Michael Jackson Off the Wall Rare Epic Records Vinyl LP

$

50

Welcome to Classic Cadillac Records!  I visually grade all my records as accurately as possible and will never grade anything above Near Mint unless it's still sealed.  Please note that a visual grade can differ from a play grade, and am happy to spot check a record upon request.   All orders are shipped within 1 business day (usually sooner) and packed with extra care to ensure fast, safe arrival.  Please look closely at all pictures, read all relevant details and ask any questions you may have before buying.  I offer a full 30-day return policy on everything I sell, so buy with confidence!  20% restocking fee charged on items returned for reasons other than it not working properly.  Thanks for looking!
Off the Wall Original 1979 cover Studio album by  Michael Jackson Released August 10, 1979 Recorded December 4, 1978 – June 3, 1979 Studio

• Allen Zentz (Hollywood, California)
• Westlake (Los Angeles, California)
• Cherokee (Hollywood, California)

Genre

• Disco 
• funk 
• pop 
• R&B

Length 42:24 Label

• Epic 
• CBS

Producer

• Quincy Jones 
• Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson chronology The Best of Michael Jackson
(1975) Off the Wall
(1979) One Day in Your Life
(1981) Singles from Off the Wall

1. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
   Released: July 10, 1979
2. "Rock with You"
   Released: October 9, 1979
3. "Off the Wall"
   Released: November 16, 1979
4. "She's Out of My Life"
   Released: April 1, 1980
5. "Girlfriend"
   Released: July 4, 1980 (UK)

Off the Wall is the fifth studio album by the American singer Michael Jackson, released on August 10, 1979, by Epic Records. It was Jackson's first album released through Epic Records, and the first produced by Quincy Jones, whom he previously collaborated with while working on the 1978 film The Wiz. Off the Wall was crafted from disco, pop, funk, R&B, soft rock and Broadway ballads. Its lyrical themes include escapism, liberty, hedonism and romance. The album features songwriting contributions from Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Rod Temperton, Tom Bahler, and David Foster, alongside three tracks penned by Jackson himself.

Before recording his next album, Jackson desired to create a record showcasing creative freedom and individualism for the first time—Off the Wall was widely branded as a reintroduction for him. Despite it being released shortly after the infamous Disco Demolition Night, it became Jackson's highest charting on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart, staying in the Top 10 for over 8 months. It was also number 1 on the Top Black Albums chart for 16 weeks and was the best-selling album of 1980 in the US. In retrospect, the album has been hailed as a landmark release of the disco era.

Five singles were released from Off the Wall, two of which were Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles: "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock with You". Another two, "Off the Wall" and "She's Out of My Life", were Top 10 hits; this made Jackson the first solo artist to have four Top 10 hits on the Hot 100 from one album. The album was controversially nominated for just two Grammy Awards, with Jackson winning Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". It won Favorite Soul/R&B Album at both the 1980 and 1981 American Music Awards.

Off the Wall received widespread critical acclaim, with it being credited as a significant departure from Jackson's previous work for Motown and hailed as a major breakthrough for him. It has sold over 20 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. In 2025, it was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album continues to be lauded as one of the greatest albums in popular music, with some critics praising it as Jackson's best album. In 2008, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Critical reception

Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating Christgau's Record Guide A Melody Maker Record Mirror Rolling Stone Sounds

Off the Wall received widespread critical acclaim and was hailed as a major artistic breakthrough for Jackson. In a review of the album, Rolling Stone magazine contributor Stephen Holden praised Jackson's maturity and transition from his early Motown material, stating that the album "represents discofied post-Motown glamour at its classiest." Holden went on to compare Jackson to Stevie Wonder, another Motown performer who began recording at a young age and gained critical acclaim for his transition. Dennis Hunt of Los Angeles Times called Off the Wall "one of the year’s best R&B albums" and particularly praises the influence of Jones' production on Jackson.

