maybe not save it... but it definitely did a lot did it not? Idk what im even doing fr but it will be an interesting next month idk but i maybe fixed it?
I would say it did. It separated him from his brothers so when Thriller came out it wasn’t a surprise and people could already look at him as a solo artist then the kid from the Jackson 5 going into Thriller. All of those ideas and conversations happened with Off the Wall. And I love the Jacksons music but they did fall off a bit from their stardom
@@endrykperez412 I’m not saying they were anywhere close to being done but they never matched what they did commercially when they first came out and it was all somewhat declining until Michael’s solo work revamped the group. They were still greatly successful tho and had hits. I’m just saying commercially
“Off The Wall” was the most important album of MJ’s career because it established a bond between him and Quincy, and it’s huge success led to the iconic “Thriller” and “BAD” albums.
It’s important because he successfully broke away completely from the child star persona and proved that he is a solo force and an incredible artist. Quincy and MJ signed a 3-album contract beforehand so they were inevitably going to work together (which Michael regretted)
@@elnorey what do you mean by regretted Michael has fire albums by other producers like Teddy Riley MJ 👌 needed Quincy to be considered a force but he could still make masterpieces Even his 2010s album Xscape Is a great listen 👂 Michael said that Quincy's way of producing is outdated and Michael wanted to hop on the New Jack Swing scene so who else to call than the King of New Jack Swing production.
@@jameskhumalo-nh7hv Read the “Man In The Music“ book, Michael‘s coworkers who worked with him and Q were interviewed and they all said MJ didn’t want Quincy after Thriller because he took too much credit. Quincy was also hard to work with and even threw Bill Bottrell out of Michael‘s team, purely out of immaturity. The Dangerous, History, and Invincible albums contain some of the best produced songs of ALL time. All of his six solo projects are created carefully with the upmost attention to detail and brilliance.
He knew that for his career to have longevity, he had to branch out with new sounds even if it meant projects without his brothers or his father. Off the wall solidified his path to Thriller.
I wouldn’t say it saved his career but Off The Wall definitely catapulted him into superstardom, which Thriller made him into a mega superstar. Everyone at that time wanted to be Michael Jackson. He completely dominated the 80’s. Great video!
THAT IS NOT TRUE. EVERYONE DID NOT WANT TO BE MICHAEL JACKSON. MAYBE IN 1971. BY THAT TIME, EVERYONE WANTED TO BE A WHITE ROCK STAR AND SO DID ...MICHAEL JACKSON. THAT'S WHAT SAVED HIS CAREER. ACTUALLY, A YOUNG (A SLIGHT CROSSOVER ACT) LIKE PRINCE SAVED MICHAEL JACKSONS CAREER. THIS IS WHAT LEAD TO MICHAEL JACKSON BLEACHING HIS SKIN. IS IT STARTING TO MAKES SENSE?💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
Off The Wall is simply perfect. There are not many albums you can listen to from beginning to end and not Skip and truly enjoyed each song. Off The Wall is one of those albums.
I would just say him being adamant to go solo saved it. His father and brothers didn’t like it but he did what he wanted. If he listened to them the Jacksons would’ve probably just fallen off in the 80s
In my opinion, Michael made his best music working with Quincy Jones, I wish they kept working together. when Quincy Jones and Michael work together, Michael was at his best in my opinion.
Everybody knew he was headed to superstardom.. that’s why Quincy wanted to produce his first adult solo album after seeing his phenomenal talent on the set of the Wiz.. he wanted to get on that train
Definitely give some credit to Rod Temperton too, who wrote (on his own) Rock With You & Off The Wall. For Thriller he also wrote Thriller and Baby Be Mine too 👍
ngl... off the wall was so long ago that there was things I either didn't know was true or couldnt find so in terms of credit... theres prolly a lot of things i didnt mention
RedDevil...don't forget another Rod Temperton cut off Thriller... The Lady In My Life. a song technically never released as a single. But back in 1983, and 84. Got heavy air play on the radio.
@@KingBenny if you are going to make a career doing RU-vid videos, you HAVE to dig and do your research throughly. Even if you feel that there was so much that was “true” or “false”, you still could have used that information and let us as an audience know where your pulling your sources from. Because trust me, MJ fans don’t play. We are Moonwalkers NOT the Beehive and WILL pull out receipts and check anyone who gets their info wrong. This was a ok rookie video, but MJ never needed his “career” saved. Next time you do I video like this, organize your thoughts and really think about what it is what your trying to say. - You’re saying a lot in the video without saying anything.
