To: Dave
Love: Adam
Date Sent: 8/24/2018
Michael Jackson – Off The Wall
Release Date: August 10th, 1979
This album should serve well for a Friday afternoon/evening. Off The Wall is one of few albums that have comprised my heavy rotation on Spotify as of late. And for good reason. The first 2 songs are obviously legendary, but my goal is to turn your attention to songs like Get on the Floor, I Can’t Help It & Burn This Disco Out. I can hear a lot of this album in Justin Timberlake’s 20/20 Experience, which I think is an impressive trait acquired by those who spend their time studying and analyzing the music that they listen to.
Quick story about how I stumbled upon this album… I was working at Whiskey Kitchen the other night and Rock With You came on. I was in a groove and really felt the song since I hadn’t heard it in probably a year or so and wanted to know when the song was originally released (1979). Off The Wall was the album it was housed on and it had a few unfamiliar track titles on it, so I figured it was worth the full listen. Fast forward 3 days and now my roommates hate Michael Jackson, but not for the pedo reasons. Well for those too. With that said, I hope you enjoy this album!
Dave’s Reaction:
Just the other day, I was going through all of my saved CDs that I had accumulated. Went through all of the CD books, adding all of the albums that I wanted to listen to again or that were long lost loves, only to add them to my saved list on Spotify. I say all of this because I came across MJ’s Thriller and listened to it straight through. I promptly added this to my list. Now, having listened to Off The Wall, I have now added a 2nd Michael album to my list. Quite the accomplishment, being that I thought I could quit him after that damning documentary. Turns out I can’t.
What an album! Some minor research shows that Off The Wall was released 3 years prior to Thriller. You are right, you must let the music get inside your bones. The hits stand out, but it takes a keen ear to respect and love other songs like Off The Wall and Workin’ Day & Night. If you were to play either of these songs for me in high school or even college, I would not have been patient enough or worthy of understanding how special the funkiness of these songs truly is. Michael’s hits get so much play and rightfully so. However, if Workin’ Day & Night were to come on at a party, there would be some unconscious head bobbing taking place throughout the room. And it wouldn’t be (only) the drugs!
The Favorites:
Adam:
Dave: Workin’ Day & Night