The Jackson 5

Released: October 15, 1970

Songwriter: Robert Wells Mel Tormé

Producer: Hal Davis The Corporation

[Chorus]
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to... you

[Jermaine Jackson]
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos (Everybody knows)

Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight

They know that Santa's on his way
He's bringing lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is on the spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly

And so, I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Though it has been said many times, many ways
(Merry Christmas) Merry Christmas
(Merry Christmas) Merry Christmas
(Merry Christmas to... to you)

Merry Christmas (Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas to you)
To you (Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas to you)
And you too
(Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, oh)
Oh, Merry Christmas...to you
(Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas to you)
(Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas to you)
Merry Christmas (Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way...)

The Jackson 5 were originally formed in 1963 under the name, The Jackson Brothers. The founding members were Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon. Michael would join the group as the lead singer a year later, a move which pushed Jermaine to sing the backing vocals and play the lead guitar.

After participating in a series of talent shows, they entered the professional music scene in 1967, signing with Steeltown Records and releasing ten singles. In 1969, they left Steeltown Records in order to sign with Motown.

In 1975, most of the Jacksons had opted out of recording any more music for Motown, expressing desires to have creative control over their songs, as well as royalties. Learning that they were earning only 2.8% of royalties from Motown, Joe Jackson, the father and manager of the group, began to negotiate a lucrative contract with Epic records, which offered a royalty rate of 20% per record. The deal was completed in June 1975. As Motown owned the name The Jackson 5, the group simply renamed themselves The Jacksons.

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