Soulful DetroitArchives - July 2004 � Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall": 25th Anniversary Previous Next

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bigdaddyg2k4 (bigdaddyg2k4)
4-Laureate
Username: bigdaddyg2k4

Post Number: 72
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 205.138.55.112
Posted on Tuesday, August 31, 2004 - 6:51 pm: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

In August, 1979, Epic Records released of what would become a masterpiece in recorded music, and started a worldwide phenomenon 4 years later, making music history as one of the biggest-selling albums ever: BUT WITHOUT THIS ARTIST'S DEBUT ALBUM-IT WOULD'VE NEVER HAPPENED. Folks, I'm talking about Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall" LP, as he made his comeback on the Billboard charts with one of the most successful albums of all time since his departure from the label him (and his brothers) started with, Motown.

After his debut in 1969 as the lead singer of the Jackson 5, Michael Jackson and his brothers (Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Jackie) began as one of the biggest and most successful acts in Motown history and music history as a whole with their debut album "Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5" followed later with "ABC", their songs were soon to be American classics. Combined with the group's youth and impeccable stage presence, Berry Gordy's marketing genius and the Motown's roster of producers and songwriters, soon-to-be classics like "I Want You Back", "ABC", "I'll Be There", "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Dancing Machine" were just some of the songs that millions of the record-buying public could'nt get enough of, with albums and singles selling in excess of 25 million copies-making The Jackson 5 a new sensation the world over. Eventually, Michael would branch out with his own solo career (as did his brothers), and was equally successful with hits like "Got To Be There", "Ben" and "Rockin' Robin" making Michael the obvious favorite of the group. When founder Berry Gordy described Motown as "The Sound Of Young America", in no doubt, he was refering to The Jackson 5. Times were good for the siblings and their label, but as they grew older from the children they once were, their popularity with the public declined, looking for a fresh start elsewhere, The J5 severed ties with Motown in 1975, but not without some legal issues being settled with the label and Berry Gordy (with Gordy retaining the rights to the group name, much publishing and a cash settlement), before signing with Epic in 1976 as The Jacksons, reflecting their persona at their time as young men. They teamed with Philly sound legends Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, their debut album with Epic, "The Jacksons" quickly went gold with the top-10 singles "Enjoy Yourself" and "Show You The Way To Go" and making a successful return to the music scene more popular than ever. Their success continued with Gamble/Huff once again with their sophmore album "Goin' Places" (1977) and finally going at it on their own with the self-produced "Destiny" album in 1978 with the mega smashes "Blame It On The Boogie" and "Shake Your Body Down To The Ground". But once again, the enevitable happened. Teaming with superstar producer Quincy Jones and a cast of session musicians (such as bassist Louis Johnson of The Brothers Johnson, drummer John Robinson along with others) and songwriters (ex-Heatwave member Rod Temperton, Stevie Wonder and Michael himself to name a few), "Off The Wall" was a sonic and production masterpiece never seen or heard before in music history. Released at the height of the disco phenomenon, "Off The Wall" became a musical juggernaut and blended in seamlessly with the music of the time, making Michael (reluctlantly, as he sees it), the biggest superstar in the world and breaking records in the process. The first album ever to chart 4 consecutive Top-Ten Billboard hits including the #1s: "Rock With You" and "Don't Stop 'Till You Get Enough". "Off The Wall" and "Working Day And Night" soon followed and making the album #1 in the U.S. and abroad, eventually selling in excess of 7 Million copies in America alone. Other tracks were important too-"Get On The Floor", the ballad "She's Out Of My Life" (another chart smash), Stevie Wonder's sensual "I Can't Help It", Paul McCartney's "Girlfriend", "It's The Falling In Love" and the album closer "Burn This Disco Out" were THE perfect tracks that complimented and completed the overall popularity and feel of this classic LP. The public was excited and enthralled by Michael's gifts as a performer and Quincy's signature production and arrangement skills that made him the legend he already was and still is-also not to forget all of the musicians that worked their magic for the album and the executive engineer that also made it possible, Bruce Swedien and his patented (often duplicated and influential) Accusonic Recording Process topped with the precise craftmanship analog mastering by the legendary Bernie Grundman at the famed A&M Mastering studios along with the recording/mixing facilities Allen Zentz recording, Westlake Audio ,Wally Heider and A&M that contributed to this classic album. But all of the success that was achived by "Off The Wall" would soon be eclipsed in 1982 with the 2nd release "Thriller" and it became just that. Discussing that album would start a completely new conversation on the massive success and historical contribution on music business as a whole, with Michael permanantly achieving his status as an icon. There will be no time. But without "Off The Wall" I truly believe there would never have been no "Thriller" and no effect or mention of the contribution of music history as we know it that Michael has made since then. "Off The Wall" has truly changed my life about the wonder of music for the past 25 years and it continues to do so for many years to come. I have come to appreciate the album as a whole, what's your story?

p.s.: Why did Michael change the original cover of the album from the head shot to the "glowing socks" cover that we see now? I have the orignial cover on LP and CD, but soon will get the "Special Edition" version also.
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J5 Collector (j5_collector)
2-Debutant
Username: j5_collector

Post Number: 23
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 64.109.133.198
Posted on Tuesday, August 31, 2004 - 7:02 pm: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

All of the remastered re-releases of his Epic-era LPs have cover art that's a variation on the original art. The glowing socks were actually the back of the original LP, as it was a gatefold with a full-body shot.

I think it's interesting how the titles of MJ's solo Lps with Epic seem to represent a descriptive timeline of his career as a solo artist:

Off the Wall ~ Thriller ~ Bad ~ Dangerous ~ History
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Richard Felstead (felstead2001)
4-Laureate
Username: felstead2001

Post Number: 108
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 195.92.194.17
Posted on Tuesday, August 31, 2004 - 10:18 pm: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

:-)))))))))

Duly noted. I'm sure Michael himself would find the Irony in that amusing as did I.

Off The Wall was indeed a masterpiece, in fact I personally prefer it above Thriller.

He is a talent, of that there is no question,but a bigger fool unto himself, you couldn't find.
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Soulsauce (soulsauce)
1-Arriviste
Username: soulsauce

Post Number: 6
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.42.166.88
Posted on Wednesday, September 01, 2004 - 1:17 am: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"Off the Wall" is by far my favorite of MJ's solo albums. "Thriller" is a distant second followed by "Dangerous," "History," and lastly "Bad."

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