Somehow in the wild and crazy career that Michael Jackson has enjoyed, his adult years as The Jacksons' lead singer have been unjustly ignored. The truth of the matter is, during the years 1978-1984 (until the "Victory" debacle), The Jacksons' were among black pop's best groups, churning out three quality albums of shiny pop/R&B with funk and disco overtones. "Destiny" was the first of the three albums, and retains its luster twenty-five years later, while also providing listeners with a glimpse of the paranoia and self-loathing that would mark lead singer Michael's upcoming solo offerings.

Interestingly enough, by "Destiny"'s release, The Jacksons were almost has-beens. After leaving the cozy confines of Motown in 1976, they'd released two middling albums for Epic. Their self-titled label debut was a moderate success, but 1977's "Goin' Places" had flopped miserably. Rumor has it that the brothers were actually about to be dropped from the label when a series of meetings led to the Jacksons being able to write and produce their own material for the first time in their (at that time) nearly ten-year career. What eventually was released revived the jacksons career (going Platinum here in the States), and setting the stage for Michael's run of success which would begin with "Off The Wall" a year later.

The album jumps between diso-ready funk jams and sensitive ballads, many of which highlight the nervousness and solitude that would mark many of Michael's later lyrics. "Push Me Away" is an easygoing ballad which features lovelorn lyrics and some of the best singing Michael has committed to tape. The lyrics are heartbreaking as Michael sings "Don't you know/These dreams were meant to be/the real you and me/I keep running back to you/But you push me away". The singing style Mike would perfect on later albums also makes its way here, without the annoying hiccups and sighs that would later become so prevalent.

The title track is a folk-pop jam that slightly recalls James Taylor's "Fire & Rain". About 2/3 into the track, the mood abruptly changes into an almost prog-rock/funk collision of guitars and synths. The lyrics of this track concerns a person's need to leave a big-city existence and return to a simpler, quieter life. The album's final track, "That's What You Get (For Being Polite)" is pretty much MJ's first stab at autobiography, as the track's lyrics concern a young man called "Jack" who spends his whole life trying to please people but still feels lonely on the inside. Michael's singing is impassioned on this track, as it doesn't take a genius to realize Mike is singing about himself.

Michael doesn't spend the whole album staring at his penny loafers, however. "Destiny" contains some blazin' disco jams such as the eight-minute epic 'Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)". Based on a simple bass/piano groove, Michael unearths his art for fantastic percussive singing on this dance classic (although the bass outro is a bit long. But hey-it was the days of disco!). 'Blame It On The Boogie" is a clap-happy track thay features the brothers indulging in some serious five-part harmony towards the end of the track, and "Things I Do For You" was a popular album track that brought Michael back into the world of paranoia, as the lyrics concern a person whose only purpose appears to be to take advantage of and use Michael. "All Night Dancin'" hints at a funk/rock fusion that would later be perfected in "Beat It" as Tito goes buck-wild with an extended guitar solo that seeps in and out of the mix from about the halfway point of the track.

There's not much to not like on this album. This was the beginning of a five year stretch which saw Mike drop four consecutive albums of classic material ("Destiny", "Off The Wall", "Triumph", and "Thriller"), while taking a then almost unheard of jump from teen idol into respcted adult artist. It also reveals what a great SINGER Michael was, if you can concentrate on his voice without visions of skin lightening and baby dangling dancing through your head. Consider "Destiny" the dress rehearsal for the genius that was "Off The Wall", and a great companion piece to one of the best albums ever made.

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Getting ready to go out