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Off the Wall (album)

Off the Wall
A smiling adult African American male (Michael Jackson) with a black afro, wearing a black tuxedo, white shirt, and a black bow tie. Both of his thumbs are hooked into his pants pockets with his palms and fingers facing forward and splayed out. The sides of his jacket are tucked behind his hands as he leans back slightly, giving a playful, casual touch to his formal look. Behind him there is a brown brick wall and to the side of his head are "MICHAEL JACKSON" in yellow chalk writing and "OFF THE WALL" in white chalk writing. "JACKSON" and "WALL" are separately underlined.
Studio album by Michael Jackson
Released August 10, 1979
Recorded December 1978 – June 1979
Studio Allen Zentz Recording
Westlake Audio
Cherokee Studios
(Los Angeles, California)
Genre
Length 42:28
Label
Producer
Michael Jackson chronology
The Best of Michael Jackson
(1975)		 Off the Wall
(1979)		 One Day in Your Life
(1981)
Alternate cover
The slipcover for the 2001 Special Edition of the album. Current pressings of the special edition do not include the slipcover.
Singles from Off the Wall
  1. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
    Released: July 10, 1979
  2. "Rock with You"
    Released: November 3, 1979
  3. "Off the Wall"
    Released: February 2, 1980
  4. "She's Out of My Life"
    Released: April 19, 1980
  5. "Girlfriend"
    Released: July 16, 1980
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic 5/5 stars
Blender 5/5 stars
Christgau's Record Guide A
Encyclopedia of Popular Music 5/5 stars
Q 5/5 stars
Pitchfork Media 10/10
Rolling Stone 5/5 stars
The Rolling Stone Album Guide 5/5 stars
Sounds 5/5 stars
The Village Voice A–

Off the Wall is the fifth studio album by American singer Michael Jackson, released on August 10, 1979 in the United States by Epic Records and internationally by CBS Records. It was his nineteenth album in total since Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 (1969), as well as his first album released through Epic Records, the label he would record on until his death roughly 30 years later. It was released following Jackson's critically well-received film performance in 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 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 Award-winning single "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".

The record was a departure from Jackson's previous work for Motown Records. Its 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, Broadway 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. It was re-released on February 26, 2016. 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 placed at number 68 on Rolling Stone list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". The National Association of Recording Merchandisers listed it at number 80 on its list of the "Definitive 200 Albums of All Time". In 2008, Off the Wall was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.


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