Off the Wall (song)
| "Off the Wall" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:Off the Wall by Michael Jackson A-side US vinyl single.jpg
Side-A label of U.S. vinyl single
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| Single by Michael Jackson | ||||
| from the album Off the Wall | ||||
| B-side | "Get on the Floor" "Working Day and Night" |
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| Released | February 2, 1980 | |||
| Format | 7" single | |||
| Recorded | December 1978 – April 1979 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:05 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Writer(s) | Rod Temperton | |||
| Producer(s) | Quincy Jones | |||
| Certification | Gold (USA) | |||
| Michael Jackson singles chronology | ||||
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"Off the Wall" is a song by American recording artist Michael Jackson, from his fifth album of the same name (1979). It was written by Rod Temperton and produced by Quincy Jones, and released as the album's third single on February 2, 1980 by Epic Records.[1] Lyrically the song is about getting over troubles. It was well received by music critics, and became Jackson's third top 10 single from Off the Wall, which eventually spawned four top 10 singles; Jackson was the first person to accomplish this. It was performed by Jackson in five of his concert tours.
Contents
Reception
Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine highlighted the song on its studio album.[2] Robert Christgau wrote acclaim: "the title tune suggests that maybe what makes Stevie Wonder (who contributes a good ballad) such an oddball isn't his genius or even his blindness so much as the fact that since childhood his main contact with the real world has been on stage and in bed."[3]
The song became Jackson's third top 10 single from Off the Wall, which eventually spawned four top 10 singles; Jackson was the first person to accomplish this. The song peaked at number ten on the Pop Singles Chart and at number five on the Billboard Soul Singles Chart.
Live performances
Jackson performed the song on the Jacksons' Destiny Tour's second leg, as well as the Triumph Tour and the Victory Tour. He performed the song only on the first leg of his first solo tour the Bad World Tour. He also performed it during the HIStory World Tour, but only a part of the Off the Wall medley on certain concerts. A live performance of the song can be seen in One Night in Japan, a bootleg live album and DVD release of Jackson's 1987 concert in Yokohama, Japan as part of the Bad tour.
Sample
Mariah Carey sampled "Off the Wall" on her song "I'm That Chick", which is included in her 2008 album E=MC².
Vaporwave producer Saint Pepsi sampled "Off The Wall" and edited it into a new composition for his song "ENJOY YOURSELF," a line featured in the original song's chorus.
Track listing
| European 7" single (EPC 8045)[4][5][6] | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Off the Wall (Remix) - No version description listed on the actual single." | 4:01 |
| 2. | "Workin' Day and Night" | 5:10 |
|
Total length:
|
9:10 | |
| U.S. 7" single (9-50838)[7] | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Off the Wall (7" Remix) – No version description listed on the actual single" | 3:47 |
| 2. | "Get on the Floor" | 4:38 |
|
Total length:
|
8:26 | |
Official versions
- Album Version – 4:05
- Remix – 4:01
- 7" Remix – 3:47
- Edit – 3:46 – Featured on the Essential Collection is an early fade of the album version.
- Junior Vasquez Mix – 5:13 – Featured on the Stranger in Moscow single.
- Live – 4:00 – Featured on the The Jacksons Live!.
US and Japanese singles feature the remix running 3:47, while the UK and the rest of the world got the other remix running 4:01.
Chart performance
Weekly singles charts
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Year-end charts
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Personnel
- Written and composed by Rod Temperton
- Produced by Quincy Jones
- Michael Jackson: Lead and background vocals
- Louis Johnson: Bass
- John Robinson: Drums
- David Williams, Marlo Henderson: Guitars
- Greg Phillinganes: Electric piano, synthesizer
- Michael Boddicker: Synthesizer programming
- George Duke: Synthesizer, synthesizer programming
- Paulinho Da Costa: Percussion
- Horns arranged by Jerry Hey and performed by The Seawind Horns:
- Jerry Hey: Trumpet and flugelhorn
- Larry Williams: Tenor, alto saxophones and flute
- Kim Hutchcroft: Baritone, tenor saxophones and flute
- William Reichenbach: Trombone
- Gary Grant: Trumpet
- Rhythm and vocal arrangements by Rod Temperton
References
- ↑ Billboard.com - Search Results - Off the Wall (Singles chart). Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved on 2008-08-15.
- ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/off-the-wall-mw0000190332
- ↑ http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=2372
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- ↑ U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs
- ↑ http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1980.htm
