Off The Wall

When I was a kid Michael Jackson was ubiquitous. Just an absolute cultural juggernaut. I had a cassette tape of "thriller" and remember checking out books from the library about michael jackson and the jackson 5. I definitely can't separate his music from nostalgic childhood feelings. This album is where he truly established himself as an independent solo artist and where he found the perfect producer in Quincy Jones. I feel like this album and Thriller set a new template for pop music that is still being used to this day. Man this album starts so strong! The production is so clean and balanced. So busy and layered but not cluttered or overwhelming. Flows so smoothly. Got some of the best session musicians of the era on this album which I am acquainted with to an odd degree because of their association with yacht rock, (which this album has some crossover with). I can definitely appreciate some immaculate pop production, particularly from this era. Side 1 is a fucking ripper but I feel like the album loses a bit of steam on side 2 around the wings cover "girlfriend" and the ballad "She's out if my life" but I do like the Stevie Wonder penned "I can't help it" very much and "it's the falling in love" is yacht rock gem. More of a fan of "thriller" but this is still a very impressive album with some incredible songs.

I accept that Thriller had to be part of the 1001. I get it. But this bad boy? C'mon. Give your head a shake.

Funky funk funk funk. This is a disco masterpiece, obviously. It’s got R&B, Disco, Pop, a whole bunch of stuff. The bass playing and production is what really stood out to me. I don’t think I can really state the impact that this album made on popular music going forward. Favorite song: Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough Least favorite song: Girlfriend

Bona fide classic, and the first album we've reviewed that I have on vinyl! [insert joke here about me saying "I have that on vinyl"] Technically not a debut album, but in a way it kind of is. He started in the Jackson 5 and released a few solo albums in the early '70s, which mostly sounded like the Jackson 1. On "Forever, Michael" in 1975, his voice suddenly dropped to the range we recognize as Michael Jackson, but that album still sounds like a Jackson 1 project. With help from Quincy Jones, MJ pivoted to funky, disco pop, setting the stage for his growth into the most dominant force in pop music. The album's terrific--it opens with probably my favorite song he's ever made (first heard via Chris Tucker in Rush Hour 2 - "Ch'mon, Lee!"), and it's great all the way through. Also: there's a deluxe release with a couple demos, and the original demo for "Workin' Day and Night" is awesome. I like it better than the album version and think it's one of MJ's best tracks period. Check it out! Favorite tracks: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, Workin' Day and Night, Rock With You. Album art: Iconic. Totally looks like a debut. Painfully '70s, in a good way. Michael doesn't look comfortable at all, like he's worried people with think he's a poser. At that time I guess he was a poser, going from Motown soul to groovy disco overnight, but it's like a guy at party who gets up "off the wall" to storm the dance floor and show everyone up. This is my favorite cover of all MJ albums. 5/5

Various ballads and dance numbers addressed to anonymous women, but the real love affair is between Jackson and Quincy Jones. The comingling of their vocabulary of sighs, squeals, squeaks, grunts, groans, classical strings, fairydust synths and, of course, mesmeric drums is as essential to the music of the last 40 years as James Brown. Most ironic title: Don't Stop Til You Get Enough. There is no 'enough'.

The first half of this album is very good but the last 4-5 songs weren't doing much for me. He's just so damn talented. Clearly not his best album but still a great listen.

Not his best album. A few good songs, though. Some really bad ones. 3.5/5

I e joyed this album and would play it again!

Fuck dude, how do you rank an album like this? It's so hard to isolate this album from everything that came out afterwards about Michael Jackson. There's no question that Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson were an absolute force when recording together. The first song is incredible; the album starts out at a sprint. The second song is a classic as well. From there it has a very consistent feel without being repetitive. A classic party album. It feels weird giving a known pedophile 5 stars, but here we are 5/5

How many times have I listened to this album in my life? Too many to count. I love this album, and I am convinced that this is the greatest disco/funk album ever made. How can something sound so 70's but at the same time be so timeless? Everyone who listens to this, no matter who, when or where will be grooving to this album, it's energy is infectious. The synths, the bass, the vocal delivery of MJ and lyrical composition is top notch. The songs are all the perfect length that don't overstay their welcome, which is something that disco and funk usually have a problem with. Every song on this album is iconic, along with the album art. This album feels like its at the crossroads between MJ's child career and future adult career that we all know and love, blending the best of each. This is my personal favorite Michael Jackson album, it may not have the more iconic hits that people think of when they think of MJ, but it makes me happy, its such a pure joy to listen to. Favorite track: Rock With You Least Favorite Track: She's Out of My Life

great album - scum of a person

Phenomenal mix of funk, soul, disco and pop from the greatest performer of all time.

