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Off the Wall (Music)

 Off the Wall (Music)
type
TVTItem
 Off the Wall (Music)
label
Off the Wall (Music)
 Off the Wall (Music)
page
OffTheWall
 Off the Wall (Music)
comment
Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_1'); })Off the Wall is the fifth studio album recorded by Michael Jackson. It was released through Epic Records on August 10, 1979.After the first four albums of his solo career, which he released under Motown, he and his brothers signed with CBS Records. Initially, they worked under the Philadelphia International Records label, before shifting to the Epic label. It was under Epic that Michael resumed his solo career. Working with Quincy Jones, whom he got to know through his work in the 1978 film version of The Wiz, this album would mix in both Funk and Disco.The result could be best described as a complete revelation.It became the best-selling album by a black artist, and it wasn't even close. The album went nine-times Platinum in the United States, six-times Platinum in the United Kingdom, and has sold 20 million copies worldwide.Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_2'); })The album was also notable for having four Top Ten singles: "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", "Rock With You", "Off The Wall" and "She's Out Of My Life". The first two would be #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.The collaboration with producer Quincy Jones would become a lasting one, extending to the releases of Thriller and Bad in The '80s. It was a set-up for one of the most meteoric rises in American pop music, as the records set by Off The Wall would fall soon enough.The album was released as a special edition by Sony Music in 2001, which was re-issued in 2016.
 Off the Wall (Music)
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2022-12-31T22:27:06Z
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2022-12-31T22:27:06Z
 Off the Wall (Music)
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Dropped link to CallBack: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Off the Wall (Music)
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Dropped link to Disco: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Off the Wall (Music)
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Dropped link to Invincible: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Off the Wall (Music)
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Dropped link to Wings: Not a Feature - IGNORE
 Off the Wall (Music)
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_1f37a427
type
Face on the Cover
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_1f37a427
comment
Face on the Cover: Michael in tuxedo, smiling. Subverted for about two decades; certainly a unique example in musical trope history. See the Trivia page for details.
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_1f37a427
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_1f37a427
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_22093e9b
type
New Sound Album
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_22093e9b
comment
New Sound Album: Michael's earlier albums were recorded when he was a child and a teenager and therefore the music was more in tone with that age demographic. Off The Wall put him back on the map as an adult star and had a sound that was closer to the Funk of The Jackson 5 and the Disco that was popular at the time. The reinvention sure paid off: Off The Wall became the best-selling album by a black artist at the time.
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_22093e9b
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_23b0d78
type
Title Track
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_23b0d78
comment
Title Track: "Off The Wall"
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_23b0d78
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_23b0d78
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_27a42ebc
type
Spiritual Successor
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_27a42ebc
comment
Spiritual Successor: The first two tracks of Thriller ("Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" and "Baby Be Mine") still sound much like songs that wouldn't fall out of tone on "Off The Wall", as does a Thriller outtake, "Got The Hots".
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_27a42ebc
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_27a42ebc
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_34f6774c
type
Concept Album
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_34f6774c
comment
Concept Album: Sort of. All the tracks are about dancing and escapism, save for "She's Out Of My Life".
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_34f6774c
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_34f6774c
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_361d0d58
type
Concept Video
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_361d0d58
comment
Concept Video: This album had early music videos going with them, but not particularly remarkable yet. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" is the most well known, with three Michaels dancing alongside each other in a memorable scene.
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_361d0d58
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_361d0d58
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_5262cf20
type
Longest Song Goes First
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_5262cf20
comment
Longest Song Goes First: The album kicks off with the six-minute "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", the only Epic Rocking track on the album.
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_5262cf20
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_5262cf20
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_6053dc28
type
Record Producer
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_6053dc28
comment
Record Producer: Quincy Jones, who would produce Michael's next two albums Thriller and Bad.
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_6053dc28
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 Off the Wall (Music) / int_6053dc28
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 Off the Wall (Music)
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_6053dc28
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_62663d88
type
Men Don't Cry
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_62663d88
comment
Men Don't Cry: Subverted with "She's Out Of My Life", where Jackson according to legend couldn't end the take without bursting into tears. After a couple of those Quincy Jones decided to keep the crying on the record.
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_62663d88
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_62663d88
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_68068108
type
Evil Laugh
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_68068108
comment
Evil Laugh: At the start of "Off The Wall".
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_68068108
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_68068108
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_6a696742
type
The Power of Love
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_6a696742
comment
The Power of Love: "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_6a696742
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_6a696742
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_74149c93
type
Epic Rocking
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_74149c93
comment
Epic Rocking: "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" just barely cracks the six-minute mark.
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_74149c93
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 Off the Wall (Music) / int_74149c93
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_74149c93
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_87ab7f69
type
Sharp-Dressed Man
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_87ab7f69
comment
Sharp-Dressed Man: Michael on the album cover.