Off the Wall kept Michaels name alive, it bought him some time, helped him establish a few connections that he needed until he was able to really show his true greatness in thriller and beyond. As big of a MJ fan I am, his first solo album never really got me, but thanks to this video I'm going to explore the songs more thoroughly.
Off the wall wasn't his first solo album. I love it but I can see why other fans aren't sweet on it. It's probably his most dated sounding album. You'll have to enjoy elements of disco/up tempo dance to like this album.
Michael is definitely a genius of all time, I like his album on the wall, it's so cute and light, it's just wonderful. I thank all the good people who got in the way of Michael and helped in the implementation of plans.❤❤❤👑👑👑👑👑
You need a Part Two in you channel. This was great. Most child singer stars don't make the transition from Child to Adult singer. Most teen singers don't make it. Michael made it.
This is my favorite MJ album. I can listen to it from beginning to end - no skips. Each song was exceptional, and I think that is because it was his first solo album as an adult, so he, Quincy Jones and everyone involved just put their heart and soul into it. ❤❤
Legendary album and the perfect start to the MJ Quincy trilogy. Personal favourites are a tie between rock with you and i cant help it. One of Stevie Wonders best written songs imo.
"Off The Wall" did not save his career. The album solidified him as a one man Army and catapulted him into supreme stardom. This is my favorite Michael Jackson album and "I Can't Help It" off the album is my favorite song out of all his music.
"One man army" that needed the right producer [Q. Jones] and a proven writer [R. Temperton.] Without these MJ wouldn't have succeeded. I love this album as well.
@@eltiochusma first of all, Michael picked Quincy and had to fight the label to keep him. At the time, Quincy was seen as someone who’s had past success and they were also skeptical bout him producing a pop/disco record since his catalogue is more so jazzy.
@@KingBennypeople don't even remember that Michael Jackson had four solo albums before Off The Wall. There was a 7 year period that people don't even talk about.
To this day. Off The Wall is my favorite of Michaels albums. They no longer do what he did in the studio back then. He and Quincy were fantastic, and original.
Michael Jackson had a very solid career by the time he made Off The Wall. In 1978 MJ had just completed shooting The Wiz, The Jacksons were riding high on the release of the Destiny LP, and tour that followed. If anything the move to Epic records from Motown, and the collaboration with Gamble and Huff saved the day, and helped them shed the bubblegum image, nice video though…
@@Jacobsladder1993 PS, The Wiz, while a cult classic now was a huge commercial and critical flop at the time too. So yes, Off The Wall was extremely important.
I just got into OTW last week and it gotta be my favorite MJ album. I love Quincy's instrumentation and Mike's vocal peeked here. super infectious dance album
She's out of my life was a hit and fan favorite on all of Michael's tours except History Tour. And Rock with you is more than just vibe. The melody is infectious and the lyrics are as ambiguous as Don't stop till you get enough. You can apply them in many different scenarios. The production is top tier and it's probably the second well mixed song after I Can't Help It.
@05:57 the intro of the song "Don't stop till you get enough", "the Force, its got a lot of power..." was something out of Star Wars, which was very succesfull in that time. In his book "Moonwalker" he was not satisfied with how the public percieved this album. He said "the next time, you will be begging me for your awards, front cover of magazine and etc". That is a powerfull statement at the age of 22 i think. Thanks for this video! I enjoy all the materials in that era
The first time I heard "Off The Wall" on the radio, I got so hooked on the beat that I didn't want it to stop. So, I downloaded it onto my iPod and listened to it God knows how many times.
Man I love the quality and variety of your uploads. IMO Off The Wall was his greatest achievement. It captured the era, absolutely defined a genre. Think Thriller was 'bigger' but that was more unique,was more defining Michael as a star , than any genre. I'm sorry after Thriller things only went downhill. Too much too soon , the guy never had a chance.
@@KingBenny MJ`s song, i`ll be there, has a sentence: "we must bring SALVATION back" in his song. Ain´t believing he didn´t place the word SALVATION into the song without a reason, cause, souls, WE NEED SAVING FROM OUR SINS AND FROM HELL FIRE. Time to come to repentance and say goodbye to our old sinful self. Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
If you think after thriller it went downhill, then Adrian your musical tastes are lacking. In the 90s, Michael albums exhibited depth and a maturity that his 80s didn’t. He was also most creative and experimental as well during that time.
