1 Hidden Gem From Every Michael Jackson Album
6. Farewell My Summer Love - You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me
Not a true follow up to Thriller, Farewell My Summer Love might be the strangest entry in Michael Jackson’s recording career. The nine songs were recorded for an intended follow up to Music And Me. Then, with the success of their hit Dancing Machine, attention was switched back to The Jackson Five and the solo album was put on ice.
Supposedly, the recordings were then “lost”. But happily for the good people at Motown records, they turned up again in time to get some Michael Jackson product in shops and capitalise on Thriller’s unimaginable success. The songs were all remixed and topped off with additional overdubs to give them a more contemporary feel, though of course no one could be fooled that this was a “new” record in the truest sense. The Michael Jackson on this record still sounds a decade younger than the one topping the charts worldwide.
None of this attempted cash-in could be described as essential. Still, at thirty one minutes, the album is a fun listen that doesn’t outstay its welcome, even when it isn’t actually very good.
The light, airy cover of Smokey Robinson’s You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me is a particular delight. It’s not a patch on the soulful original or indeed the grittier Beatles’ version. Instead, enjoyably cheesy keyboards collide with rock guitar soloing and sound like Motown soundtracking a John Hughes movie.