Description
Michael Jackson had recorded solo prior to the release of Off the Wall in 1979, but this was his breakthrough, the album that established him as an artist of astonishing talent and a bright star in his own right.
This was a visionary album, a record that found a way to break disco wide open into a new world where the beat was undeniable, but not the primary focus - it was part of a colourful tapestry of lush ballads and strings, smooth soul and pop, soft rock, and alluring funk.
Most of all, its success is due to the sound constructed by Jackson and producer Quincy Jones, a dazzling array of disco beats, funk guitars, clean mainstream pop, and unashamed (and therefore affecting) schmaltz that is utterly thrilling in its utter joy.