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"I'll Be There"

Date range assessed by Jackson5ABC forum user “jaorecords”’ analysis (archived), where he estimated to the best of his ability, based on how MJ's vocal sounds in relation to other songs, other tracks’ confirmed recording dates, and the producers working on the tracks at the time, the recording dates for tracks where a recording date has not yet been publicly released. Date will be updated if more official information comes to light.

Michael Jackson, Dave Prince interview (1978), from Chris Cadman’s “Michael Jackson the Maestro

In an interview with Dave Prince 1978, Michael said that ‘I’ll Be There’ was originally written about a train. He sang a tiny lyric from it.

“If the train fall off the track de de de de de.”