Ben is the second studio album by American recording artist
Michael Jackson. The album was released on August 4, 1972, while Jackson was
still a member of The Jackson 5. The album received mixed reviews from
contemporary music critics.
Ben was more successful on music charts than Jackson's
previous studio album, having charted within the top ten on the Billboard 200.
Internationally, the album was less successful, peaking at number twelve in
Canada, while charting within the top 200 positions in Australia and France. Worldwide,
Ben has sold a reported 5 million units. The album released one single, the
title track "Ben", which was a commercial success on music charts,
peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Jackson his first number
one single on the chart.
"Ben" also charted within the top ten in other
territories worldwide. "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" was planned to
be released as the second single from the album, but canceled for unspecified
reasons. Two of the album's songs were "stripped" in 2009 as part of
the three-disc compilation Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection.
