The Jackson 5 – Big Boy

Written by Gordon Kieth and released as the Jackson 5’s first ever single by Steel-Town Records in January 1968 (USA only).

A demo was recorded circa November 1967. Initially it was distributed through hand-sold copies by Michael and his brothers, at the many gigs they played. It was then picked up for a national distribution by Atco, a subsidiary of Atlantic Records, who pressed 10,000 copies. It sold well locally, but failed to register on any of Billboard’s charts.

It was re-issued as a limited edition CD single in the US, on the Inverted record label, in JJune 1995.

An ex-engineer, who engineered on all the sessions, has confirmed the Jackson 5 recorded eight-songs for Steel-Town, only six of which have been released, including:

– Big Boy
– You’ve Changed
– We Don’t Have To Be Over 21
– Jam Session

Two of the six released songs are unconfirmed, but are probably:

– Some Girls Want Me For Their Lover
– I Found A Love

The two unreleased Steel-Town recordings are confirmed as:

– Take My Heart
– Jackson Man

All the other ‘lost Steel-Town recordings’, it’s speculated, were taped by Shirley Cartman, possibly in her own living room. According to Cartman, only one copy of the tape ever existed. Many years after the recordings were made, a friend recomended she have the recordings transferred to professional archive tape, to presrve them for historical purposes. This she did, using a local Atlanta company – ten, just a year or so late, the first of may compilations of ‘lost’ recordings surfaced, released by S.D.E.G., a small Atlanta record label.

When she learned of their commercial release of her recordings, Cartman was understandably angry – more so, becaus some songs she had written especially for the Jackson 5 (including Lonely Heart), were credited to Gordon Keith (founder and ownerof Steel-Town).

Big Boy – Lyrics

Written and Composed by Eddie Silvers

Fairy tales, fairy tales I don’t enjoy.
Fairy tales and wishful dreams are broken toys.
‘Cause I’m a big boy now, that’s looking for someone to love,
Someone, someone to share my dreams, oh, yeah.

Mother Goose, oh, Mother Goose has lots its charms
All I need is a lovely girl to hold in my arms.
‘Cause I’m a big boy now, that’s looking for someone to love,
Someone, someone to share my dreams, oh, yeah.

Skating boards and kiddie cars have had their day
Dating at the picture show is here to stay.
‘Cause I’m a big boy now, that’s looking for someone to love,
Someone, someone to share my dreams, oh, yeah.

Come on baby (I’m a big boy), come on, baby (I’m a big boy)
Oooh, ooh…