael Whelan. It features a drawing of the band standing in the middle of a road that rises towards a spiral. Initially, a white dove appeared on Randy’s shoulder, but it was finally removed in later issues.
The album was also complemented by an eponymous tour in the US and Canada. Nevertheless, none of the songs from Victory were included on the setlist. Even most of the songs that were performed in the concerts came from Michael Jackson’s albums.
In summary, Victory is likely the most particular album from the band. It’s true that it isn’t a perfect album. Some tracks are forgettable and it didn’t get a smashing success. In fact, some people go beyond arguing that it’s hyper produced and lacks cohesiveness. Despite this, it’s an underrated project with some incredibly good tracks. Undoubtedly, we’re in front of a very unique project that deserves better recognition. That’s why we take this space to vindicate.