The groove on this one is so immense that I wanna put on platform shoes, flared skinny-fit jeans and a silk shirt, and boogie all night. Coming from a white, Scandinavian middle school teacher in his early forties, that is quite an achievement.

Great disco album, so many good groovy songs. To be played in a social setting to get people dancing

Michael Jackson’s best album, the funk, the groove, is truly incredible. Set the tone for music going forward.

Young king of pop, fun album, gets you in a good mood

Mmmm this was good. Rock with You is also my favorite Michael song so extra points here. And before you all bring it up, no, Michael Jackson was NOT a pedo, he just happened to like spending time with young children and having sleepovers with them. I’d ask all of you to take a good long look in the mirror and truly answer this question: don’t we all?

good album by and evil guy

I don’t support this pedo

Solid Michael Blackson produced by Quincy Jones. Don’t Stop ‘Till You Get Enough will always be a song to grove to. Don’t sleep on the song Get On The Floor, the bass line is amazing. I even find myself enjoying the cheesier songs lime Girlfriend.

Absolutely stellar, what a boppin album. Besides Girlfriend, you got ya head bumping along with every track, and it's all memorable as hell. What more to say? This is THE way to breakout into stardom (as a solo act, I guess).

Bangers

love it

Own

Well produced and fun dance grooved! He was the King of Pop but it’s more of a product of Quincy Jones.

un 9,2

Disco-y! Interesting to see some early thriller influences too

Genre: Disco 5/5 I mean, good grief. Imagine 1979: a DJ slaps the new MJ record on, and spins it in its entirety for a packed dance floor. The people must’ve lost their fucking minds. MJ and Quincy Jones team up to make the blueprint for a Disco/Pop record, and a blueprint that Michael would take from himself later to make Thriller, a better album than this if you could imagine. From top to bottom, this thing is loaded with BIG hits, smooth production, tremendous playing, and amazing singing from Michael. He floats on top of everything he performs on, and this is the first major leap in his solo career that showed the listening public that he was here to stay. He may not have been The King of Pop yet, but this is damn close to anything else he made in the future. A top tier album. An essential listen.

Hell yeah

Highlights - Don't Stop..., Rock With You, Off The Wall, Burn This Disco Out I've always appreciated the sonic clarity of Michael Jackson's work, his ability to craft truly toe-tapping melodies, his incredible vocal range...His foray into his solo act truly got off the ground when he partnered with Quincy Jones for Off The Wall. Don't Stop.. and Rock With You require no explanation, these are assured classics. It's worth noting that this album was made for record playback in mind, as such, the eponymous Off The Wall kicks off the B-side with unsettling laughter and transitions into a solid banger with a feel-good chorus. Burning This Disco Out closes out the second side with a funk-filled send off that'll have you dancing and flipping back to Track 1 over and over.

Already heard it.

This is one of my favorite albums of ALL TIME. I'd rank it higher than Thriller. But I had to give them both 5s.

Awesome. It does sound like all of 80s smooth jazz ripped this sound off, though.

Pues gran ritmo, canciones que hasta la fecha suenan de vez en cuando en dodne menos las esperas. A parte del famoso single don't stop till you get enough, me gustaron off the wall y sobre todo la ondita r&b de it's the falling in love.

This is the only MJ album I owned. It's so great! MJ and Q at their best! Such great songs and performances by MJ, with the tightest production ever. It's perfection. I can't stop smiling. OK, second side is not as much fun. But it's still great, I Can't Help It had me swaying in my chair. The keyboard changes are so beautiful! Oh, and in 1979, digital technology was in it's infancy. THESE ARE REAL INSTRUMENTS PLAYING. I've not heard it in ages, what a treat! Can I give 10 stars? Note to the persons rating the person, not the music: Great music needs to be acknowledge even if the performer is flawed. He was 20 here, before all the weirdness. He was wonderful then.

Excellent early Michael before he really hit his stride. 9/10.

Masterpiece.

Classic grooves, all time great album

Love love love this album

Perfection

Michael Jackson Goodness. Bop after Bop

One of the greats!

Probably my favorite Michael Jackson album. You can feel that he loved making these songs.

