Off The Wall With MJ

When I was nine years old my dad and I went to the local department store and picked up a copy of Thriller.  It would not be the first time we would get a copy of that album and surely won't be the last.  During my early use of the family turntable I believe I contributed to playing Thriller over a zillion times and my dad wanted a copy that would not skip or sound scratched.  I will admit I was very heavy handed putting down the needle and playing either tracks over or skipping the record to the next track.  In the time I listened to the album to finally getting on cassette and then finally LP I think we went through five copies.  I know my allowance played for four of them.  Those four also made my dad go from a smiling face to an over all angered face.  After getting the other formats my dad was thrilled that I did not have to bother with his record copy again.

As much as I loved Thriller I wanted to hear more Michael Jackson.  We had another Michael Jackson in our collection and that was an early Jackson Five album and that was my mothers.  I gave it a listen and liked it, but I wanted to hear more.  At the time of Thriller there was not really much to look for, in MJ's solo music. or so I thought. I loved the album but I wanted to hear more music to dance to.  It was not till years later till I found the precursor to Thriller.  I'm glad I did.

One day I heard a song on the radio that sounded like MJ.  I heard it and now had to look for it.  I was fourteen.  I mentioned to my dad that I think I heard a new MJ tune on the radio.  He mentioned to me if I heard it again then I should let him know.  At this time He did have a new album out. Bad was  about to come out and he had a new single that was pretty cool.  The song "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" was heavy on the radio, but MJ's voice did not sound anything like that I heard.  It even sounded younger then I heard on Thriller.  I was confused on what song I was hearing on the radio.  One day the song was on again.  I rushed over to my dad and told him to listen.  He liked it and played it louder.  This is great he told me.  When the song was over the announcer mentioned that the song was from an album called Off The Wall and the song was called "Rock With You."  It surely had a 70's vibe to it and the next day we went to go look for it.

Off The Wall was not hard to find.  It was trying to convince my dad that I would take good care of this one was the hard part.  We went through five copies of Thriller and he did not want to go through another five.  I told him I promised and if I could get Off The Wall on cassette it would provide many hours of enjoyment with ruining his LP.  We agreed that was the wiser choice.  When we got home my dad made an agreement that the only time I could play any MJ or any of his personal albums that we would do this under his supervision.  Years later he knew I played his albums more then once.  His ZZ Top, Huey Lewis, Jackie Wilson, Chicago, Ray Charles, and Beach Boys were not handled with the best of care.

At first listen Off The Wall had awesome hooks, Disco grooves and and full of Motown soul without being a Motown album.  I remember one night my dad would play the album once through and then put it back on the turntable and play it again.  He liked it just as much as Thriller.  The songs like "Off The Wall" and Don't Stop Til' You Get Enough" and of course "Rock With You" When I looked up information on Off The Wall his session players were no slouches.  People Like Patti Austin, Larry Carlton, George Duke, Phil Upchurch and so many others were helping MJ with this ultimate classic. MJ proved himself here and it shows.  He shook off his child icon image and made an instant classic. I play it on occasion and realize how great this album sounds from the instruments really playing with so much energy, the vocals are right on point.  The horns and keyboards don't sound overpowering and sound perfect match for everything else and MJ's beautiful vocals.

So if your looking for a good time party album that will have your friends liking your taste in music or are up for a surprise then Off The Wall is the album for you.  While Thriller was the classic that set MJ on the road to Pop success after the Jackson 5 it was Off The Wall that made it all possible.  With great hooks and infections grooves the album is pretty close to perfect.  It's the most played by myself and yes at one point my dad ditched Thriller for a while just to listen to this again and again.  We did not have to buy five copies of it either.  There is something organic about this album it's not full of great horns, great bass lines and soulful vocals.  Who can ask for anything more.  Enjoy!!