1979 Michael Jackson – Off The Wall
Off the Wall is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was released on August 10, 1979 by Epic Records following Jackson’s critically well-received film performance in the The Wiz. While working on that project, Jackson and Quincy Jones had become friends, and Jones agreed to work with Jackson on his next studio album. Recording sessions took place between December 1978 and June 1979 at Allen Zentz Recording, Westlake Recording Studios, and Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles, California. Jackson collaborated with a number of other writers and performers such as Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Rod Temperton. Five singles were released from the album. Three of the singles had music videos released. Jackson wrote three of the songs himself, including the number-one Grammy-winning single “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”. It was his first solo release under Epic Records, the label he would record on until his death roughly 30 years later.
The record was a departure from Jackson’s previous work for Motown. The lyrical themes on the record relate to escapism, liberation, loneliness, hedonism and romance. Several critics observed that Off the Wall was crafted from funk, disco, soft rock, jazz and pop ballads. Jackson received positive reviews for his vocal performance on the record. The record gained critical acclaim and recognition and won the singer his first Grammy Award. With Off the Wall, Jackson became the first solo artist to have four singles from the same album peak inside the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. The album was an enormous commercial success; as of 2014 it is certified eight times platinum in the United States and has reportedly sold more than 20 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best selling albums of all time.
On October 16, 2001, a special edition reissue of Off the Wall was released by Sony Records. Recent reviews by AllMusic and Blender have continued to praise Off the Wall for its appeal in the 21st century. In 2003, the album was ranked number 68 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The National Association of Recording Merchandisers listed it at number 80 of the Definitive 200 Albums of All Time. In 2008, Off the Wall was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Tracks
1 Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough (Michael Jackson) 6:05
2 Rock With You (Rod Tempterton) 3:40
3 Workin’ Day And Night (Michael Jackson) 5:13
4 Get On The Floor (Michael Jackson, Louis Johnson) 4:39
5 Off The Wall (Rod Tempterton) 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 (Stevie Wonder, Susaye Greene) 4:29
9 It’s The Falling In Love (Carole Bayer Sager, David Foster) 3:48
10 Burn This Disco Out (Rod Tempterton) 3:44
Biography
Musicians
1 Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
Bass | Louis Johnson |
Drums | JR Robinson |
Guitar | David Williams |
Guitar | Marlo Henderson |
Piano | Greg Phillinganes |
Horn | Larry Williams |
Sax | Kim Hutchcroft |
Trombone | Bill Reichenbach |
Trumpet | Jerry Hey |
Trumpet | Gary Grant |
Percussion | Paulinho Da Costa |
Percussion | Randy Jackson |
Percussion | Rick Heath |
Background Vocals | Augie Johnson |
Background Vocals | Jim Gilstrap |
Background Vocals | Paulette McWilliams |
Background Vocals | Zedric Williams |
Background Vocals | Mortonette Jenkins |
2 Rock With You
Bass | Bobby Watson |
Drums | JR Robinson |
Guitar | David Williams |
Guitar | Marlo Henderson |
Piano | David Wolinski |
Synthesizer | Greg Phillinganes |
Synthesizer | Michael Boddicker |
Horn | Larry Williams |
Sax | Kim Hutchcroft |
Trumpet | Jerry Hey |
Trombone | Bill Reichenbach |
Trumpet | Gary Grant |
3 Workin’ Day And Night
Bass | Louis Johnson |
