Before this album, Michael Jackson was the adorable, prepubescent lead singer of The Jackson 5. After Off the Wall , he was a sophisticated, adult solo artist capable of dominating pop, R&B, and dance floors simultaneously. If you want to understand the genius of Michael Jackson, you don’t start with the zombie dance; you start here. The late 1970s was a transitional period for music. Disco was peaking but facing backlash, while funk and soft rock were merging. Jackson, now 21, was desperate to shed the "child star" label. He teamed up with legendary producer Quincy Jones , a partnership that would define the next decade.
Written by Rod Temperton, this is the smoothest song in Jackson's catalog. It’s a late-night, silky slow jam disguised as a pop song. The reverb-heavy guitar and Jackson's warm baritone in the verses prove he didn't need high energy to command attention. It became his second #1 hit from the album. Michael Jackson - Off The Wall -1979-
When discussing the career of Michael Jackson, most conversations start and end with Thriller . While Thriller is the best-selling album of all time, it is a sequel. The real revolution—the artistic and commercial blueprint—began in 1979 with Off the Wall . Before this album, Michael Jackson was the adorable,