<P> "I Want You Back" is a 1969 song by the Jackson 5 which became a number - one hit for the band and the Motown label in early 1970 . The song, along with a B - side cover of "Who's Lovin' You" by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, was the only single used in the Jackson 5's first album, Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5 . It went to number one on the Soul singles chart for four weeks and held the number - one position on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for the week ending January 31, 1970 . "I Want You Back" was ranked 121st on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time . </P> <P> Originally considered for Gladys Knight & the Pips and later for Diana Ross, as "I Wanna Be Free", "I Want You Back" explores the theme of a lover who decides that he was too hasty in dropping his partner . An unusual aspect about "I Want You Back" was that its main lead vocal was performed by a tween, Michael Jackson . </P> <P> "I Want You Back" was released on October 7, 1969 and was the first Jackson 5 single to be released by Motown and the first song written and produced by The Corporation, a team comprising Motown chief Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell, and Deke Richards . It also is the first of four Jackson 5 number - ones released in a row (the others being "ABC"--1970, "The Love You Save"--1970, and "I'll Be There"--1970) and the first Jackson 5 song recorded in Los Angeles, California; the quintet had previously been recording Bobby Taylor - produced covers, including "Who's Lovin' You", the B - side to "I Want You Back", at Hitsville U.S.A. in Detroit, Michigan . The "I Want You Back" bassline is considered by many as the greatest of all time and thus has sparked many debates about who played the bass during the recording . Famously The Funk Brothers were Motown's backup musicians and after the company's relocation to Los Angeles band members changed . Many tend to believe that it was James Jamerson who played the bass during recording but he was most active from 1962 - 1968 . During the later years of his career Jamerson had grown unreliable due to substance abuse . Most evidence suggest that a new member of the Funk Brothers, Wilton Felder, was the bassist . </P> <P> Although Gladys Knight had been the first to mention the Jacksons to Berry Gordy, and Bobby Taylor brought the Jackson brothers to Motown, Motown credited Diana Ross with discovering them . This was done not only to help promote the Jackson 5, but also to help ease Ross' transition into a solo career, which she began in 1970 soon after the Jackson 5 became a success . </P>

Who wrote the song i want you back