Michael Jackson ”Off The Wall”

Michael Jackson

”Off The Wall”
( LP Epic Records, 1979 )
Catalog # FE 35745

Personnel & Tracklisting:
A1 Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough (6:02)
Arranged By [Horns], Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Percussion, Rhythm, Vocals], Backing Vocals,
Co-producer, Lead Vocals, Percussion, Written-by – Michael Jackson
Arranged By [Rhythm], Electric Piano – Greg Phillinganes
Arranged By [Strings] – Ben Wright
Backing Vocals [Additional] – Augie Johnson, Jim Gilstrap,
Mortonette Jenkins , Paulette McWilliams, Zedric Williams
Bass – Louis Johnson
Concertmaster – Gerald Vinci
Drums – John Robinson
Flute, Saxophone [Alto, Tenor] – Larry Williams
Flute, Saxophone [Baritone, Tenor] – Kim Hutchcroft
Guitar – David Williams, Marlo Henderson
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa, Randy Jackson, Richard Heath
Performer [Horns] – Seawind Horns, The
Trombone – William Reichenbach
Trumpet – Gary Grant
A2 Rock With You (3:38)
Arranged By [Horns], Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Rhythm, Vocals], Written-by – Rod Temperton
Arranged By [Strings] – Ben Wright
Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals – Michael Jackson
Bass – Bobby Watson
Concertmaster – Gerald Vinci
Drums – John Robinson
Electric Piano – David “Hawk” Wolinski
Flute, Saxophone [Alto, Tenor] – Larry Williams
Flute, Saxophone [Baritone, Tenor] – Kim Hutchcroft
Guitar – David Williams, Marlo Henderson
Performer [Horns] – Seawind Horns, The
Synthesizer – Greg Phillinganes , Michael Boddicker
Trombone – William Reichenbach
Trumpet – Gary Grant
A3 Working Day And Night (5:12)
Arranged By [Horns], Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Percussion, Rhythm, Vocals], Backing Vocals,
Co-producer, Lead Vocals, Percussion, Written-by – Michael Jackson
Arranged By [Rhythm], Electric Piano – Greg Phillinganes
Bass – Louis Johnson
Drums, Percussion – John Robinson
Flute, Saxophone [Alto, Tenor] – Larry Williams
Flute, Saxophone [Baritone, Tenor] – Kim Hutchcroft
Guitar – David Williams, Phil Upchurch
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
Performer [Horns] – Seawind Horns, The
Trombone – William Reichenbach
Trumpet – Gary Grant
A4 Get On The Floor (4:44)
Arranged By [Horns], Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Rhythm] – Quincy Jones
Arranged By [Rhythm], Bass, Written-by – Louis Johnson
Arranged By [Strings] – Ben Wright
Arranged By [Vocals], Backing Vocals, Co-producer, Lead Vocals,
Written-by – Michael Jackson
Backing Vocals [Additional] – Augie Johnson, Jim Gilstrap,
Mortonette Jenkins, Paulette McWilliams, Zedric Williams
Clavinet – Greg Phillinganes
Concertmaster – Gerald Vinci
Drums – John Robinson
Flute, Saxophone [Alto, Tenor] – Larry Williams
Flute, Saxophone [Baritone, Tenor] – Kim Hutchcroft
Guitar – Wah Wah Watson
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
Performer [Horns] – Seawind Horns, The
Trombone – William Reichenbach
Trumpet – Gary Grant
B1 Off The Wall (4:04)
Arranged By [Horns], Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Rhythm, Vocals], Written-by – Rod Temperton
Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals – Michael Jackson
Bass – Louis Johnson
Drums – John Robinson
Electric Piano, Synthesizer – Greg Phillinganes
Flute, Saxophone [Alto, Tenor] – Larry Williams
Flute, Saxophone [Baritone, Tenor] – Kim Hutchcroft
Guitar – David Williams, Marlo Henderson
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
Performer [Horns] – Seawind Horns, The
Programmed By [Synthesizer] – Michael Boddicker
Programmed By [Synthesizer], Synthesizer – George Duke
Trombone – William Reichenbach
Trumpet – Gary Grant
B2 Girlfriend (3:04)
Arranged By [Horns], Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Rhythm, Vocals] – Quincy Jones
Arranged By [Rhythm] – Tom Bahler
Arranged By [Rhythm], Electric Piano – Greg Phillinganes
Arranged By [Vocals], Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals – Michael Jackson
Bass – Louis Johnson
Drums – John Robinson
Flute, Saxophone [Alto, Alto Solo, Tenor] – Larry Williams
Flute, Saxophone [Baritone, Tenor] – Kim Hutchcroft
Guitar – Marlo Henderson, Wah Wah Watso
Performer [Horns] – Seawind Horns, The
Programmed By [Synthesizer] – Steve Porcaro
Programmed By [Synthesizer], Synthesizer – George Duke
Synthesizer – David Foster
Trombone – William Reichenbach
Trumpet – Gary Grant
Written-By – Paul McCartney
B3 She’s Out Of My Life (3:36)
Arranged By [Strings] – Johnny Mandel
Bass – Louis Johnson
Concertmaster – Gerald Vinci
Electric Piano – Greg Phillinganes
Guitar – Larry Carlton
Lead Vocals – Michael Jackson
Written-By – Tom Bahler
B4 I Can’t Help It (4:27)
Arranged By [Horns], Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Rhythm], Electric Piano, Synthesizer – Greg Phillinganes
Arranged By [Rhythm], Written-by – Stevie Wonder
Arranged By [Strings] – Johnny Mandel
Bass – Louis Johnson
Concertmaster – Gerald Vinci
Drums – John Robinson
Flute, Saxophone [Alto, Tenor] – Larry Williams
Flute, Saxophone [Baritone, Tenor] – Kim Hutchcroft
Lead Vocals – Michael Jackson
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
Performer [Horns] – Seawind Horns, The
Programmed By [Synthesizer] – Michael Boddicker
Trombone – William Reichenbach
Trumpet – Gary Grant
Written-By – Susaye Greene
B5 It’s The Falling In Love (3:46)
Arranged By [Horns], Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Rhythm, Vocals] – Quincy Jones
Arranged By [Rhythm], Synthesizer, Written-by – David Foster
Arranged By [Vocals] – Tom Bahler
Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals – Michael Jackson, Patti Austin
Bass – Louis Johnson
Drums – John Robinson
Electric Piano – Greg Phillinganes
Flute, Saxophone [Alto, Tenor] – Larry Williams
Flute, Saxophone [Baritone, Tenor] – Kim Hutchcroft
Guitar – Marlo Henderson , Wah Wah Watson
Performer [Horns] – Seawind Horns, The
Programmed By [Synthesizer] – Steve Porcaro
Trombone – William Reichenbach
Trumpet – Gary Grant
Written-By – Carole Bayer Sager
B6 Burn This Disco Out (3:38)
Arranged By [Horns], Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Rhythm, Vocals], Written-by – Rod Temperton
Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals – Michael Jackson
Bass – Louis Johnson
Drums – John Robinson
Electric Piano – Greg Phillinganes
Flute, Saxophone [Alto, Tenor] – Larry Williams
Flute, Saxophone [Baritone, Tenor] – Kim Hutchcroft
Guitar – David Williams, Marlo Henderson
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
Performer [Horns] – Seawind Horns, The
Trombone – William Reichenbach
Trumpet – Gary Grant

