Some people class the "Off The Wall" album as "disco", others see it has one of those unique albums that one can't really put it into any particular catergory. What do you think.?

Genre R&B

Styles Club/Dance/Pop/Rock/Urban/Funk/Disco

(allmusic.com)

In some way, it can be classified as disco. But wasn't this album released in the post-disco era (late 1979-1980, maybe)? I'll call it a pop and urban album.

Hell NO.

There was maybe one disco-ish song on there "Dance With Me."
The rest was R&B/Soul.

alwayslate said:

Get on the Floor, yes i think it was the most disco influenced of all the tracks.

jayaredee said:

I would say that "Burn this Disco Out" was the most disco influenced song on the album. Overall I do believe OTW in it's own way re-defined dance music in general. It's definetly MJ most influential album, in my opinion.

It was an R&B album in 1979.

"Rock With You" DEFINITELY has some disco elements. So does "It's The Falling In Love" and as well as "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough." The disco vibe on that album is UNDENIABLE. The album was filled with disco elements but not completely disco. I'd call his album: "Rhythm & Disco"

silverchild said:

That's not post-disco

The strings in "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" are sho nuff disco. But it's an R&B album with some songs aimed at the dancefloor.

It's like saying Bad is a newjack album.

CinisterCee said:

"don't stop" had a disco flavour, but then you have "I can't Help it" and "she's out of my Life" which are completely different flavours.

It's one of those albums that have a disco sound but came right on the heels of disco before it ended. Lipps, Inc. is another one. These two albums were very disco like even though they were popular in 1980.

I've always considered "OFF THE WALL" Funk&R&B, disco never even entered my mind.

whatsgoingon said:

Well there are about 4 disco song on it.

Its both R&B and Disco.

Dont Stop
Burn This Disco
Get On The Floor
and Off The Wall..
Even Workin Day N Night is basically disco..but more dance funk.

Abdul said:

There isn't ONE OUNCE of funk on that album.

Is Bad a new jack album?

StoneCrib said:

So u sayin even Shake Your Body Down To The Ground isnt remotely as funky as Dont Stop Till U get enough, as Rock With You aint remotely funky as Off The Wall....the bass lines? The Handclaps..is that not funk?

U got sum funk'splainin 2 do...

I believe many of you still think of Disco under derisive terms.

Yes, Off The Wall can be considered a disco record. It's danceable, lush and groove-heavy. It also can be considered R&B, pop, dance, soul, along with many other classifications.

It doesn't take away from it to classify it as "disco," just shows how fluid and multifaceted this gem is.

Mara said:

Most orgers love disco

VoicesCarry said:

Oh, why do I always think '79, '80 and '81 is the post disco era?

paisleypark4 said:

Naw, mayyyn! That ain't be no funk!

"Glory be! The funk's on me!"

What you heard was Rhythm & Disco. I don't think there would be any funk fans that would agree that Off The Wall had a couple of funk cuts on there. Those songs had more disco influence if anything.

StoneCrib said:

Workin Day And Night, Dont Stop Til You Get Enough and Off The Wall.....e-hem..are funk....n disco

VoicesCarry said:

Yeah, but a lot of people consider it a lesser form of music. In many cases, it was. But it seems like people just don't wanna admit that this was a disco album. No, every cut on it wasn't a dance song, but so what? The middle section of Bad Girls is slow songs, but it's still a disco album through and through. Same goes for Off the Wall. The shit's disco.

RipHer2Shreds said:

Ooh good comparison. OK it's disco.

VoicesCarry said:

By derisive, I meant something tinsel or chinchy. Sure, there's love for disco, but you've got some folks out there who still associate it as cheaply-made, terribly disposable music -- much like bubblegum pop.


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[Edited 5/20/06 18:25pm]

I feel you Mara.


And on that note, did MJ ever snort that coke?

CinisterCee said:

He passed Marks Mothersbaugh some bad weed.

lilgish said:

And we can't forget the Jesus Juice.

I know MJ once ran out of a magazine store when he saw queer porn in the back.

CinisterCee said:

His money was in the car?