Drums | JR Robinson |
Guitar | WahWah Watson |
Guitar | Phil Upchurch |
Piano | Greg Phillinganes |
Trumpet | Jerry Hey |
Horn | Larry Williams |
Sax | Kim Hutchcroft |
Trombone | Bill Reichenbach |
Trumpet | Gary Grant |
Percussion | Paulinho Da Costa |
4 Get On The Floor
Bass | Louis Johnson |
Drums | JR Robinson |
Guitar | WahWah Watson |
Clavinet | Greg Phillinganes |
Trumpet | Jerry Hey |
Horn | Larry Williams |
Sax | Kim Hutchcroft |
Trombone | Bill Reichenbach |
Trumpet | Gary Grant |
Percussion | Paulinho Da Costa |
Background Vocals | Augie Johnson |
Background Vocals | Jim Gilstrap |
Background Vocals | Mortonette Jenkins |
Background Vocals | Paulette McWilliams |
Background Vocals | Zedric Williams |
5 Off The Wall
Bass | Louis Johnson |
Drums | JR Robinson |
Guitar | David Williams |
Guitar | Marlo Henderson |
Piano | Greg Phillinganes |
Synthesizer | George Duke |
Synthesizer | Greg Phillinganes |
Programming | Michael Boddicker |
Trumpet | Jerry Hey |
Horn | Larry Williams |
Sax | Kim Hutchcroft |
Trombone | Bill Reichenbach |
Trumpet | Gary Grant |
Percussion | Paulinho Da Costa |
6 Girlfriend
Bass | Louis Johnson |
Drums | JR Robinson |
Guitar | Marlo Henderson |
Guitar | WahWah Watson |
Piano | Greg Phillinganes |
Programming | Steve Porcaro |
Synthesizer | George Duke |
Synthesizer | David Foster |
Trumpet | Jerry Hey |
Horn | Larry Williams |
Sax | Kim Hutchcroft |
Trombone | Bill Reichenbach |
Trumpet | Gary Grant |
7 She’s Out Of My Life
Bass | Louis Johnson |
Guitar | Larry Carlton |
Piano | Greg Phillinganes |
8 I Can’t Help It
Bass | Louis Johnson |
Drums | JR Robinson |
Piano | Greg Phillinganes |
Synthesizer | Greg Phillinganes |
Trumpet | Jerry Hey |
Horn | Larry Williams |
Sax | Kim Hutchcroft |
Trombone | Bill Reichenbach |
Trumpet | Gary Grant |
Percussion | Paulinho Da Costa |
9 It’s The Falling In Love
Bass | Louis Johnson |
Drums | JR Robinson |
Guitar | Marlo Henderson |
Guitar | WahWah Watson |
Piano | Greg Phillinganes |
Programming | Steve Porcaro |
Synthesizer | David Foster |
Trumpet | Jerry Hey |
Horn | Larry Williams |
Sax | Kim Hutchcroft |
Trombone | Bill Reichenbach |
Trumpet | Gary Grant |
Background Vocals | Patti Austin |
10 Burn This Disco Out
Bass | Louis Johnson |
Drums | JR Robinson |
Guitar | David Williams |
Guitar | Marlo Henderson |
Piano | Greg Phillinganes |
Trumpet | Jerry Hey |
Horn | Larry Williams |
Sax | Kim Hutchcroft |
Trombone | Bill Reichenbach |
Trumpet | Gary Grant |
Percussion | Paulinho Da Costa |
Liner Notes
Producer – Quincy Jones
Co-producer – Michael Jackson (Tracks 1, 3)
Arranged By (Horns) – Jerry Hey (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10)
Arranged By (Percussion, Rhythm, Vocals) – Michael Jackson (Tracks 1, 3)
Arranged By (Rhythm)- Greg Phillinganes (Tracks 1, 3, 6, 8)
Arranged By (Rhythm) – Quincy Jones (Track 4)
Arranged By (Rhythm) – Louis Johnson (Track 4)
Arranged By (Rhythm) – Tom Bahler (Track 6)
Arranged By (Rhythm) – David Foster (Track 9)
Arranged By (Rhythm, Vocals) – Rod Temperton (Track 2, 5, 10)
Arranged By (Rhythm, Vocals) – Quincy Jones (Tracks 6, 9)
Arranged By (Strings) – Benjamin Wright (Tracks 1, 2, 4)
Arranged By (Strings) – Johnny Mandel (Tracks 7, 8)
Arranged By (Vocals) – Michael Jackson (Track 6)
Arranged By (Vocals) – Tom Bahler (Track 9)
Concertmaster – Gerald Vinci (Tracks 2, 7, 8)
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Mixed By – Bruce Swedien
Recorded By – Bruce Swedien
Recorded By (Assistant) – Ed Cherney, Erik Zobler, Frank D’Amico, Jim Fitzpatrick, Mitch Gibson, Rick Ash, Steve Conger
Design – Mike Salisbury
Photography – Stephen Harvey
Mixed At Westlake Audio
Recorded At Allen Zentz Recording
Recorded At Westlake Audio
Recorded At Cherokee Studios
Mastered At A&M Studios
Phonographic Copyright CBS Inc
October 24, 2015 @ 18:01
The MJ album.