@@yvedliedauphin9426They got more mature and certainly did interesting stuff (some of my favorite Michael songs are actually from the 90's era) but didn't really stand out as much as his contemporaries during that time. Plus the filler songs. I mean, Janet was doing more creative and consistent albums during the 90's. But with Off The Wall nobody was doing a disco record as focused, well produced and so versatile like Mike's. And with Thriller kinda the same thing, he was ahead of everybody in the R&B/pop scene. By the time he put out Bad, while being an excellent and classic record, it felt like it was among the greatest, rather than being THE forefront of the genre like he was in his last two records. That's why you don't really see his 90's albums in top lists or charts of greatest 90's albums. There were others that were far more important and groundbreaking/defining for that decade. But you do see him in greatest 80's albums charts or lists.
He had a career with being in the group with his brothers through out his child/teenage years. When they left Motown and signed with CBS/Epic Records, they recorded under the name The Jacksons and once Michael got with Quincy Jones to do Off The Wall after his acting debut in The Wiz with Quincy Jones doing the musical scoring for the film, the rest is history. His solo music career was then a phenomenon of it's own.
I remember those days with I think Epic and Gamble &Huff. I loved the Git it Together album, "Moving Violation" single. Who were they under with the song "All I do is think of you"? To me The Jacksons never skipped a beat making good music.
BTW, KBG, you said "Michael showed off a little bit of his range on OTW", but you understate it. Off the Wall probably shows Michael's range and voice like no other album of his. Get on the Floor is a masterful vocal performance and most of the other tracks have similar energy. Listen to his belting, harmonies and ad-libs on It's the Falling in Love, Burn This Disco Out and Working Day and Night. Also, check out the original 5 minute demo of Off the Wall. Even more instrumentation, harmonies and everything.
Yeah you're right... its just that if I rly got into every detail of the album I could prolly go for like 40 minutes lol... gotta condense it for the video to be out in a timely matter for me
As others have already said, OTW didn't save Michael's career. It did take his career to the next level. Michael had multiple phases in his career. In the early 70s he was the superstar of a child band which is something the world hadn't seen before, but would soon see again with the Osmonds. Around the mid-70s Michael grew into that awkward phase and lost the novelty of being a child phenom unlike any other. Still, the music was good (but not as good as the early stuff) and Michael was beginning to really tear it up on the dance floor. I'd argue this phase continued up through the Triumph tour with Michael continuously honing his skills along the way. Then came Off the Wall. This is the album where Michael broke through as a solo adult artist and he was beloved by the millions and millions of fans who watched his journey since the early 70s. OTW set the stage for Thiller, the videos on MTV and Bad. I think the period from Off the Wall through Bad was the apex of Michael's career. He could do no wrong in his music, his business and his life. I guess one could nitpick about what came after Bad but I see it all as just the final phase. One in which he still produced good music but never was on top of the world like he was in the 80s. As a side note, I think some of Michael's early videos from OTW (and possible the one for Can You Feel It) were in David Bowie's famous interview with MTV VJ Mark Goodman in which Bowie confronted Goodman with the question of why no videos of black performers were played on MTV. Of course, Michael went on to be a pioneer as a black artist being featured on MTV soon after that and for many years.
Off The Wall is still great 43 years later!!! I was just listening to his album lol. MJ did it all, he knew how to stay relevant and kept up with the changing genres of music. Never will there ever be another MJ ever again! From Disco to pop, rock, electronic, hip hop, new jack etc. MJ did it all.
Wow, what a good and thorough video! I'm a first time viewer of this channel, a lifetime Michael Jackson fan and I gotta say that really love your analysis and how you actually took your time to talk about the buildup to Off The Wall! Many people here have pointed out that OTW didn't save Michael's career but rather served as the starting point of his time as a solo artist, to which I agree. However, I thought I'd say that I'd love to hear your thoughts on the Invincible album and the point in time it came out, since there's a lot to cover about the relationship between artist and their record label, how record labels treated artists in general back then and how that's relevant today and promotional issues. I'll definitely stick around and I hope that more people find this channel!!
@@KingBenny As I assume you was not yet alive in 1979/'80, you analysis as a Millennial was spot on. The only 'minor" error you made was that MJ's career was on the verge of failing in 1979. The truth is if Off The Wall was a huge “make or break” crossroad point on whether it's he would make as an Adult Music Star. Or if OTW was a flop then MJ's career was in jeopardy possibly join other previous Teen Stars who career was done by age 21. "Off The Wall" is one of the great albums ever IMO that been overshadowed. It was the perfect transition from the 1970's to the 80's in that every contemporary genre of that time (Except for Country) was in that classic album. Perfect summary of that 1979/1980 era in music as the Disco(it was true that first modern global dance music era) was dying. And a brand new genre of Rap/Hip-Hop i.e "Rappers Delight" & "Rapture" came out within 2 years.
