"This is the only Michael Jackson solo LP that I'm writing a review for since it best encapsulates my favorite genre of music: Pop/R&B. Instead of just talking about how good the music is (just read the rest of the reviews for that), I'll attempt to provide some insight on just what makes 'Off The Wall' so special. Read on:First of all, MJ wrote three of the songs on this album; two of them are among his greatest, and that says a lot about the sheer talent emerging from the 'Gloved One' at that point in time. They are: "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough", "Working Day and Night", and "Get On The Floor". Secondly, Rod Temperton wrote two of the other amazing tracks on this album; they are: "Rock With You" and the title track, "Off The Wall". Temperton also wrote the closing track, "Burn This Disco Out" ; but please allow me to give a little background info on this underappreciated songwriter/producer.Rod Temperton was part of a band called the Heatwave in the late 1970s, and they're best known for the hits "Grooveline" and "Always and Forever". What's more, Rod Temperton also wrote "Thriller", "Baby Be Mine" and the ultimate Michael Jackson quiet storm ballad, "Lady In My Life". Folks, I'm sorry, but this cat Rod Temperton is BAD...and it's about time someone gave him credit where credit was due. Thank you Rod, for blessing this album with your R&B sensibility, and songwriting ability - you're awesome!Thirdly, this was the first time Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson ever worked together on a full-length album - and at first Quincy didn't even want to do produce it! That's right, Q.J. had apprehensions about producing a "pop" record; but it worked. The pairing of then former child-star Michael Jackson with an accomplished composer like Quincy Jones was an odd one that proved to be the most amazing musical collaboration yet to take place: 1979's 'Off The Wall', 1982's 'Thriller', and 1987's 'Bad'.Lastly, there's the music that really speaks for itself. Stevie Wonder's contribution, "I Can't Help It" is splendid, and for me it induces visions of a nighttime magic carpet ride through a large city under a full moon. I actually liked "Girlfriend" written by Paul McCartney; it's playful, and I think it could easily be covered by today's pop/R&B stars. The lone ballad on this album, "She's Out Of My Life" was decently covered by current R&B singer Ginuwine in 1999, but the original is, well...better. Minimal filler tracks - if any, on 'Off The Wall'. Thanks for reading...Knyte."
Before MJ became Jacko
eclectictastes | Columbus, OH USA | 04/05/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With all the headlines about plastic surgeries, melting faces, questionable parenting practices and voodoo contracts on entertainment moguls, it's easy to forget just how talented Michael Jackson was (is?)I found this in my CD collection and popped it in. As a result, I remembered why I had a crush on Michael all thru my childhood and teenage years. Listening to tracks such as Off the Wall, Don't Stop Til You Get Enuf and Rock With You shows the true scope of a gifted performer who apparently got too caught up in his own publicity.I've always considered Off the Wall a far superior work to Thriller and all subsequent Michael Jackson productions. The combination of Jackson, Quincy Jones and Rod Temperton provided the 80s with the best R&B. To those who only became aware of Jackson during his Thriller fame, I suggest you buy this CD as well as some Motown Jackson 5 compiliations. It will answer questions of why he became famous in the first place."
Michael Jackson's Greatest Album Ever!!
Manny Ramirez | 05/09/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Yes, this album is better than Thriller. This was music that saw Michael and Quincy Jones team up and when Michael was "black"(literally!). It's hard to believe that this was the first album ever to have 4 top 10 hits by a solo artist. Although it sold 9 million copies, Off the Wall has never got the respect it deserved because of Thriller. However, I feel that Off the Wall is a mandatory selection for any music lover just as Saturday Night Fever, Sgt Pepper's, Thriller, and Pet Sounds.All the tracks are good--there's no filler here! However, these are the tracks that stand out in my mind:1) Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough -- His 2nd #1 (after Ben) overall and the first #1 from the album. This is an unbelievable record--it's pure disco with Michael singing about forces (he's actually talking about spiritual things here). I just love the overall sound of this song. Definitely one of the best tracks.2) Rock With You -- The other #1 from the album. This song is more of a ballad and it has such a smooth feel to it. If there was ever a perfect song, this is it. Another highlight of the album!3) Working Day and Night -- Strictly an album track, this song has a very frenetic pace with a hook that you can't get out of your head.5) Off the Wall -- the title track and a song that went to #10, it sorta foreshadows Thriller with its spooky texture.6) Girlfriend -- a song written by Paul McCartney, it is a very fun song to listen to.7) She's Out of My Life -- another song that went to #10, this song, IMHO, is Michael's greatest ballad ever. The only song that comes close is Man in the Mirror. It boggles my mind that this song didn't go to #1. If you don't get chills going down your spine when you listen to this song, then you ain't human!9) It's the Falling in Love -- pretty much a duet with Patti Austin (one of Q's favorite singers along with James Ingram), it has a very funky, dance quality to it.In summary, this is a must-have album. After 20 years, it still sounds great and fresh. It's not that I hate Thriller, it's just that I love Off the Wall better."
Michael grows up,with help from Quincy Jones
Bob Waskiewicz | Wintersville, Ohio United States | 08/05/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's unbelievable,but before "Off The Wall," Donny Osmond was a bigger star than Michael.That all change in the late 70's,when one of the greatest pop albums came out. Everyone was shocked.This was the first time 4 songs made the top 10.Michael broke his own record with "Thriller" a couple years later."Don't Stop 'Til you get enough" is one of my favorites,along with "Off the Wall." Michael did most of the background singing himself,and wrote alot of the singles released.Everyone thought this would be the album Jackson would be remembered for the rest of his life."
A Review from Michael's Long-lost Brother ! (Just Kidding!)
Manny Ramirez | 07/31/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was 8 years old when Michael and his brothers first appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. Like a lot of my contemporaries, I wanted to be like him. When it comes to performing, Michael Jackson is still the man .... hands down!Off The Wall is an album that benchmarks Michael's transition from boy/teen/R&B/ idol to pop "godhood". All of the bubblegum "soul" that put Michael & his brothers on the map was notably absent. Like a lot of people his age (self included), Michael came of age in the disco era, but not necessarily the "Studio 54" brand of disco that everyone seems to be hearkening back to nowadays. The disco was a metaphor for the lives we were living back then. The dancefloor was the arena where we all acted out our life's dramas. It was perfectly fitting that Michael's rite of passage into musical adulthood, take place in his white-hot, disco dance tracks on this album. Michael's R&B sensibility was definitely infused in the sheer polyrhythmic funk of all of his dance tracks on this album. The percussion and horn arrangement are the most attention-grabbing element of his songs in this album, apart from the sheer sonic energy of his voice. Michael and Quincy Jones went and got the best (and the funkiest) studio players on the planet. For this album not to have been multi-platinum is unthinkable.Michael's musical energy has always been on the level of near nuclear meltdown even in his Jackson 5 days, but this is the album where he reaches critical mass! As a matter of opinion, I think every young artist since has had to make an "Off-The-Wall" type release wherein they make a "coming-of-age-statement" (ala Janet Jackson .... "Control"). Rather than go into analysis of each and every track (they're all superb), I'll simply say that musically, Michael lost his musical "cherry" with this release. As an artist, he and his audience would never be the same afterward. Every release since, has been an effort to outdo or re-create Thriller. However, Off The Wall is the album that should really be the template for Michael's work. It is Michael's artistry in it's purest adult form."
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1
