Had to make a thread for this album... I recently purchased the remaster (2001 Special Edition) that includes Michael Jackson's home demos of "Workin' Day And Night" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and I'm blown away at how awesome the stripped-down versions of these songs are -- it really exposes Michael's songwriting ability!

Great album.




What the hell happened?


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

Great album, if he works real hard one day this guy could be huge

Being born in `80, my memory begins with the tail-end of all the leftover Thriller hype.. and I always knew the songs "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" "Rock With You" "She's Out Of My Life" and "I Can't Help It" thoroughly. Sure, I have heard this album via other people, but I don't think I really listened that closely!

I feel like I've found a new muse!

I am loving "Workin' Day And Night", "Get On The Floor" and "Off The Wall" especially!

SIDE A

b-b-b-but what about the "Barely Legal" stash ...how can u explain it?

OMG this is his best album

This thread must be a bit weird for all the people with Off The Wall already encoded in their DNA from some other time in the past 25 years, but excuse me while I finally genuinely discover this album.

Some amazing musicians (in their own right) appear on this album!

Larry Carlton Guitar
Louis Johnson Bass, Rhythm Arrangements
Wah Wah Watson Guitar
Benjamin Wright Arranger, String Arrangements
Paulinho Da Costa Percussion
George Duke Keyboards
David Williams Guitar
Paulette McWilliams Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Seawind Horns Ensemble

Jerry Hey Arranger, Trumpet, Horn Arrangements, Flugelhorn
Larry Williams Wind
Kim Hutchcroft Flute, Sax (Tenor), Sax (Baritone), Horn
Bill Reichenbach Jr. Trombone
William Reichenbach Trombone
Gary Grant Trumpet

Greg Phillinganes Keyboards, Rhythm Arrangements, Synthesizer, Piano, Clavinet
David Foster Synthesizer
Johnny Mandel Strings
Randy Jackson Percussion
Richard Heath Percussion
Phil Upchurch Guitar
Jim Gilstrap Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Quincy Jones Producer, Rhythm Arrangements
Steve Porcaro Synthesizer
Rod Temperton Rhythm Arrangements, Vocal Arrangement
Mortonette Jenkins Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Patti Austin Vocals
Zedric Williams Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Augie Johnson Vocals, Vocals (Background)
David Wolinski "Hawk" Keyboards, Piano
Michael Boddrick Synthesizer
John "J.R." Robinson Drums
Marlo Henderson Guitar
Bobby Watson Bass

CinisterCee said:

Trivia note: I believe Janet plays keyboards on the DSTYGE demo.

CinisterCee said:

So true. It's a really incredible record, so much better than Thriller IMHO. It sounds effortless and completely natural, while Thriller (although a superb pop record) often sounds contrived and calculated.

And here's some interesting info from the Both Sides Now Stereo Chat board. Sounds like we're still missing some stuff!

"Here's the rundown on Michael Jackson:

The original pressings of Off the Wall (which I still have never heard -- hint, hint to someone) contained different mixes of "Rock With You" and "Get on the Floor." When the "Rock With You" single was released, which was backed with "On the Floor," those songs were remixed, and future LP pressings were replaced with the remixed versions, which "disappeared" and have never been issued on CD. Jackson did the same thing with some of the songs from "Bad," such as "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," which omitted the spoken intro after the early US pressings.

The "Rock With You" 45 was an edit of the remixed version, cutting the middle instrumental break in half. It's only been issued on CD on an out-of-print Japanese CD3, coupled with "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough." But that would be very easy to recreate yourself.

I have the 45 of "Don't Stop," but I haven't really checked it out yet. I'll let you know. I know it is not the short radio edit that has been issued on some CDs.

The version of "Thriller" on "Number Ones" is NOT the US 45 edit -- it's the DJ edit. The 45 version completely omitted the Vincent Price rap -- it's just music where the first two lines of the rap would have been, then it cuts to the section after the first portion of the rap, and fades out before the second part of the rap. It also omits the sound effects and "build" at the beginning of the song. The actual running time of the single is 4:09, not 3:56 as labeled.

I recently ordered a Japanese CD3 (from the same series I mentioned above) which allegedly contains the US single edit of "Thriller." The seller told me the running time is 4:09, so we'll see. If so, it's the only place in the world it's ever been issued on CD. It ought to be, for what I paid for it.

And, Bob, interesting info about "Human Nature," because "Thriller" is coupled with "Human Nature" on the CD I just ordered... and the seller told me "Human Nature" runs 3:47, some 15 seconds shorter than the LP version. The 45 lists the running time as 4:05, but I don't have it, so I can't verify.

