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Off the Wall

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Off the Wall is American singer Michael Jackson's fifth solo album.

Released in August of 1979, the album is often hailed as his breakthrough effort and was a major success for the Jacksons frontman, despite critics who said Jackson's career had peaked after the early seventies when he was recording for Motown.

Album information

Although the album never went beyond #3 on the Billboard 200 album chart, it became his fourth best-selling album in America, with 7 million copies sold. For a while, Off the Wall was the best-selling album of Jackson's recording career, with sales of 20 million copies worldwide until the release of Thriller.[2] In 2008, the Off the Wall album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[3]

Quincy Jones, the musical director for Motown's film adaptation of The Wiz (in which Jackson starred as the Scarecrow), served as the album's producer, with lyrics and music by Jackson, Heatwave's Rod Temperton, Stevie Wonder, and Paul McCartney, among others.

Reception and significance

Off the Wall was a big success. It reached #3 in the Billboard album charts, spending 48 consecutive weeks inside the top 20, and, according to Billboard, it was the third best-selling album of 1980 in the United States and the best-selling R&B album of the year. Most importantly, the album made Jackson the first solo artist in history to achieve four Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles from one album. It was similarly successful in Europe, reaching #5 in the UK. Despite its commercial success, Jackson felt the album should have made a much bigger impact. In particular, Jackson was upset that he had won "only" one Grammy Award at the Grammy Awards of 1980[4] (Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"), losing the Grammy Award for Best Disco Recording to Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive". He became determined to exceed everybody's expectations with his next album. Even Jackson couldn't have prepared himself for the phenomenon that followed. (Though his personal vow was fulfilled at the Grammy Awards of 1984 when he swept the ceremony, taking home a record-breaking 8 awards).

More than twenty-five years after its release, Off the Wall remains one of the defining moments in Jackson's music career and began his domination as one of pop music's leading artists. In 2003, the TV network VH1 named Off the Wall the thirty-sixth greatest album of all time. Rolling Stone ranked it #68 in their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Some consider Off the Wall as Michael Jackson's best album of all time.[citation needed]

Re-release

On October 16, 2001, a special edition of the album was released. It contained some bonus material, including the original demo of "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Working Day and Night", both recorded at home in 1978, plus interviews with Quincy Jones and Rod Temperton. The set also contains a new booklet featuring previously unseen photos, lyrics and additional info. After the re-release, the catalogue sales picked up around the world. It re-entered modestly in the UK, U.S., and some other albums charts, and the Living with Michael Jackson interview in 2003 gave it another major boost, where it has been in and out of the UK Albums Chart ever since. A HMV sale in July 2004 gave the album another huge boost with an impressive chart re-entry at #13 in the UK, the highest for 21 years. UK sales since the re-release are around 200,000, and it was the 189th best-selling album of 2003. U.S. sales since re-release are around 225,000, peaking at #7 in the Catalogue chart.

Track listing

Original release

  1. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (Jackson) – 6:05
  2. "Rock With You" (Rod Temperton) – 3:40
  3. "Workin' Day And Night" (Jackson) – 5:14
  4. "Get On The Floor" (Jackson, Louis Johnson) – 4:39
  5. "Off The Wall" (Rod Temperton) – 4:06
  6. "Girlfriend" (Paul McCartney) – 3:05
  7. "She's Out Of My Life" (Tom Bahler) – 3:38
  8. "I Can't Help It" (Susaye Greene, Wonder) – 4:39
  9. "It's The Falling In Love" (David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager) – 3:48
  10. "Burn This Disco Out" (Rod Temperton) – 3:30

Special edition (2001)

  1. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
  2. "Rock With You"
  3. "Workin' Day And Night"
  4. "Get On The Floor"
  5. "Off The Wall"
  6. "Girlfriend"
  7. "She's Out Of My Life"
  8. "I Can't Help It"
  9. "It's The Falling In Love"
  10. "Burn This Disco Out"
  11. Interview with Quincy Jones #1
  12. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (intro)
  13. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (Original Demo From 1978)"
  14. Interview with Quincy Jones #2
  15. "Workin' Day and Night" (intro)
  16. "Workin' Day And Night (Original Demo From 1978)"
  17. Interview with Quincy Jones #3
  18. Interview with Rod Temperton
  19. Interview with Quincy Jones #4

Chart positions

  • 1979: Top Soul Albums No. 1
  • 1980: Top Pop Albums No. 3
  • 1984: Top 200 Albums No. 44

Singles

Certifications

Country Certification Sales
Australia 4x Platinum[5] 280,000
Brazil Gold 60,000
Canada Platinum 100,000
France 2x Platinum 400,000
Japan 2x Platinum 500,000
UK 6x Platinum 2,000,000
USA 7x Platinum 7,500,000

Credits

"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"

