Off the Wall album was hailed as a major breakthrough for Michael Jackson as an artist. It brought Michael kind of sophistication and maturity he desired with wide stylistic variations ranging from the monster dance groove of Don’t Stop ’till You Get Enough or the soulful She’s out of My Life to the funky bass thumper Workin’ Day and Night or Stevie Wonder’s jazzy piece I Can’t Help it. Not all of the songs were singles but today all ten songs are hailed as classics.

The most popular cut on the album was Michael penned Don’t stop till You get enough, it was also his debut single for the Epic Records. Lyrics are focused on the subject of sex and love, much more resembling other icon of the 80’s - Prince. While not popular as his next studio album Thriller from this time distance Off the Wall sounds less dated in its sound. And while done very professionally Off the Wall sounds like Michael and Quincy had a lot of fun during recording sessions for this masterpiece. Many years after its release Off the Wall still sounds fresh and vibrant, full of joy, love, lust and even pain mixed altogether in Michael’s first true classic piece.

Rating: 9