Video show

Just a great album front to back. Always have loved the song “Off The Wall”

Well I'm not sure I've ever listened to a MJ album start to finish, so many bangers on this. I'm assuming MJ is now cancelled, but I do believe in separating the art from the artist and this album was very very good.

Pretty damn good

The King Don't stop til you get enough, Rock with you, It's the falling in love, Burn this disco out

I'm into soul these days and I should've dug deeper into Michael's discography.

No. 218/1001 Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough 4/5 Rock With You 4/5 Working Day And Night 4/5 Get On The Floor 4/5 Off The Wall 4/5 Girlfriend 3/5 She's Out of my Life 3/5 I Can't Help It 3/5 It's the Falling in Love 4/5 Burn This Disco Out 3/5 Average: 3,7 Another really good album by the King of Pop. He hasn't completely found his own voice after Jackson 5 yet. Because of this I think Thriller and Bad are superior.

It’s the king of pop! Always great vocals, a couple of well known bangers and a few funkful tunes. Super fun album!! High 4

tbh didn’t know Mike jack hit like this

Very good start, not so familiar with the last songs. Funky disco sound was good

Classic pop album. Funky and classic, reminds me a lot of disco.

Although the songs are a bit weaker than on "Thriller" later, he wasn't such a weirdo at the time so he gets the credit. A classic of disco production, with some charmingly awkward bits (Macca's song is a bit cheesy; the cockney-inspired pronunciation of "help" is bizarre). This is one of Howard's faves I believe

Too bad he’s a pedo.

Hard to believe he was only 20 when he recorded and released this album. Legendary artist, legendary album!

How come no one just told Michael to just stfu with those autistic noises

Some signs of what Michael would become, but a bit too much generic-sounding disco here. I do wish I had listened to this before “Bad”.

There’s a circle I can’t square with some of the immensely popular artists on the list like the Beatles or Michael Jackson. Do their albums truly qualify as records “you must hear before you die” when they are so ingrained in popular culture that it would be shocking to find someone what has never heard a beat of their music? In a sense, they’ve become so essential that they are inessential - it should go without saying that you know at least some of their music, because being able to avoid it is almost impossible. I guess what I’m saying is that I usually don’t gain much new insight from hearing a record like this. I know who Michael Jackson was, lived through his heyday and this record didn’t move the needle on my opinion of him in any way. It’s Michael Jackson. It sounds like a Michael Jackson record. Sure, there are songs here that aren’t mainstays in popular culture, particularly in the back half, but that’s probably for a reason…they’re not that memorable and don’t do enough to differentiate themselves from other, similar sounding music of the time.

Pretty good. Some songs i enjoyed but it all kinda sounded the same.

I kind of hate this album. It sounds empty and cheap in all of the worst ways.

Today I only listened to this and the PC Engine soundtrack to "Double Dragon II: The Revenge"; listen to the latter. Off The Wall plunges after the first two tracks, which themselves are pretty fab. I'll mumble "rote late-disco" and get back to the Double Dragon II OST.

Two fantastic songs. Lots of unremarkable discopop

Meh.

It was alright? Sort of blended together by the end. First two tracks are classics for a reason. The groove throughout was good. Just sort of forgettable to me.

It was fine. Pretty repetitive, but ok to listen to. 2.5/5

Disco Michael Jackson. It's wedding music.

Really funky start followed by a load of dross. So much talent, so little taste.

imagine being a child and getting raped by someone, then the rest of your life people say you've got to listen to his music before you die. fuck this perv

enjoyed it so much, legendary artist, legendary music, my favorite song has to be I can't help it

7/20/2022 - ALBUM #174 Today's Album: "Off The Wall" by Michael Jackson - This album just sounds so fucking good. That is seriously the most fitting opening sentence to this review; this album is simply that good. As someone who was big into Michael Jackson’s catalog as a kid, I think this album is the peak of his talent as a musician and was close to his peak as a performer. The production is top notch, the songwriting is some of Michael’s most eccentric and creative, and the vocal performances exceed not only in vibrancy and clarity, but in range as well. The bass is unmatched in funkines, the percussion is varied and constantly locked into time, and the variety of auxiliary horns and strings perfectly fill up the sound. Every track on this album is fundamentally built for the dance floor, making a try-not-to-tap-your-toes challenge of this album pretty much impossible; The grooves are just too infectious. Everything just sounds so fucking good too, with the clarity and space given to the instruments giving them this really echoey, spacey, vibe to them and makes it feel like you are experiencing this music in a pure vacuum from the outside world; It sounds otherworldly. I would go over the tracklist of this album to try to explain why it’s so good, but when I tried to do so it felt redundant to type over and over how flawless and enjoyable each track is. All I can say is that the flow from track to track makes it feel like this album is never declining in quality, but instead always matching itself or going one step further. Overall, this album could do so little to improve upon itself. It’s an achievement for Michael Jackson, but it’s even more so an achievement for disco music and black music as a whole. It feels impossible for any of these songs to get old with how much is packed into every second. Give this one a listen. Please just do it. Highlights: Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough, Rock With You, Workin’ Day and Night, Get on the Floor, Off the Wall, Girlfriend, She’s Out of My Life, I Can’t Help It, It’s the Falling in Love, Burn This Disco Out Score: 9.3/10 THE BEST disco album. Period.

