'' was the third solo release by
Pop singer
Michael Jackson .
At this point, Jackson was one of the few artists who had success as a member of a popular singing group and as a soloist, especially considering he now had four
Top 40 hit singles at the point of this release, which occurred in April of
1973 . But at this point, Jackson, who turned fifteen in August, was growing frustrated with
Motown 's lack of direction concerning the material he was recording thus making the songs he recorded for "Music and Me" seem almost shallow even at his most soulful. Jackson was also experiencing vocal changes as he came in and out of soprano and was now, at least for this album, a high-pitched tenor.
This was commercially Jackson's lowest-selling record as a Motown artist and though Jackson was shown strumming on an acoustic guitar on the cover, he never played an instrument on the album nor did he get what he wanted to do - have his own songs on this particular project. The chart showing at #92 on the
Pop Albums Chart proved to be a sign, at least by the label, that the public was growing tired of Jackson's image as a child singer as he matured into a
Teen Idol during the year. And the leading single, "With a Child's Heart" (originally recorded by
Stevie Wonder ), was the only song released off it.
#"With a Child's Heart" (Basemore/Cosby/Moy)
#"Up Again"
#"All The Things You Are" (Hammerstein/Kern)
#"Happy (A Theme from ''
Lady Sings The Blues '')" (Legrand/Robinson)
#"Too Young"
#"Doggin' Around" (Agree)
#"Euphoria"
#"Morning Glow" (Schwartz)
#"Johnny Raven"
#"Music and Me" (Cannon/Fenceton/Larson/Marcellino)
- "With a Child's Heart" - #50 Pop Singles Chart; #14 Soul Singles Chart
- "With a Child's Heart" was originally recorded and performed by Jackson's idol and one-time Motown label mate, Stevie Wonder .