  • Written and composed by Michael Jackson
  • Produced by Quincy Jones
  • Co-produced by Michael Jackson
  • Lead and background vocals: Michael Jackson
  • Bass: Louis Johnson
  • Drums: John Robinson
  • Electric piano: Greg Phillinganes
  • Guitar: David Williams and Marlo Henderson
  • Percussion: Michael Jackson, Randy Jackson and Paulinho Da Costa
  • Horns arranged by Jerry Hey and performed by The Seawind Horns:
    • Trumpet and flugelhorn: Jerry Hey
    • Tenor, alto saxophones and flute: Larry Williams
    • Baritone, tenor saxophones and flute: Kim Hutchcroft
    • Trombone: William Reichenbach
    • Trumpet: Gary Grant
  • Rhythm arrangement by Greg Phillinganes and Michael Jackson
  • Vocal and percussion arrangements by Michael Jackson
  • String arrangement by Ben Wright
  • Concert master: Gerald Vinci
  • Additional background vocals by Jim Gilstrap, Augie Johnson, Mortonette Jenkins, Paulette McWilliams and Zedric Williams

"Rock with You"

  • Written and composed by Rod Temperton
  • Produced by Quincy Jones
  • Lead and background vocals: Michael Jackson
  • Bass: Bobby Watson
  • Drums: John Robinson
  • Guitar: David Williams and Marlo Henderson
  • Synthesizer: Greg Phillinganes and Michael Boddicker
  • Electric piano: David "Hawk" Wolinski
  • Horns arranged by Jerry Hey and performed by The Seawind Horns:
    • Trumpet and flugelhorn: Jerry Hey
    • Tenor, alto saxophones and flute: Larry Williams
    • Baritone, tenor saxophones and flute: Kim Hutchcroft
    • Trombone: William Reichenbach
    • Trumpet: Gary Grant
  • Rhythm and vocal arrangements by Rod Temperton
  • String arrangement by Ben Wright
  • Concert master: Gerald Vinci

"Workin' Day and Night"

  • Written and composed by Michael Jackson
  • Produced by Quincy Jones
  • Co-produced by Michael Jackson
  • Lead and background vocals: Michael Jackson
  • Bass: Louis Johnson
  • Drums: John Robinson
  • Guitar: David Williams and Phil Upchurch
  • Electric piano: Greg Phillinganes
  • Percussion: Paulinho Da Costa, Michael Jackson and John Robinson
  • Horns arranged by Jerry Hey and performed by The Seawind Horns:
    • Trumpet and flugelhorn: Jerry Hey
    • Tenor, alto saxophones and flute: Larry Williams
    • Baritone, tenor saxophones and flute: Kim Hutchcroft
    • Trombone: William Reichenbach
    • Trumpet: Gary Grant
  • Rhythm arrangement by Greg Phillinganes and Michael Jackson
  • Vocal and percussion arrangements by Michael Jackson

"Get on the Floor"

  • Written and composed by Michael Jackson and Louis Johnson
  • Produced by Quincy Jones
  • Co-produced by Michael Jackson
  • Lead and background vocals: Michael Jackson
  • Bass: Louis Johnson
  • Drums: John Robinson
  • Clavinet: Greg Phillinganes
  • Percussion: Paulinho Da Costa
  • Guitar: Wah Wah Watson
  • Horns arranged by Jerry Hey and performed by The Seawind Horns:
    • Trumpet and flugelhorn: Jerry Hey
    • Tenor, alto saxophones and flute: Larry Williams
    • Baritone, tenor saxophones and flute: Kim Hutchcroft
    • Trombone: William Reichenbach
    • Trumpet: Gary Grant
  • Rhythm arrangement by Louis Johnson and Quincy Jones
  • String arrangement by Ben Wright
  • Concert master: Gerald Vinci
  • Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson
  • Additional background vocals by Jim Gilstrap, Augie Johnson, Mortonette Jenkins, Paulette McWilliams and Zedric Williams

"Off the Wall"

  • Written and composed by Rod Temperton
  • Produced by Quincy Jones
  • Lead and background vocals: Michael Jackson
  • Bass: Louis Johnson
  • Drums: John Robinson
  • Guitar: David Williams and Marlo Henderson
  • Electric piano and synthesizer: Greg Phillinganes
  • Synthesizer programming: Michael Boddicker
  • Synthesizer and synthesizer programming: George Duke
  • Percussion: Paulinho Da Costa
  • Horns arranged by Jerry Hey and performed by The Seawind Horns:
    • Trumpet and flugelhorn: Jerry Hey
    • Tenor, alto saxophones and flute: Larry Williams
    • Baritone, tenor saxophones and flute: Kim Hutchcroft
    • Trombone: William Reichenbach
    • Trumpet: Gary Grant
  • Rhythm and vocal arrangements by Rod Temperton

"Girlfriend"

