By Liv Wilks.
In honour of ‘Michael ‘ skyrocketing at the box office, now is the perfect time to revisit an album that shaped years of sound – Off the Wall.
At a short runtime of 41 minutes, Off the Wall transcends sonic limits, with Quincy Jones’ stellar production going hand in hand with Michael’s raw talent. When it was released in 1979, nobody had ever heard anything quite like it, and to this day, nothing dares to come close.
The pure joy that this album radiates is quite simply unable to be replicated. Michael’s musical ear and artistic directing truly shine a light on his soul that was made for music.
Michael’s early beginnings in Motown glimmer through this album in just the perfect amount. Sitting in on studio sessions with legendary artists such as Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye allowed him to soak up inspiration for this album. However, Michael and Quincy managed to curate a sonic palette that nobody had yet come close to. Off the Wall has an irreplaceable cadence to it, and in just 41 minutes, we are taken on a soulful journey through the brain of Michael Jackson.
Let’s dive into some of these tracks and the sheer impact that this album has had on the disco and soul culture.
Off the Wall begins with one of Michael’s most recognisable tracks, ‘Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough’ – even if you aren’t a Michael Jackson fan, everybody will know this one. This track is most definitely one of the best disco tracks ever made. Every track on this album makes you want to get up and move your feet. This track was the very first song of his career that he was able to have complete creative control over, as he was tied to the Jackson 5 for so long. It was also the song that introduced his falsetto voice and famous vocal hiccups, which would become one of his signature techniques. Our very first taste of Michael in his prime.
Another standout track on this album is, of course, ‘Rock with You’; the soulful and passionate feel of this song simply takes over upon first listen. It’s arguably one of Michael Jackson’s best songs, and once again, everybody knows this one. I feel that this song is the complete ethos of Off the Wall – highlighting Michael’s romantic tones and feel-good energy in this album.
Some of the other tracks on this album include ‘Workin’ Day and Night’ and ‘Off the Wall ’. Both songs highlight Quincy Jones’ impeccable ear for production and show the beginning of a flourishing, sonically unique solo career for Michael.
To this day, the impact that Off the Wall has had on music today is simply indescribable. It opened a new musical world in the 70s, giving us a display of talent that nobody had yet seen. Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson worked in perfect unison to bring us one of the best albums of our time.
10/10