Notes:
Rhythm tracks and vocals recorded at Allen Zentz Recording
Horns recorded at Westlake Audio; Strings recorded at Cherokee Studios
Mixed at Westlake Audio; Mastered at A&M Recording Studio, L.A.
Format:Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold
Country:US
Released:1979
I dedicate this to the year of the child & my mother – Love, M.J.

Note:
Michael Joseph Jackson
Born: 29 August 1958 in Gary, Indiana, USA.
Died: 25 June 2009 in Beverly Hills, LA, California, USA. Had a cardiac arrest in his home, he was aged 50.

Review:
Michael Jackson had recorded solo prior to the release of Off the Wall in 1979, but this was his breakthrough, the album that established him as an artist of astonishing talent and a bright star in his own right. This was a visionary album, a record that found a way to break disco wide open into a new world where the beat was undeniable, but not the primary focus — it was part of a colorful tapestry of lush ballads and strings, smooth soul and pop, soft rock, and alluring funk. Its roots hearken back to the Jacksons’ huge mid-’70s hit “Dancing Machine,” but this is an enormously fresh record, one that remains vibrant and giddily exciting years after its release. This is certainly due to Jackson’s emergence as a blindingly gifted vocalist, equally skilled with overwrought ballads as “She’s Out of My Life” as driving dancefloor shakers as “Working Day and Night” and “Get on the Floor,” where his asides are as gripping as his delivery on the verses. It’s also due to the brilliant songwriting, an intoxicating blend of strong melodies, rhythmic hooks, and indelible construction. Most of all, its success is due to the sound constructed by Jackson and producer Quincy Jones, a dazzling array of disco beats, funk guitars, clean mainstream pop, and unashamed (and therefore affecting) schmaltz that is utterly thrilling in its utter joy. This is highly professional, highly crafted music, and its details are evident, but the overall effect is nothing but pure pleasure. Jackson and Jones expanded this approach on the blockbuster Thriller, often with equally stunning results, but they never bettered it.
By Stephen Thomas Erlewine (AMG)

Michael Jackson Website here.

By The My Favourite Sound© Equipe

Rest in peace, Michael.