Michael Makes A Legendary Breakthrough!!!

"Off The Wall" (1979)

1. "Don't Stop Til' You Get Enough"
I can't imagine what it was like recording one of the most timeless dance records of all time way back at the end of 70s!! O_O  To say "Don't Stop Til' You Get Enough" is relentlessly funky, would be an understatement and to say its a disco classic, would also be undermining how truly special it is.  An epic dance floor blazer that is synonymous with one of the first iconic music videos of all time and that tremendous instrumental filled with horns, soul and rock before Michael does his signature "Wooooo!!!" This is one orgasmic piece of sensational work that Quincy produced that captures Michael's charismatic charm and genuine, joyous vocal work. Do you get it??? This is historical lead single that was a precursor to the even greater things yet to come for the former child star!
(A+)

2. "Rock With You"
I....how do I explain "Rock With You??" O_O It's like the smoothest disco tune I have ever heard.  Once again, Quincy does a superb job of surrounding Michael's voice with exceptional music that elevate his already immense talent. It's another song that genuinely captures how influential not only was this era of music was but how much impact Michael's music had on the world to come!  A stellar record that glistens with sharp vocals and mesmerizing productions as well as it's corresponding magical music video. This is one of Micheal's earliest greatest hits!!!
(A+)

3. "Workin' Day and Night"
Oooooo, this song is so FUNKY!!! :) The instrumentation is so chaotic yet spectacular!!! Michael sings rapidly over a strong beat that just gets better and better throughout. The lyrics are are so solid but I just can't get over how amazing the production of this song is!!! Some of the best composition of a song I have heard. A part of me doesn't even care how soulful Michael is singing because the instrumental alone is perfection for it's time!!! This song must have been EPIC at discos at it's time.  Those trumpets man, WOW!!! I can listen to those things all night. Another classic from this disco blazing album!! :)
(A+)

4. "Get On The Floor"
Not as exceptional as the previous tracks but a great track on it's own.  I wonder if this song sampled the theme song of "Charlie's Angels" because a part of the production sounds like it takes piece of music from that classic TV show's opening.  Either way, this is a glorious groove with Michael once again putting those epic vocals to good use.  I like the how the beat shifts to a different beat toward the end. It almost has a blaxploitation tone to it with it's deep soul and Afrocentric elements to it.  Overall this is a great song regardless!!! :)
(B+)

5. "Off The Wall"
Ohhhh this is gonna be a fantastic title track!!! I could tell as soon as that beat dropped, this was gonna be something special!!! With probably the funkiest production of the album, Michael is eager to get people "off the wall" and on the dancefloor!! How can you resist, especially when that contagiously catchy chorus comes in! A part of me wonders how Quincy is knocking it out of the park with this disco tracks. Even for their time, they sound ahead of it's time as the melodies are stunning and disco bounce is so hypnotic, I can still see many dancing to this even nearly 40 years later!!! WOW!!
(A-)

6. "Girlfriend"
Awwww, this is a sweet mid-tempo disco track, with an effective sax solo.  I like the harmonizing Michael does with his own background vocals throughout.  This is very soothing track as the groove glides until the end. I just wish it was longer so I could like it more but either way, it's a pretty relaxing tune with a sincere message. :)
(B)

7. "She's Out of My Life"
Ok, I can tell I'm gonna cry to this song! :_( The way Michael sings this is so soul shattering as he is at a lost of what to do with the woman he loves being the one that got away.  Hard to believe with a simple piano melody and Michael's heartbreaking vocals that I could feel so much all at once but it works so well. I can hear Michael sing his heart out this way for days.  The man has a voice that is so innocent, raw yet touching all at the same time.  This is one of the best vocal showcases since his work with the Jackson 5!! Amazing!!!
(A+)

8. "I Can't Help It"
Ohhhh, this is where Mary J. Blige sampled her lyric for "Sexy" on her Mary album! :)  This is a nice song as the chorus is sweet.  Can't say it's one of my favorites on the album though, it isn't as funky as other tracks or as heartbreaking as the previous track. I won't call it filler as it's still a good song and Michael gives his all here as usual; it just doesn't keep my attention as much as the other songs on this incredible album.
(B)

9. "It's The Falling In Love"
Love can be more of a curse than a blessing! Trust me, I know!!! -_-  But what I find really special about the track is hearing Diana Ross coming in for a feature that's not even mentioned on the title of the track.  They sound wonderful together, I just wish we heard more of her.  The song is decent; just not one I find particularly special by any means.
(C+)

10. "Burn This Disco Out"
Okay, this is how you end an album! With the same relentless funk and soul of the opening tracks as Michael isn't living the disco until everyone gets on the floor.  I really like this song for that reason as well as the immense energy that permeates from it.  I can imagine this would have been a great disco track to release back then.  It's so infectious and the instrumentation includes more awesome trumpets!! Strong, solid and unforgettable!!! :)
(A+) 

Hard to believe this album was sung by the same Michael Jackson that captured everyone's hearts and help catapult the Jackson 5 to become one of the most celebrate rock groups of all time.  But Michael was always the standout star, so much so Motown Records would go on to release 4 solo albums with him, minus his brothers.  The albums in general were fine, but there was something definitely missing! I mean come on as he got older the record company was just making more sappy ballads and dance tunes were generic for their time. Because of that Michael wasn't only drifting away from his brothers but Motown as well.  Then came his first solo endeavor on the big screen with the film adaption of "The Wiz" in 1978! There is where he met the producer that would help shape his career as the King of Pop: Quincy Jones. After becoming fast friends, the two decided to work together on Micheal's fifth studio album; leading him to leave Motown and sign with EPIC Records. Between the winter of 1978 and the summer of 1979, Michael and Quincy worked vigorously to find the right sound for Michael; creating the first of some the best pop music the world would ever hear.  Other contributors to the album would be legendary Beatles member Paul McCartney, soul sensation Stevie Wonder and Rod Temperton. The album would go on to be an eclectic mix of musical genres from disco, R&B, funk, soul and rock.  When the album finally hit, critics and audiences were floored by the mature material. This wasn't the same soft spoken, sweet voiced lead singer of the Jackson 5 anymore! Michael made the switch to adult contemporary artist so smoothly with dazzling disco funk, crisply sung ballads and emotional rewarding tunes.  The first three tracks alone encapsulates the best of the 70s; with beats that are fully energized with hard hitting melodies that feel so good to hear.  "Don't Stop Til' You Get Enough" and "Rock With You" topped the pop charts in America while also garnering incredible popularity around the world.  The album would go on to be nominated for numerous Grammys; winning one for Best R&B Vocal Performance in 1980.  Michael was riding on such a high of personal and solo success, he was disappointed he didn't win for Album of the Year....oh Michael! lol  Either way, "Off The Wall"s immediate success was the beginning of many things to come from Michael and Quincy's collaborations. What was started here would only get MUCH better in the years to come. :)

"Cited as the best disco album of all time, this pre-"King of Pop" predecessor to the best selling album of all time is a disco fueled, funk filled, epic ride from start to finish. "Off The Wall" is a clear indication of Michael's strengths as not only a singer but Quincy Jones as a writer and composer. Nearly 40 years later, this album is beyond flawless and continues to make listeners want to dance under a glistening disco ball!"
(A+)