Here are some customer reviews of
Off the Wall
: This album is Jackson's best ever. This version is a must have, particulary because we get to her Rod Temperton, who wrote the three best songs on the album, "Off the Wall", "Burn This Disco Out", and the commercial hit "Rock With You". He is the best writer Michael Jackson ever had, and I wish Michael still will call him. I must say the demo of "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" and "Working Day and Night" is great to hear Janet and Randy helping in the background with soda cans. Besides hearing Temperton and his pen written songs, McCartney's "Girlfriend" always shines in its R&B groove, thanks to the great production of Quincy Jones, a man we also hear speaking on the album. A masterpiece album this is. The only flaw: we still never get the original cover with Michael and his afro in front of the wall. However, still "DJ's spin the sounds!" Thanks for reading.
Michael Jackson is one of the most successful, famous and influential music artists in history. His music is among some of the best ever recorded and his debut album represents a large part of this. "Off The Wall" was Michael's debut album and was released in 1979. He was already a huge star as the lead singer of the Jacksons, but this debut album introduced the world to the adult Michael. He was willing to leave the band that made him famous behind and pursue a solo career. This is where it began.
Off The Wall begins with the classic "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough." Released in September 1979, the song was a massive US No.1 and peaked at No.3 in the UK. The beat is strong, and Michael's vocals are very high-pitched in their iconic style. The song has many instrumental styles, but the focus is on the incredible vocal arrangement. At just over six minutes long, the song is a classic in every sense of the word. "Rock With You" was released in February 1980 and was another US No.1. The beat on this song is great and Michael's vocals are very strong. The trumpet that signals after Michael sings "I wanna rock with you" is deeply classy and the eerie instrumental is pure disco fun. "Workin' Day And Night" is perhaps the most uptempo song on this album, and it works very well. The beat is rather muddled, even a little tribal. The verses are speedy, as is the chorus, and Michael has many of his famous noises going on, such as the "Ow!"
"Get On The Floor" is my favourite unreleased song from this album. This song is pure pop disco fun. The beat is brash and loud, along with an echoing feel to it, which makes Michael's vocals stand out a lot more. Michael adds lots of chanting after three minutes which adds to the crazy feel to the song. The album's title track, "Off The Wall" is the worst song on the album, yet it's still a great song. Released in November 1979, the song has a very strange beginning before breaking out with a funky beat and clap. Michael's vocals are excellent and not only showcase his talent, but cement the fact that his vocal range can vary dramatically throughout a song. The verses showcase his deep manly vocals while the choruses show his high-pitched voice. "Girlfriend" is the brilliant song written by Paul McCartney. The song is very sweet and innocent. Michael takes time between his singing in the verses and one begins to wonder just where he's taking it. "Girlfriend...I'm gonna tell your boyfriend...Tell him...Exactly what we're doin'...Tell him what you do to me...Late at night when the wind is free...Girlfriend...I'm gonna show your boyfriend...Show him...The letters I've been saving." Get the picture?
"She's Out Of My Life" is one of the highlights on this album. While a short song at just over three and a half minutes, this deeply emotional ballad makes a big impact. Released in May 1980, the song peaked at No.3 in the UK. Michael's vocals are the strongest on the album on this particular song. Michael fills the lyrics with rich emotion. This is only enhanced when he sings the tear-jerking last word of the song; "life." "I Can't Help It" is a pure funky pop song with soulful tones that make it an ultimate album highlight. The song has some excellent beats and the chorus is particularly memorable. The song is perfect for chilling to or dancing to slowly. "It's The Falling In Love" is a great mid-tempo ballad with great vocals and a brilliant chorus that captures everything that this album is about; funky beats, innocent lyrics and strong vocals. The song also features guest vocals from Patti Austin. "Burn This Disco Out" is an excellent song to finish this classic album. The song begins with a stylish introduction on the trumpet, as Michael begins his singing. The vocals are strong, and the lyrics represent good times and are very trouble-free.
OVERALL GRADE: 10/10
This special re-marstered edition of Off The Wall contains some excellent bonus features. Included are interviews with producer Quincy Jones, and songwriter Rod Temperton. These are particularly insightful, and we also get the bonus original demo versions of Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough and Workin' Day And Night on which Michael's younger sister Janet plays instruments. These bonus features are excellent and add to the album's quality. In conclusion, Off The Wall may not be Michael Jackson's best album, but it is definitely the one which brings back the fondest memories. This album is literally off the wall.
Michael Jackson's first solo album as an adult tops many peoples list as his best yet. It's an incredibly strong and innovative album that set the mold for the greatness to come. This special edition reveals the album as it's never been heard before. The clarity of sound presented here is astounding! Especially when you go back and listen to the original release. From the swirling cackles in the title track, to the bass on Burn This Disco Out, to the layered voices in Don't Stop, the sound enveopes you in it's crispness and rishness. It's pure aural candy! The special edition includes a booklet with 4 new photos (one featuring Paul McCartney), a brick design on the cd itself, and 18 minutes of bonus material including, interviews with Quincy Jones and Rod Temperton and, the best treat, two demo recordings. Both demo's run about 4:30 and feature Randy and Janet on rhythm and sound efects. There is a hillarious spat between Randy and Janet at the begenning of the Don't Stop demo that had me roaring in laughter. These demos really give a sense of the Jackson family as a whole, fun, musically inventive, talented and wanting to help each other out. They also showcase Michael's strong song writing skills. The rhythms and arrangements are completely fleshed out but the lyrics are barely there. What you can hear of lyrics is very different from the final recordings and seems like MJ made it up as he went along in the song (Is he really singing 'Keep on with you hot dog' in Don't Stop Til You Get Enough?). The demo's highlight his talent as a rhythm arragner and song builder rather than a lyricist. On the down side, the interviews aren't that enlightening and I can't imagine wanting to listen to them more than once or twice. Also nowhere in the booklet or on the jewel case is the bonus material given track numbers. There are a total of 19 tracks here with an announcer, interviews and demos. A track listing would've made it alot easier to find the demo's later. One final nitpick, I would've liked to have seen a picture underneath the cd's clear tray in the jewel case. Instead all we get is black. Oh well, it hardly detracts from all the great things about this sepcial edition. If you're a MJ fan or have an older copy of Off The Wall, then you have to have this for the incredible restoration done, it's historical value and the insightful demo recordings. For the rest of you, don't miss out on this strong, innovative, fun and moving album. The sepcial edition is the one to have!
One of the greatest things about Michael Jackson is his versatility. Also I think his fame is a symptom of the strangeness that surrounds him. He's not going to be a "normal" person by the standards by which we measure others. And I think the fault of most people is that they try to look at him as being someone who should be logically accessible as well in our concepts of our own worlds. I really liked this cd and recommend this highly for the beats.
MJ gets a Nice Touch Up Here with Demos&Interviews talking about the Magic Vibe of this Great album.if you don't already have it then get it.this is Classic MJ From start to finish.Highly Enjoyable.this Album hasn't Lost it's Touch Nearly 25 Years Later.
|
