Released: August 4th 1972.

Produced by: Hal Davis.

Label: Motown

The original cover was the same picture of Michael but featured a rat on the cover. This is much rarer now a collectors item if in very good condition.

Released in August 1972 the album "Ben" was Michael's second solo album as a young artist for Motown. It was released just 7 months after his first album "Got To Be There". A Jackson 5 album "Lookin' Through the Windows" had also been released in the May.

Only one single was released from the album, the title track "Ben" which sold over 1 million copies and was the theme tune to a movie called "Ben", which was about a young boy and his pet rat.

No other tracks were released but the album includes the well known track "My Girl" co-wriiten by Smokey Robinson. the album also includes a track "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" so-written by Stevie Wonder and "You Can Cry on My Shoulder" written by Mowtown founder Berry Gordy.

All 3 of these Mowtown legends were to later speak fondly of Michael at his memorial service in 2009.

Album Track listings

1. Ben
2. The Greatest Show on Earth
3. People Make the World Go Round
4. We've Got a Good Thing Going
5. Everybody's Somebody's Fool
6. My Girl
7. What Goes Around Comes Around
8. In Our Small Way
9. Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day
10. You Can Cry on My Shoulder

Related Ben Links

Read more about what went on during the Jackson 5 Era.