@@americangiant1003 between me and you... I exaggerate a little to push narratives. But I also don't think its entirely untrue to say that if Off the wall was a failure that Mike's career was saved in my opinion just through judging the chart data, but then again I get that it isn't entirely accurate
I agree! Had Michael not done this album, the Jacksons would have been washed up in the 70s. Destiny was the bomb too, the underground version of Shake Your Body was otherworldly! It blew my mind when I first heard it in passing a park riding on a bus in NYC. I told the driver to let me off at the nearest record store and bought it immediately. Having been there at the concert in 1981, Madison Square Garden in front of the stage, I can say that the Off The Wall Album was even better LIVE, as it was proven on the LIVE album! Which is the greatest album of all time! The live concert did things that I never saw before and is forever imprinted in my brain. When the stage lifted off the ground like a space ship, in the 1980's, it was decades before its time, I was flooded with endorphins wracking my brain! Like SCREAM with Janet, Michael knew how to see into the future and go the extra mile. At the LIVE concert, he disappeared in the middle of the stage and reappeared on stage in a box in the center of the air. He was standing right in front of me! I couldn't stop screaming. I never saw rows of people pass out like they did at that concert. Michael Jackson is unquestionably the greatest of all time. His albums are still selling. His name is known by everyone everywhere through generations. He changed America! He changed the world!
@@KingBenny lol yea transitioning from disco but if u listen to almost everything that was coming out in the late 70s/80s, it all sounds the same(un interesting).
I gotta agree It did show folks what he had to offer as a solo artist, though it wasn’t as hugely promoted as his next album but I would say There’s No Thriller without Off The Wall.
YOU GUYS ARE LATE TO THE SHOW. YOU WERE NOT BORN AROUND THAT TIME. MICHAEL JACKSON ALREADY HAD SOLO ALBUMS BY THAT TIME. THERE WOULD BE NO "OFF THE WALL" IF IT WERE NOT FOR ....A YOUNG "LIGHT SKIN" ATTRACTIVE IMAGE LIKE ...PRINCE. NOTICE THE SERIOUS IMAGE CHANGE, ONCE PRINCE SIGNED WITH WARNER. MICHAEL CHANGED HIS IMAGE TO LOOK MORE..."MIXED" PRINCE AND YOUNG WHITE ROCK ACTS ALLOWED MICHEAL TO SEE THAT HE WAS NOT DONE
Michael Jackson’s career was never in danger. An iconic solo career was inevitable, but regardless of which path he chose he would’ve always had a sizable audience.
Bro Quincy was pivotal for his success. When you hear those violins at the beginning of "don't stop til you get enough", it was Quincy who ignored Michael's request to remove them. They both needed each other but without Quincy there would be no Off the Wall, Thriller, or Bad.
The greatest since 5 years old. I wouldn’t say ‘save’ cause if MJ stopped making music after the Jacksons he would’ve still been a legend. But this album is where we started to see the Michael mannerisms and trademarks we all love.
Great video. Off the wall definitely made Michael into a star. There are so many artist that are amazing singers and have success, but eventually their careers don’t last long. With Quincy, Michael was able to go from beloved child singer to a true revolutionary pop star.
You kinda brushed over the first Jacksons album under Epic where they changed their name and left Randy at Motown. they had way more creative control on that album and you can see it on songs like Blues Away where MJ is playing with his delivery and having fun with it. Great video nonetheless 🙏
Off the wall sold 8 million copies at that time and everybody ignored it. Which led to thriller an album he said nobody will be able to ignore. Quincy was getting touch credit mj had already put all of them songs together
I didn't even know he had a few albums prior to Off The Wall, Music & Me and Forever Michael. His career was at a crossroads during that time. It was a few months ago when I checked his discography and realized he had 4 solo albums after leaving the Jackson Five and before Off The Wall. The other 2 albums were Got to Be There and Ben. He kind of struggled as a solo artist prior to Off the Wall. It's similar to how people look at Michael Jordan if you're a sports fan. People only talk about Jordan and his greatness during the championship seasons and not the years prior to his first championship or his seasons with the Wizards. We tend to look at Michael Jackson's career in the Jackson Five and then Off the Wall on, but we never mention the years 1971 -1979. His career as a solo artist was pretty stagnant until Off the Wall.