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_87ab7f69
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_87ab7f69
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_8c00118f
type
Spoken Word in Music
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_8c00118f
comment
Spoken Word in Music: The intro to "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_8c00118f
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 Off the Wall (Music) / int_8c00118f
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_8c00118f
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_8c5b8f0b
type
Salaryman
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_8c5b8f0b
comment
Salaryman: "Workin' Day And Night".
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_8c5b8f0b
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_8c5b8f0b
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_9b6acdb3
type
Lyrical Cold Open
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_9b6acdb3
comment
Lyrical Cold Open: The open for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" acts as this for the entire album—and, symbolically, for this phase of Michael's solo career.
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_9b6acdb3
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_9b6acdb3
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_b28a8d0a
type
Break-Up Song
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_b28a8d0a
comment
Break-Up Song: "She's Out Of My Life".
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_b28a8d0a
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_b28a8d0a
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_b6cc7fc0
type
Dysfunctional Family
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_b6cc7fc0
comment
Dysfunctional Family: On the 2001 remaster of the album, the original 1978 demo version of "Workin' Day and Night" is included as a bonus track. Jackson's siblings pitched in during the recording, and the demo provides a revealing glimpse into his home life at the time:
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_b6cc7fc0
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_b6cc7fc0
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_c75df49a
type
Shout-Out
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_c75df49a
comment
Shout-Out: "Can't Do Nuttin' For Ya Man" from Fear of a Black Planet in 1990 by Public Enemy samples "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_c75df49a
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_c75df49a
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_cdee850f
type
Dancing Is Serious Business
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_cdee850f
comment
Dancing Is Serious Business: "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" encapsulates the joys of dancing, not to forget "Off The Wall", "Rock With You", "Burn This Disco Out" and "Get On The Floor".
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_cdee850f
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 Off the Wall (Music)
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_cdee850f
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_cff53786
type
Cover Version
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_cff53786
comment
Cover Version: An interesting example where the original song was actually meant for the artist covering it in the first place. "Girlfriend" was initially written by Paul McCartney for Jackson, but Paul wound up recording it with his band Wings on their 1978 album London Town instead. Quincy Jones, in a 2001 interview, said he heard the song, and suggested that Jackson record it for Off The Wall, unaware that it was originally meant for him.
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_cff53786
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 Off the Wall (Music) / int_cff53786
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_cff53786
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_dbfe8427
type
Intercourse with You
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_dbfe8427
comment
Intercourse with You: Subverted with "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough." Jackson's mother objected to the lyric, as she felt it was referring to sex, but Michal calmed her down by saying it didn't really mean anything.
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_dbfe8427
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_dbfe8427
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_df1793de
type
Updated Re-release
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_df1793de
comment
Updated Re-release: The album was reissued several times before and after Michael's passing. The first time in 2001 as a "Special Edition", to promote what would become Jackson's final studio album Invincible. This edition contains audio interviews with Quincy Jones and Rod Temperton and also the original demo versions of "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" and "Workin' Day and Night". The second time in 2009 as part of the box set titled The Collection released just a few weeks after Jackson died. The third time in 2013 in the iTunes-exclusive collection The Indispensable Collection. A fourth time in 2016 as part of the promotion of Spike Lee's second MJ documentary Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall.
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_df1793de
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 Off the Wall (Music)
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_df1793de
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_e085feeb
type
Broken Record
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_e085feeb
comment
Broken Record:
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_e085feeb
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 Off the Wall (Music)
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_e085feeb
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_e5427a31
type
Funk
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_e5427a31
comment
Funk: The album is a cross between disco and funk.
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_e5427a31
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 Off the Wall (Music) / int_e5427a31
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_e5427a31
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_fa77309d
type
Alternate Album Cover
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_fa77309d
comment
Alternate Album Cover: The cover art is a gatefold-spanning photo of Jackson standing in front of a wall; the original release oriented the photo so that his upper half was on the front. Starting in 1990, reissues would flip this around so that his legs were instead on the front and can be seen in the Trivia section; the original configuration would eventually be reinstated in 2015.
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_fa77309d
 Off the Wall (Music) / int_name
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ItemName
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Off the Wall (Music) / int_name
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Off the Wall (Music)

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Off the Wall (Music)
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African-American Media / int_c30e0c27
 Off the Wall (Music)
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Alternate Album Cover / int_c30e0c27
 Off the Wall (Music)
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American Music / int_c30e0c27
 Off the Wall (Music)
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Contemporary R&B / int_c30e0c27
 Off the Wall (Music)
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Longest Song Goes First / int_c30e0c27
 Off the Wall (Music)
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R&B / int_c30e0c27
 Off the Wall (Music)
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Spoken Word in Music / int_c30e0c27
 Off the Wall (Music)
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Truck Driver's Gear Change / int_c30e0c27