On this day May 15, 1984, Motown released Farewell My Summer Love, a compilation album of previously unreleased Michael Jackson recordings from 1973 that were remixed and issued during the peak of his solo success in the 1980s. The album reached number 46 on the Billboard 200 and climbed to number nine in the United Kingdom, boosted by Jackson’s global popularity following the success of Thriller.
Farewell My Summer Love featured nine tracks recorded when Jackson was just 14 years old, including the title track which became a moderate hit. Motown enhanced the original recordings with new instrumental overdubs and backing vocals to give them a more modern 1980s production feel. While not considered a core part of his official discography, the album offered fans a nostalgic look at Jackson’s early vocal talent during his transition from the Jackson 5 to solo stardom.
The release also served as a strategic move by Motown to capitalize on Jackson’s fame even though he had since moved on to Epic Records.
Fun fact: The title track Farewell My Summer Love became a top ten hit in the UK and marked one of the few times 1970s-era Jackson material charted well in the 1980s.
Farewell My Summer Love featured nine tracks recorded when Jackson was just 14 years old, including the title track which became a moderate hit. Motown enhanced the original recordings with new instrumental overdubs and backing vocals to give them a more modern 1980s production feel. While not considered a core part of his official discography, the album offered fans a nostalgic look at Jackson’s early vocal talent during his transition from the Jackson 5 to solo stardom.
The release also served as a strategic move by Motown to capitalize on Jackson’s fame even though he had since moved on to Epic Records.
Fun fact: The title track Farewell My Summer Love became a top ten hit in the UK and marked one of the few times 1970s-era Jackson material charted well in the 1980s.