Okay so the whole album is a smash obviously but the songs that weren’t released as singles like “Get on the Floor” and Burn this Disco out are underrated gems
Great observation. I love Thriller and it set records that may never be approached but Off The Wall set Michael on the path to being a major superstar. It may be his most important album.
Good video with some great footage! I was born around the Thriller era but OTW arguably did save Michael's career as a solo artist and the move to Epic saved the whole family from fading into obscurity. The Destiny tour was huge and there was pandemonium when the brothers came to London to play at the Apollo. I think "DSTYGE" is the best video from the era. The effects are ethereal and the triplicate was very innovative for its time. Rock With You's video has the costumes he and the brothers wore for the Triumph tour. I prefer the Moonwalker clip of that song because there are extra sound and light fx.
"it saved his career" 🤣 mike from the start was slowly but surely bubbling with creativity until he obviously exploded to what we all witnessed as a pop mega super star..
All lead singers eventually leave the groups they start with. Michael stayed as long as he did because the group consisted of his family members. Legendary solo singers such as Luther Vandross, Curtis Mayfield, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Teddy Pendergast, Diana Ross, just to name a few, all started as the lead singers of a group.
yess i love off the wall. the way he layers his vocals is just perfection. he even does the laugh in the beginning of the song “off the wall” on the album😂. this album is my family’s favorite michael album, it was just so different. no background singers, just him layering vocals over quincy’s production.
What if Michael Jackson stayed with Motown doing the Time when the albums "Off The Wall" and "Thriller" were released. That could've took Motown beyond.
Love, Honor and Respect to the lead singer of the Jackson 5, The Jacksons, Michael Jackson and the King of Pop. He was always a shining star and a force to be reckoned with. His passion was always to be a singer and his vision was to help his family and break the color barrier. He did just that because he worked the hardest to accomplish his goals and dreams. Joseph Jackson and his family, Bobby Taylor, Berry Gordy, Diana Ross and Quincy Jones saw that vision as well. This is what happened when great minds come together to change musical history. Just like Motown. THEY ARE PURE GENIUS. Thank you for a memorizing era in the 21st Century.
Ha! I’ve got the original vinyl of this. Aged 7 and in could NOT get enough! Still can’t. 😂😂 I had the fortune of seeing him live in Wembley, London. One of the most mesmerising live acts, sensational on every level and a night I’ll never forget ❤❤❤ When I see him and elvis compared, for me there’s only one king.
I read that the label didn't know what to do with Michael Jackson as an adult and they were doubting him before the release of off the wall. It seems crazy in retrospect that labels would think like that but goes to show these labels don't know talent.
What people don't understand is that Disco was on its way out. People weren't as in2 it as they were throughout the 70s. By the end of the 70s, Going in2 the early 80s, U can tell that a shift was on the horizon. Yeah, there was definitely elements of Disco in plenty of artist music, but it wasn't as popular as it used 2 B. "Off the Wall" literally came at the last moments of Disco's "Popularity" & it came at the right time If this album would of been released any later, then it's a chance that it wouldn't have been as "Popular" as it did. Michael was already a Solified, Well Known performer, but that was due 2 his attachment as the Lead singer 4 "The Jacksons". This Album, However, Solidified him as a "Solo" Artist. The success of "Off the Wall" literally carried him in2 the 80s, Cause people were now going 2 The Jackson's Tours (Triumph (1981) & Victory (1984)) 2 Honestly Watch Michael Perform. And then, "Thriller" happened in 1982 & the Rest is HIStory. So overall, in my Opinion, "Off the Wall" literally Saved his Career & Solidied Him as a Solo Entertainer.
I think triumph is an album that is definitely overlooked, I feel like the triumph album is off the wall 1.5, Or if Off the wall was a video game, triumph is like the DLC lol
I do believe he, along with Donna Summer, won the most American Music Awards in 1980. Him for "Off The Wall". Her for "Bad Girls". They were both hot stuff (pun intended) in 1979.
Yes! I ❤️ “I Can’t Help It”. It was written by Stevie Wonder. MJ’s vocals and the the groove are so smooth. It’s a beautiful tune. A masterpiece actually.
Its my favorite song of his because it makes sense. Leave your 9 to 5 on the shelf and enjoy yourself. Groove let the magic of the music get to you..before you get to old
I agree with the other comments... It didn't so much "Save" his career, as much as it solidified that he didn't NEED the family to be successful and that he was in fact a FORCE to be reckoned with. You're absolutely right without OTW there would be NO THRILLER... Personally, I always liked OTW MORE than Thriller, but that's just me... Nice piece... definitely earned the sub. Cheers