King. Of. Pop.

Quincy Jones production. Absolutely stacked with hits. I have to give it top marks even if it is a disco record.

One of the first albums I remember hearing as a child and it never gets old. Fantastic 'pop' music, although the album spans a number of genres without missing a beat. The title track has been on pretty much every playlist I've made!

in 1979, this was THE album. in 1980 it was STILL 'THE' Album. Everyone thought he would never top it. Well, he did. But, this is still a classic. Solid FIVE stars.

5/5

I was wondering when good old MJ was gonna show up here. Don't Stop Til' You Get Enough-Oh, so thats what this song is called! I've heard it before, that familiar melody string, did not know it came from MJ tho. Rock With You-I liked the main tagline, (title of the song) Workin' Day and Night-Hyperactive kinda song. Snazzy jazzy is how I'd describe this. Get On the Floor-Funky Disco vibin. Got the foot tapping beat to it. Really feeling the disco funk genre this album's got. Off the Wall-Title track. I can definitely hear the mix of disco, funk, pop and touches of R&B in there. Cool disco? Head bopping type beat. She's Out of My Life-wait, apparently this is the actual title track. Huh. what a drastic departure from the disco pop funk tunes the past few songs have been. Feeling the Blues part of R&B real strong here. I liked it. It was different, melancholy but sweetish sad. Girlfriend-Lot more upbeat than the last one. More rhythm than blues now. It's the Falling in Love-Feeling the love (heh) for this one. It has like touches of all the genres in there with a light, poppy beat. Burn this Disco Out-I like that backing...bass? Funky fresh. Good shit. would listen to it again.

Absolute classic

amazing

Fun! Surprised I had never listened thru before.

Phenomenal album. You can’t not move to these tracks.

5.0 + Classic! Young Michael was undeniable. The voice, the funk, the sparkle - he gives it all generously.

Q-era MJ is the best MJ.

insane gott

For my money, the best Michael Jackson album. Smooth, nonstop dance party in front; lush and smooth jams in the back… from a simpler time.

As polarizing as Michael Jackson may be at the moment (when is he not be such?), you cannot deny that his music has become part of our DNA. The very idea of popular culture is centered around the then-living King of Pop and three albums support that theory very much. Off the Wall is the first of those albums. Made during the height of the disco era, Off the Wall finds Michael honing and refining his skills after years of maturing under the spotlight. This album is all killer, no filler from beginning to end and it is a effective teaser for what was to come later on. If we only knew...

Excellent album. Whatever you think of Jackson the man in his later years, this album and Thriller are fantastic pop records.

7th May 2022 Listened in the morning. Worked from home and chilled in the evening doing moving emails. Average day. Difficult to divorce the music from the person with this one. Undoubtedly disco classic but complicated. I’m going to focus on the music with the rating.

Amazing album on the heels of disco. People thought he would never match the success of this album.

First two tracks (Don’t stop ‘til you get enough and Rock with you) are amazing and whole album great to listen to, classic!

Don't stop till you get enough already started playing in my head when I saw the album cover. Really love this album, really good energy.

Bin mir ziemlich sicher, dass das hier mein Lieblings MJ album ist.

Hard to listen to don’t stop ‘til you get enough without thinking about his past

King of Pop - a well earned title

King of Pop starts here!

Its a classic, what else would it be?

Notes.

An amazing record that really shows why Michael Jackson is one of the most popular artists of all time. The level of detail put in the production of each song is quite incredible, everything sounds so clear, its beautiful.

Entusiasmante! Dá vontade de lavar louça e mudar o mundo ao mesmo tempo. Já conhecia algumas músicas, mas ouvir novamente é como ouvir pela primeira vez.