Song Clearance Sheet
6 sources citedI Want You Back
Soul1960s103BPM
G♯ majKey
More around 100 BPM → · More in G♯ major →
Tempo/key via GetSongBPM →
The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriters of record (Motown’s "The Corporation"), no dispute found, with extensive institutional recognition and enduring commercial life.
Used by independents?
Unconfirmed — the page doesn't yet document enough sampler detail to tell.
Quick Facts
Released1969
GenreSoul, Pop, R&B
LabelMotown
ProducerThe Corporation
Recorded atThe Sound Factory, Los Angeles
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriters — Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell & Deke Richards ("The Corporation")
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — likely part of UMG via Motown, but unverified here; needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
Yes — a widely covered, remixed standard (a 1988 remix returned it to the UK Top 10); in the Grammy Hall of Fame (1999)
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found, but extensive legitimate licensing over five decades
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
Gordy had the song reworked as if written for Lymon, whom young Michael reminded him of
Co-writer Freddie Perren also co-wrote "I Will Survive"
Same team; the next #1 (this batch)
Same group, same four-#1 run (this batch)
Same team, same #1 run (this batch)
This song began as “I Want To Be Free,” written for Gladys Knight & the Pips (already in this catalogue)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell & Deke Richards ("The Corporation")
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Diana Ross’s “discovery” — a confirmed promotional fabricationDiana Ross’s famous “discovery” of the Jackson 5 was a real, confirmed promotional fabrication. While Ross and Smokey Robinson were genuinely impressed, the actual credit for bringing them to Motown belongs to Bobby Taylor (of Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers), and Gladys Knight (already in this catalogue) was the very first person to mention the Jacksons to Berry Gordy. The group had already paid real dues on the chitlin’ circuit and for the local Steeltown label before Motown signed them.
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
A direct connection to Frankie Lymon
When Gordy considered the song for his new group, he noted young Michael Jackson reminded him of Frankie Lymon, another teenage star, and had the writers rework it as if written for Lymon — reshaping it into a kid trying to win his girl back. (Originally written as "I Want to Be Free" for Gladys Knight.)
Songfacts · read it →
Diana Ross's 'discovery' was a promotional fabrication
Ross's famous public discovery of the Jackson 5 was reportedly a promotional story — the brothers had already paid dues on the chitlin' circuit and via Steeltown Records before Motown signed them.
US Pop Chart History · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
Widely covered; 1988 remix a UK Top 10
Covers
—
First flip
Who to Contact
JC
The Corporation (Gordy, Perren, Mizell, Richards)
The credited songwriters of record
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
Don't Want the Hassle?
Sample something pre-cleared insteadCheck Tracklib →
Find a similar sound that's 100% freeBrowse the catalog →
References
Every source cited on this page — 6 in total
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Page history · 3 updates
Jul 2026Enriched — fuller Diana Ross discovery disclosure + Jackson 5 cluster & Gladys Knight cross-links (Research Queue Batch 21)
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Deep Batch 2)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending a separate manual keyfinder pass