Off the Wall (Michael Jackson song)

"Off the Wall"
Artwork for German and Dutch vinyl releases
Single by Michael Jackson
from the album Off the Wall
B-side"Get on the Floor"
Released
  • November 16, 1979 (UK)[1]
  • January 31, 1980 (US)[2]
RecordedDecember 1978[3]
StudioAllen Zentz, Westlake and Cherokee, Los Angeles
Genre
Length
  • 4:05 (album version)
  • 3:47 (single version)
Label
SongwriterRod Temperton
ProducerQuincy Jones
Michael Jackson singles chronology
"Rock with You"
(1979)		 "Off the Wall"
(1979)		 "She's Out of My Life"
(1980)
Alternative release(s)
Side A of the US vinyl single
Official audio
"Off the Wall" on YouTube

"Off the Wall" is a disco and funk song by American singer Michael Jackson, and the title track from his fifth studio album, Off the Wall (1979). Written by Rod Temperton and produced by Quincy Jones, it was released by Epic Records as the album’s second single in the UK on November 16, 1979[1] and as the third single in the US on January 31, 1980. The song was originally offered to Karen Carpenter while she was working on her first solo studio album, but she declined to record it.[4] Lyrically, the song explores escapism and emotional release, with the narrator seeking relief from daily stress and personal troubles by leaving worries behind and immersing in music and dance.

The song received positive reviews from music critics and was widely regarded as one of the standout tracks on the album. It became Jackson’s third top 10 single from the album, which ultimately produced four top 10 entries in total, becoming the first solo artist to do so. The song peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number five on the Billboard Soul Singles chart.

Reception

AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine highlighted the song as one of the album’s most standout tracks.[5]

Cash Box praised the song, calling it “another killer” following Jackson’s previous number-one hits "Rock with You," and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," writing that its "fluid, sashaying dance beat" and "party atmosphere were enhanced by horns and Jackson's multitracked vocals."[6]

Other versions and samples

Mariah Carey interpolated "Off the Wall" in her 2008 song "I'm That Chick."[7]

Saint Pepsi sampled "Off the Wall" in his 2013 song "Enjoy Yourself."

Pete Rock sampled "Off the Wall" on the 1998 song "Stay Away," which featured De La Soul and Rob-O.

PinkPantheress sampled "Off the Wall" in her 2021 single "Just a Waste."[8]

Track listing

European 7" single (EPC 8045)
No.TitleLength
1."Off the Wall" (remix[a])4:01
2."Workin' Day and Night"5:10
Total length:9:10
US 7" single (9-50838)
No.TitleLength
1."Off the Wall" (7" remix[a])3:47
2."Get on the Floor"4:38
Total length:8:26

Official versions

  1. Album version – 4:05
  2. Remix – 4:01
  3. 7" remix – 3:47
  4. Edit – 3:46 – Featured on the Essential Collection is an early fade of the album version.
  5. Junior Vasquez mix – 5:13 – Featured on the Stranger in Moscow single.
  6. Live – 4:00 – Featured on The Jacksons Live!.

The US and Japanese single releases featured a remix with a running time of 3:47, while the UK and other international releases included an alternate remix running 4:01.

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Mexico (AMPROFON)[29] Platinum 60,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[30] Gold 15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[31] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[32] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes

  1. 1 2 No version description listed on the actual single.

References

  1. 1 2 "Epic advertisement" (PDF). Music Week. 1979-11-17. p. 2,40. 'Off The Wall' Michael Jackson's new single off the album. (Special re-mix).
  2. ↑ "RIAA".
  3. ↑ Vogel, Joseph (2011). Man in the Music. Vintage books. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-525-56658-8.
  4. ↑ "Behind The Music: Karen Carpenter (Solo)". 21 April 2013.
  5. ↑ "Off the Wall - Michael Jackson - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  6. ↑ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. February 16, 1980. p. 18. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  7. ↑ Vineyard, Jennifer (April 11, 2008). "Mariah Carey Leads A Track-By-Track Tour Of E=MC2, Which She Calls '100 Percent Of Me'". Archived from the original on December 4, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  8. ↑ Issawi, Danya (November 6, 2021). "PinkPantheress Has 1 Million Fans on TikTok". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  10. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Image 0173a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  11. ↑ "Off the Wall | IRMA". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  12. 1 2 "Michael Jackson – Off the Wall" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  13. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 3, 1980" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  14. ↑ "Michael Jackson – Off the Wall". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  15. ↑ "Michael Jackson – Off the Wall". VG-lista. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  16. ↑ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Acts J". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  17. ↑ "Michael Jackson – Off the Wall". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  18. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 15/12/1979 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  19. ↑ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  20. ↑ "Michael Jackson - Chart History". Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. for Michael Jackson. Archived from the original on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  21. ↑ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending APRIL 19, 1980". Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2016.. Cash Box magazine.
  22. ↑ "Michael Jackson".
  23. ↑ "Michael Jackson – Off the Wall". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  24. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 11/7/2009 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  25. ↑ "Michael Jackson - Chart History". Billboard Digital Songs. for Michael Jackson. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  26. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Image 0272". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  27. ↑ "Top 100 Hits for 1980". longboredsurfer.com. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  28. ↑ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1980". Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2014.. Cash Box magazine.
  29. ↑ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved June 2, 2026. Type Michael Jackson in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Off the Wall in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  30. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Michael Jackson – Off the Wall". Radioscope. Retrieved November 15, 2025. Type Off the Wall in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  31. ↑ "British single certifications – Michael Jackson – Off the Wall". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 24, 2023. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Off the Wall Michael Jackson in the "Search:" field.
  32. ↑ "American single certifications – Michael Jackson – Off the Wall". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
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