Michael Jackson
Off The Wall

THE REVIEW

Between 1977-1978, while Michael Jackson was playing the role of the Scarecrow in The Wiz with Diana Ross, the desire for a solo album began to form in his mind. He contacted Quincy Jones, with whom he had a great friendship, and asked him for advice regarding his idea.

In Michael's autobiography (Moonwalk 1988), it's written that Quincy, called "Q" for his passion for barbecue, proposed himself as a producer, thinking the boy from Gary had set him up... but Michael swears he hadn't even thought about asking Quincy Jones to become his "mentor".

Anyway, in 1979, the first masterpiece by Michael Jackson was released without his family in tow. The album featured greats of music including Paulinho da Costa on percussion, Rod Temperton composer and arranger, Louis "Thunder Thumbs" Johnson, George Duke, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, and many others. The malicious would say the Jacksons were now making "obsolete" music, which is why the most talented of the group left them. In reality, however, Michael was eager to venture into something of his own, without sharing burdens and honors with his brothers and father (notice that the following year he would record an album with the Jacksons).

The child is growing up. In 1979 Michael was 21 years old and had already been performing for over 13 years.
And thanks to Quincy Jones, the music contained in Off The Wall would be funkier and more in line with the trend spreading during that period: Black Music.

"Off the Wall" (Epic Records) contains gems that remain today as icons of late '70s Disco Music, let's examine them:

"Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" is the song that opens the album. An R&B piece with dance nuances that should be kept in every disco with a lively and sustained rhythm. "Rock With You" is officially the song that drives women crazy for that trembling and sensual voice that gets into your guts and never leaves you. Even "Working Day And Night" is a very lively song, great for dancing, but unfortunately lacks the character that keeps it from ever entering the "Best Of...". In "Girlfriend" and "I Can't Help It" you can really feel the influence of Paul McCartney in the first and Wonder in the second, both helping Michael to break through, help that will be repeated in "Thriller" and "Bad", launching another handful of stars on MJ's head. He then moves us with "She's Out Of My Life", makes us dream with "It's The Fallin' In Love", and excites us with "Burn This Disco Out".

I purposely wanted to leave the title track for last because it summarizes what would be Mike's mentality in the future: take life with simplicity. While "Off The Wall", the track, advises us to dance even in the most difficult moments, as if it were a reason for living, Off The Wall (without quotes thus the album) summarizes '70s black music and the trends of a decade, and of course, tells us the origins of the myth, period.

If I forgot something, sorry, I was dancing.