The 45 of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was actually a 4:15 edit of the extended dance mix, which is very slightly different from the LP version. The dance mix has been issued on a couple import CDs, but the 45 mix is M.I.A. on CD... and it's not quite possible to create the 45 version from the dance mix, I tried... there's one edit point that doesn't match up. The 45 was actually its own mix.

"The Way You Make Me Feel" was a remix, which is the same mix that appeared on the "HiStory" CD, but the 45 version was a good 30 seconds shorter, cutting out one chorus. It was issued as a 3-inch CD single in the US. "Dirty Diana" was a remix with a lot more punch than the LP version, also faded out about 10 seconds earlier. It also was issued as a US CD3. (I understand that has also been swapped on newer pressings of the "Bad" CD.) "Another Part of Me" and "Smooth Criminal" were both edits of the Extended Dance Remixes, which were slightly speeded up from the original LP versions. The single versions were issued on CD3 in Japan, and on the US promo CD singles. "Man in the Mirror" was slightly edited, though it sounds to my ears like it could be a remix. Again, it was released as a CD3 in the US."
[Edited 12/9/04 21:55pm]

Yeah, I noticed that the "Rock With You" here on the special edition remaster is actually the remix with accented claps, but that's not on the original vinyl.

CinisterCee said:

Yeah, I'm gonna hunt down the original vinyl and rip it to .wav.

As for the Number Ones collection, I thought everyone was aware those were edits.

VoicesCarry said:

Thriller is in my DNA so it's difficult for me to have an objective opinion on it... but you've basically described the feeling I got from Off The Wall which was a natural, fresh and effortless expression.

CinisterCee said:

I think some of them were (subtle) remixes, too.

Just another pic from this awesome gallery.

THE BOOTS!

VoicesCarry said:

That's one thing that just plain disturbs me about reissues.

Although I have to say, knowing both versions of "Rock With You", I prefer the one featured on the remaster.

theAudience said:

"You fucked it up."

-Madonna, Thief Of Hearts

For real, let's avoid "white" MJ pics on this thread. Just don't fit.

This album also contains his best performances vocally! (Pic captured from "She's Out Of My Life" -- a video I rarely see)

CinisterCee said:

I remember hearing about how much he hates that video. He thought he was ugly.

'Thriller' may be the best selling album of all time, but 'Off the Wall', hands down, is his best of all time.

This album came out during the time disco was dying down, and instead of trying to hire disco songwriters and producers, MJ took a risk with Quincy Jones. So the album is a beautiful mix of post-disco, soul, and jazz-funk.

The young MJ fans are too young to remember this album, and think "Thriller" is the greatest album ever made from MJ, they should be schooled about this album.

Off the wall was my introduction to Michael Jackson and I must say that it's one of the first albums that was such a flawlessly enjoyable listen all the way through. I wonder what it would have been like if Michael wrote all the songs and used the stripped down approach that we see on the demo versions. Perhaps something like Dirty Mind?

Off the Wall was a great album. I think he went wrong be remaking it for 20+ years. What was once gorundbreaking is now boring.

But WE are all pretty close to start singing "The Party is Over"

http://www.courttv.com/ne...d_ctv.html

Fingerprints, DNA and the latest searches
By Diane Dimond
Court TV

Dec. 9, 2004 — The Court TV Investigative Unit can now report that something defense attorney Brian Oxman blurted out to the New York Post (see below) last weekend is true. Forensic tests on evidence taken from Neverland in November 2003 have detected the presence of three separate samples of male DNA.

While Oxman says none of the DNA matched the young accuser's, our sources contradict that. The now 15-year-old’s genetic fingerprint was, indeed, among those gathered from the pop star’s bedroom. So, who belongs to the other two samples? Our very reliable, confidential sources say one is Michael Jackson; the third could be from yet another youngster. Watch this space.

Speaking of fingerprints, the National Enquirer cites sources saying “Michael Jackson’s fingerprint and his accuser’s fingerprint (were) on the SAME PAGE of a pornographic magazine” taken as evidence from the pop star’s bedroom.

“One of the magazines police confiscated was Barely Legal…it features adult women dressed in sexy young outfits to make them look like teenagers.”

Court TV's I-Unit can confirm the report of the fingerprints on the magazine, but our sources say the prints were not found on the same page, only within the same magazine. Still, this would lend credence to the young accuser’s claim that Jackson had a secret stash of pornography in his bedroom suite and he used it to arouse him.

"It's the falling in love that's making me high
it's the being in love that makes me cry,cry,cry
It's the falling in love that's making me high
it's the being in love that's makes me cry,cry,cry"


that song is BRILLIANT!!

I totally agree with what was said...it's jacko's best album and the second i have from him...

but man...what's all that color changing shit?Jacko who ruined ur carrer, man!

Fuckin' great album.