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Michael Jackson’s brilliant ‘Off the Wall’ reissued with Spike Lee documentary
Michael Jackson recorded four solo albums while still part of the Jackson 5 in the early 1970s, but his journey from child star to worldwide phenomenon really began with “Off the Wall,” his landmark 1979 album for Epic.
Reissued here in a CD/DVD package deal with a Spike Lee documentary, about which more later, its 10 tracks sound as fresh and exciting as they did 37 years ago.
That’s partially due to Quincy Jones’ fanatically crisp, clear production. The two became friends when Jackson was working on the 1978 film, “The Wiz,” for which Jones was musical director. Jackson hired him over objections from his record label, who thought Jones would be “too jazzy.”
The song selection also helped. Jackson wrote three electrifying originals, “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough,” “Working Day and Night” and “Get on the Floor,” and Heat Wave’s Rod Temperton contributed the title track, “Burn This Disco Out,” and the irresistible “Rock With You.”
Then there was the musicianship. For an album that broke all kinds of barriers between pop and dance music and paved the way for the highly processed chart-topping music of today, “Off the Wall” is remarkably organic.
Real musicians played real instruments, and played them with tightness, precision and enough funk to shake a thousand dance floors. As a result, four singles from the album reached the Billboard Top 10.
“Off the Wall” brought Jackson to the cusp of stardom. He had the dance moves, the incredible voice and the flair for showmanship, but how did he make that final leap?
Spike Lee’s film, “Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to ‘Off The Wall,’ ” aired by Showtime in February, does an excellent job of answering that question. The 93-minute documentary, included as a DVD or, for a couple dollars more, a Blu-Ray, tracks Jackson’s career arc from the Jackson 5 days, through the band’s run as The Jacksons after signing with Epic, ending with a track-by-track look at “Off The Wall.”
Lee keeps himself out of the narrative for the most part, letting an impressive collection of archival performance and interview clips tell the story. These include appearances on “Ed Sullivan,” “Dinah,” “Soul Train” (doing some dazzling robot moves) and a stunning “Shake Your Body Down to the Ground” from “American Bandstand” that telegraphs Michael’s readiness for prime time eight months before the release of “Off the Wall.”
Contemporary interviews and comments from everyone from Jackson’s brothers to Kobe Bryant, Motown chief Berry Gordy, Pharell Williams, Stevie Wonder and San Pedro ballet star Misty Copeland effectively testify to Jackson’s wide-ranging influence, even at this early phase of his solo career.
It’s a superb documentary, detailed and nuanced, that concentrates wholly on its subject. Watching Jackson at this early artistic peak, one can’t help but be saddened by the knowledge of what was to come for the King of Pop in his later years.
Pair Lee’s film with one of the most essential R&B/pop crossover albums ever made, and you have this can’t-miss package.
Eastwood Allen ‏@Eastwoodallen March 5th
Watched Michael Jackson's Journey From #Motown to #OffTheWall with my folks. The entire family toe tapping in sync for 90 mins.
Sinbad ‏@sinbadbad March 3th
Check out spike lee's documentary on michael jackson. I got it on iTunes! Michael jackson from Motown to off the wall.