OFF THE WALL
Off the Wall is the fifth studio album and debut Epic Records album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was released on August 10, 1979. While working on that project, Jackson and Quincy Jones had become friends, and Jones agreed to work with Jackson on his next studio album. Five singles were released from the album. Jackson wrote three of the songs himself, including the number-one Grammy-winning single “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough”. The record was a departure from Jackson’s previous work for Motown. The record gained critical acclaim and recognition and won the singer his first Grammy Award. With Off the Wall, Jackson became the first solo artist to have four singles from the same album peak inside the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. The album was an enormous commercial success; as of 2014, it has reportedly sold more than 20 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best selling albums of all time. (More from Wikipedia)
One fine day around 30 years ago, I came upon a copy of the 1980 comeback album by the Ugly Ducklings, Off the Wall. By the way, the Michael Jackson album by the same name, Off the Wall – whose excellence, I fear, has been overwhelmed by the tsunami of Jackson’s next album, Thriller – came out the previous August, but I wonder whether the Ugly Ducklings knew about that record.
(April 2013)