Bill William lauded Off the Wall in Kingsport Times, declaring the album as "the finest example we have heard of the sheer power and potency" of Jackson as a soloist up to that point. In a review for Melody Maker, Phil McNeill expressed the opinion that in Off the Wall Jackson sounded comfortable, confident and in control. He believed "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" had a "classy" introduction and that it was the best song on the album. He also praised "Rock with You", describing it as "masterful". McNeill concurred with a colleague that Jackson was "probably the best singer in the world right now in terms of style and technique".

Several critics particularly noted the improvement in Jackson's vocal ability. In The Village Voice, critic Robert Christgau credited Jackson and Jones with "fashion[ing] the dance groove of the year" and stated that "Michael's vocabulary of grunts, squeals, hiccups, moans, and asides is a vivid reminder that he's grown up." Giving the album a favorable review in Smash Hits, David Hepworth said that Jackson "sings like an angel". Hepworth also wrote for Sounds, sharing the view that Off the Wall is a "gem" and highlighting "She’s Out Of My Life" as a "hauntingly beautiful ballad". Record Mirror writer, Paul Sexton, was praiseful of album's slower songs, such as "She's Out of My Life" and "I Can't Help It". Pat Stevens of Evening Post praised the album for illustrating Jackson's "flexibility".

Rankings

In 2003, Off the Wall was ranked number 68 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, maintaining the ranking in a 2012 revised list until the current revision of 2020 which has been ranked at number 36. In Blender's 100 Greatest American Albums of All Time list, it was ranked number 13. The album was included in the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. In Colin Larkin's third edition of the All Time Top 1000 Albums (2000), it was ranked at number 235. It was also ranked number seven in the Soul/R&B – All Time Top 50 albums. The National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM), in conjunction with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, ranked the album at number 80 of the Definitive 200 Albums of All Time. In 2008, Off the Wall was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. It was ranked number 56 in The Guardian's list of the 100 Best Albums Ever. Additionally, The Guardian's list of the 50 Key Events in the History of Pop Music ranked 'Michael Jackson starts work on Off the Wall' at number 23. The album was ranked at number 85 on Consequence of Sound's list of The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time. In 2015, Billboard ranked Off the Wall at number 149 on its list of the Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums. It was also ranked third in their list of the Greatest of All Time Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, out of 100 albums. Uncut ranked Off the Wall at number 46 on its list of the 200 Greatest Albums Of All Time. In 2019, The Independent included it in its list of The 40 Best Albums to Listen to Before You Die. In 2025, Spin ranked it as Jackson's best album.

Accolades

Organization Country Accolade Year Ref. Grammy Awards United States Grammy Hall of Fame 2008
American Music Awards United States Favorite Soul/R&B Album 1980
American Music Awards United States Favorite Soul/R&B Album 1981
Billboard Music Awards United States Top Black Album 1980
Billboard United States Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums (Ranked #149) 2015
National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) / Rock and Roll Hall of Fame United States Definitive 200 Albums of All Time (Ranked #80) 2007
Quintessence Editions United Kingdom 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2003
Rolling Stone United States 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (Ranked #68) 2012
Rolling Stone United States 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (Ranked #36) 2020

Track listing

Side one No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length 1. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"

• Michael Jackson 
• Greg Phillinganes

• Quincy Jones 
• Jackson (co.)

6:05 2. "Rock with You" Rod Temperton Jones 3:40 3. "Workin' Day and Night" Jackson

• Jones 
• Jackson (co.)

5:14 4. "Get on the Floor"

• Jackson 
• Louis Johnson

• Jones 
• Jackson (co.)

4:50 Side two No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length 1. "Off the Wall" Temperton Jones 4:06 2. "Girlfriend" Paul McCartney Jones 3:04 3. "She's Out of My Life" Tom Bahler Jones 3:38 4. "I Can't Help It"

• Stevie Wonder 
• Susaye Greene

Jones 4:30 5. "It's the Falling in Love" (featuring Patti Austin)

• Carole Bayer Sager 
• David Foster

Jones 3:48 6. "Burn This Disco Out" Temperton Jones 3:42 Total length: 42:24