"Off the Wall" by Michael Jackson

Top 10 Alert!

Song#:  0058
Date:  02/16/1980
Debut:  53
Peak:  10
Weeks:  17
Genre:  Pop, R&B, Dance



Pop Bits:  The title track from Jackson's album was its third single following the #1's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock With You." After working with Quincy Jones on the movie misstep The Wiz, Jackson got Jones to co-produce the album with him. This successful collaboration would last through his next two giant successes. Jackson wrote three songs on the album which featured songs written by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder. The album was considered a departure for Jackson and the direction he was going was well received. But Jackson thought it should have had more impact than it did (even though it was a major hit) and set out to improve and top it.

ReduxReview:  I've always thought of this as "Thriller"-lite. It has a similar sound and groove and some crazy sounds (like the laugh at the beginning). Both songs were written by Rod Temperton, so it is not surprising. It is less memorable than the other singles from the album (or the ones yet to come) and in his catalog I think it is one of the songs that people have forgotten about, which is too bad. It's actually very good.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Jackson won his first Grammy in 1980 for Best R&B Male Vocal Performace for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough." But as successful as the album and songs were, none were nominated in the main categories.

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