  • Written and composed by Paul McCartney
  • Produced by Quincy Jones
  • Lead and background vocals: Michael Jackson
  • Bass: Louis Johnson
  • Drums: John Robinson
  • Electric piano: Greg Phillinganes
  • Synthesizer: David Foster
  • Synthesizer programming: George Duke
  • Guitar: Wah Wah Watson and Marlo Henderson
  • Horns arranged by Jerry Hey and performed by The Seawind Horns:
    • Trumpet and flugelhorn: Jerry Hey
    • Tenor, alto saxophones and flute: Larry Williams
    • Baritone, tenor saxophones and flute: Kim Hutchcroft
    • Trombone: William Reichenbach
    • Trumpet: Gary Grant
  • Rhythm arrangement by Quincy Jones, Tom Bahler and Greg Phillinganes
  • Vocal arrangement by Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones

"She's Out of My Life"

  • Written and composed by Tom Bahler
  • Produced by Quincy Jones
  • Lead and background vocals: Michael Jackson
  • Bass: Louis Johnson
  • Guitar: Larry Carlton
  • Electric piano: Greg Phillinganes
  • String arrangement by Johnny Mandel
  • Concert master: Gerald Vinci

"I Can't Help It"

  • Written and composed by Stevie Wonder and Susaye Greene-Browne
  • Produced by Quincy Jones
  • Lead and background vocals: Michael Jackson
  • Bass: Louis Johnson
  • Drums: John Robinson
  • Electric piano and synthesizer: Greg Phillinganes
  • Synthesizer programming: Michael Boddicker
  • Percussion: Paulinho Da Costa
  • Horns arranged by Jerry Hey and performed by The Seawind Horns:
    • Trumpet and flugelhorn: Jerry Hey
    • Tenor, alto saxophones and flute: Larry Williams
    • Baritone, tenor saxophones and flute: Kim Hutchcroft
    • Trombone: William Reichenbach
    • Trumpet: Gary Grant
  • Rhythm arrangement by Greg Phillinganes and Stevie Wonder
  • String arrangement by Johnny Mandel
  • Concert master: Gerald Vinci

"It's the Falling in Love"

  • Written and composed by Carole Bayer Sager and David Foster
  • Produced by Quincy Jones
  • Lead and background vocals: Michael Jackson and Patti Austin
  • Bass: Louis Johnson
  • Drums: John Robinson
  • Guitar: Wah Wah Watson and Marlo Henderson
  • Electric piano: Greg Phillinganes
  • Synthesizer: David Foster
  • Synthesizer programming: Steve Porcaro
  • Horns arranged by Jerry Hey and performed by The Seawind Horns:
    • Trumpet and flugelhorn: Jerry Hey
    • Tenor, alto saxophones and flute: Larry Williams
    • Baritone, tenor saxophones and flute: Kim Hutchcroft
    • Trombone: William Reichenbach
    • Trumpet: Gary Grant
  • Rhythm arrangement by Quincy Jones and David Foster
  • Vocal arrangement by Quincy Jones and Tom Bahler

"Burn this Disco Out"

  • Written and composed by Rod Temperton
  • Produced by Quincy Jones
  • Lead and background vocals: Michael Jackson
  • Bass: Louis Johnson
  • Drums: John Robinson
  • Guitar: David Williams and Marlo Henderson
  • Electric piano: Greg Phillinganes
  • Percussion: Paulinho Da Costa
  • Horns arranged by Jerry Hey and performed by The Seawind Horns:
    • Trumpet and flugelhorn: Jerry Hey
    • Tenor, alto saxophones and flute: Larry Williams
    • Baritone, tenor saxophones and flute: Kim Hutchcroft
    • Trombone: William Reichenbach
    • Trumpet: Gary Grant
  • Rhythm and vocal arrangements by Rod Temperton

Technical credits

  • Management: Weisner - DeMann Entertainment, Inc. and Joe Jackson
  • Recorded and mixed by Bruce Swedien using the Acusonic Recording Process
  • Rhythm tracks and vocals recorded at Allen Zentz Recording
  • assisted by Steve Conger and Rick Ash
  • Horns recorded at Westlake Audio
  • assisted by Ed Cherney, Erik Zobler, Jim Fitzpatrick and Mitch Gibson
  • Strings recorded at Cherokee Studios
  • assisted by Frank "Cheech" D'Amico
  • Mixed at Westlake Audio
  • Mixed by Bruce Swedien
  • Mastered at A&M Recording Studio, L.A.
  • Mastered by Bernie Grundman
  • Cover design by Mike Salisbury
  • Cover photograph by Steve Harvey

Special edition credits

  • Interview with Rod Temperton by Tom Vicker
  • Interview with Quincy Jones by David Wild
  • Pre-production research by Matt Forger and Al Quaglieri
  • Voice-over announcer: Jason Dietz
  • Special edition art direction: Nancy Donald/David Coleman
  • Slipcase adaptation design: Andy Engle
  • Special edition design: David Coleman and Monster X
  • Special edition photography: Ebert Roberts and Steve Harvey

References

  1. ^ "Album Credits for Off the Wall". Artists Direct. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "Off the Wall". Fan of Music. Retrieved 2007-05-29.
  3. ^ 2008 Grammy Hall of Fame List
  4. ^ Jackson's account of his feelings at the time can be read in his 1988 autobiography, Moon Walk.
  5. ^ ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2001 Albums


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