"Ben", also known as "Ben's Song", was never expected to be the hit that would skyrocket Jackson's career and become his first No. 1 hit as a solo artist. Its backstory is even more bizarre when knowing the emotional ballad was written as the theme for the horror film of the same name, which was the sequel to Willard in 1971.
The track is performed by Montgomery in the film, with Jackson's version heard during the finale scene and ending credits. "Ben" smooth and mellow sound contradicts the movie's horror element, and it's exactly what Don Black and Walter Scharf wanted.
Recorded by Motown studio in October 1971, "Ben" climbed the charts to land at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 for a solid week. It marked Jackson's first-ever No. 1 hit as a solo artist in the U.S. and served as the title track to his second solo album. The ballad also landed at No. 3 on the Adult Contemporary chart and No. 2 on Cash Box.
"Ben" gained further popularity when it was nominated for Best Original Song at the 1973 Oscars. It lost that year to "The Morning After" by Maureen McGovern from The Poseidon Adventure. The ballad became one of Jackson's most re-released tracks in his career.
Related: 1972 Hit Track, Inspired by a Forbidden Crush, Became One of Soft Rock's Signature Ballads
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