Wednesday, December 18, 2024
BassGuitar Tips & Hacks

Behind the Recording of ‘Off The Wall’ – Michael Jackson


Off the wall was the coming of age album for Michael Jackson. Until its release he’d never really been able to shake off his child star image, but his ambition and talent propelled him into making one of the stand out albums of the 70’s.

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Originally posted by UC-pWxdJv5AILtFPBkgqzM-w at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jShxuUnmHaU

21 thoughts on “Behind the Recording of ‘Off The Wall’ – Michael Jackson

  • This album was better than Thriller but without it Michael would not have been able to have the vision to create it. When "Off the wall" didn't win the awards he wanted, he needed to tap into the pop, rock and r&b genres to reach the world of music listeners. Thriller achieved that and once he cracked the MTV code with the album there was no stopping him from dominating.

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  • Why on earth do you people always conveniently forget to give Guitarist Phil Upchurch credit for playing on Michael Jackson's Off the Wall album? his name is clearly there among the credits.

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  • Off The Wall beats Thriller hands down I'll argue that forever but hey just my opinion

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  • 3:55 "Synthesizers such as the Oberheim OB-8, which is featured on I can't help it…" 
     
    Well… Brace yourself for some incoming nerdy synth corrections… ????

    "Off The Wall" was released in 1979 and the first Oberheim "OB-8" was made in 1983…  
    There is indeed an interview (from the Red Bull Music Academy) where Greg Phillinganes mentions working on "I can't help it" and using the polyphonic Oberheim synth that was available in the studio at the time. Greg remembers it as being an "OB-8", but it was actually the earlier "Eight Voice" model. (made by Oberheim between 1977 and 1980.) 

    Phillingnes specifically mentions that the synth allowed him to program an individual portamento-time for every oscillator, which gives a certain "magic vibe" to the chords as every note slides into the next at a different speed. This technique was only possible on the "Eight Voice", and one of the things that the later "improved" models like the "OB-X", "OB-Xa" and "OB-8" just couldn't do. (To be fair, all these synths are 8-voice polyphonic Oberheim models with similar names, produced within a few years of each other. Let me put it like this: living legend Greg Phillinganes is not the only one who has gotten these models mixed up. ???? )

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  • The best MJ album, and one of the best albums ever recorded. Just like you've said, the balance between live instrumentation and synths from the time made an irresistible organic sound, never reached again.

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  • Good job. This is a great overview of the behind the scenes recording of Off The Wall album. Even though Thriller was an excellent album and had well deserve praise, I felt Off The Wall was a little bit better MJ album. Sonically, the recordings sounded better. The collaboration of the songwriting, arrangements, musicianship and the creative vision of Quincy and Michael is what made this album top notch. From Rod Templeton's time with Heatwave, Michael and other artists, his songwriting was always great. The bass playing not just from Louis Johnson but also Bobby Watson was stellar. JR Robinson's drumming feel added perfect rhythmic pulse to all the songs. Off the Wall was definitely a stand out album not just for Michael but a stand out album for the late 70's.

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  • My fave. Also albums during the late 70s early 80s sound superior to me. It was the sweet spot after the mid 70s dead room sound and before the mid 80s gated reverb excess. Albums like off the wall, c’est chic, Avalon, moving pictures (I could go on and on) have just the right amount of warmth and ambiance.

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  • Divine marvellous of circumstances that brought these Q quartet squad… MJ, Q,Rod & Bruce … then all the other engineers, artists…

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  • My favourite Michael Jackson album.
    So many amazing people connected to it: 
    Michael and Randy Jackson, Quincy, Rod Temperton, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Patti Austin, Larry Carlton, George Duke, David Foster, Greg Phillinganes, Steve Porcaro, Bruce Swedien, Paulinho Da Costa, Michael Boddicker. 
    Cream of the crop.

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  • This is my all-time favorite album. It tops everything for me. I love it. Great collaboration amongst everyone involved ❤

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  • Great video! We should thank Benjamin Wright, Jr for the amazing string arranging on the album.

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