Off The Wall
L**N
Soundtrack of Our Collective Youth
This album serves as MJ's mind-blowing re-introduction to J5 fans as an independent adult music artist. OFF THE WALL is a celebration of escape from the hard realities of life through dance and music. Disco, soul, R&B, and funk influences are heavy throughout punctuated by synth, sax, and percussive accents. Guided by music industry professional Quincy Jones, MJ exceeded all expectations with his first solo album which is a solid effort front to back.Don't Stop Til You Get Enough is largely MJ's production. Though polished by Jones with the addition of highly-talented musicians including trumpet and sax, the demo (included in this package) reveals that not only could MJ write and sing a hit, he could also arrange a hit to fit lead and backing vocals around complex instrumentation. A highly danceable, explosive, fast-paced album opener that remains ageless and still sends 'em to the dance floor each time.Rock With You is a sexy, persuasive, groovy mid-tempo R&B delight written by Rod Temperton of Heatwave. Accented by synth, strings, horns, and light-hearted flute. Received massive radio play upon release.Written by MJ, Workin' Day and Night is a fast-paced funk lament of too much work, too little time to play. MJ's suspenseful beat-box creates a breathless sense of excitement and anticipation for the dance (if the listener can keep pace with the beat, that is). Featuring gulps, gasps, whoops and hollers, this favorite for MJ's live shows foreshadows the kinetic, frenetic energy of THRILLER'S Wanna Be Startin' Somethin. Once again, the demo (included) reveals MJ's intelligent grasp of songwriting and musical arrangement.On this particular disc, On the Floor's arrangement sounds as if it has increased in speed to its detriment. Irritating for those who prefer the original effort at a slightly slower pace. The song co-written by MJ reveals an eager love of dance and club nightlife that reflects MJ's first burst of freedom from close Jackson family oversight.Off the Wall is Temperton's highlight that fits in seamlessly with other hits written by MJ. Music arrangement starts slightly sinister and creepy then morphs into a joyous celebration of party people, crazy living, and freedom from the drudgeries of life.Girlfriend is just embarrasing. A mid-tempo silly love song written by Paul McCartney, this effort serves as an early warning klaxon to avoid The Girl is Mine duet on THRILLER, although Say, Say, Say (Jackson's duet on McCartney's album) isn't so bad.She's Out of My Life, written by Tom Bahler, was famously mocked by Eddie Murphy, but serves to reveal a self-reflective MJ mourning a lost relationship. Quiet, slow-paced, subdued music arrangement features bass and lead guitar smoothed out with electric piano. An excellent showcase for MJ's clear, pure, pitch-perfect vocal control. Until the crying starts.Stevie Wonder came through for his protege, MJ, with I Can't Help It, for which he arranged percussion and wrote lyrics. A lovely song guided by synth with horn and wind contributions, MJ scats breathlessly through a declaration of the inevitability of love described as "angel in disguise" and a "trip to heaven."It's the Falling in Love is a hidden surprise written by Carole Bayer Sager that remains under the radar even today. The lead and background chemistry of Patti Austin and MJ send their description of romantic vulnerability high into the stratosphere.Burn This Disco Out is a high-volume, startling funk groove written by Temperton with a confident MJ strutting behind the beat, absolutely determined to get every single person in the room and the world onto the dance floor, even if he has to burn the entire disco out to do it.The crystal clear, clean sound of the digitzed version may throw off listeners first introduced to OFF THE WALL via staticky record players with white background noise.BONUS TRACKS: Unheard by most until now, the Don't Stop Til You Get Enough demo was actually provided to Quincy Jones as a nearly complete song with lyrics, percussions, drum, bass guitar and string intentions already in place. Truly hilarious is the opportunity to eavesdrop on younger siblings Janet and Randy squabbling about sound level while older brother MJ overrides them both to count down the music to Workin' Day and Night. Again, the song is nearly intact with lead and backing vocals, percussion, and bass. Janet and Randy apparently continue their squabble at the end of the demo. Interviews with Jones included.
W**E
Great album
Love michael jackson
V**E
The most excitingly fun Jackson album
With unmatchable pacing and manic energy Michael Jackson's Off The Wall is one of the best albums ever released, and out of all the Disco era music I've heard this album has probably aged the best of them all. Perhaps the defining aspect of this album's success is the excited tone Jackson puts into every single, this being before he became one of the world's most iconic figures and before he became the Tabloid's favorite target. This makes Off The Wall his most excitingly fun album. It is free of his `Save the World' messages and loneliness so it just makes the album a lot of fun to listen to from start to finish.Songs IncludeDon't Stop `Til you Get Enough - The most infamous of the album's singles Don't Stop `Til You Get Enough is one of Jackson's best. This song is just exciting one of many on this album that make you want to take to the dance floor.Rock With You - A lovely ballad that is one of Jackson's best slow-dance songs. The song is sweet, tender, and has an undeniable great beat.Workin' Day and Night - Another in a series of songs that just about force you onto the dance floor.Off The Wall - This is probably Jackson's best title song of an album. It's serious in lyrics, yet at the same time it has a fun tune that gets your body moving.She's Out of My Life - One of his famous concert songs it is sweet and heart wrenching. Many people who understand a break-up, or even if you have never gone through one should feel the emotion of this song's tune and lyrics.All the songs on this album and it's the most exciting of Jackson's albums. It isn't his best album but it certainly is the most free-spirited of his albums. You can tell that he had fun recording the album and that this was treated more as an experiment than a profession. It falls behind Thriller on the chart of Jackson's great albums and with a low-price you are insane not to have this album in your collection.
T**N
Happiness Off The Wall
My grandson is a Michael Jackson fan/historian. His dad bought him a record player for his birthday last year (12/16/2024) and getting him this record to put in his valentine basket was exciting for me and his mom. When he got it he was super happy and played it immediately!!Thank you for a quality product and for the availability of the product. His is a very happy young man!!
L**E
Nice
Nice
O**Z
Edición para coleccionistas.
La única edición en Picture Disc original, emitida en conmemoración de los 60 años de Michael Jackson. Sonido de calidad, con los típicos ruidos de fondo que todo Picture Disc trae consigo.
F**M
Came cracked
CD works perfectly fine, but the case came with 2 big cracks on it upon arrival
F**O
I love it
Love his music very much
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