Off the Wall

Off the Wall is the fifth studio album by the American singer Michael Jackson, released on August 10, 1979, by Epic Records. It was Jackson's first album released through Epic Records, and the first produced by Quincy Jones, whom he previously collaborated with while working on the 1978 film The Wiz. Off the Wall was crafted from disco, pop, funk, R&B, soft rock and Broadway ballads. Its lyrical themes include escapism, liberty, hedonism and romance. The album features songwriting contributions from Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Rod Temperton, Tom Bahler, and David Foster, alongside three tracks penned by Jackson himself.

Before recording his next album, Jackson desired to create a record showcasing creative freedom and individualism for the first time—Off the Wall was widely branded as a reintroduction for him. Despite it being released shortly after the infamous Disco Demolition Night, it became Jackson's highest charting on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart, staying in the Top 10 for over 8 months. It was also number 1 on the Top Black Albums chart for 16 weeks and was the best-selling album of 1980 in the US. In retrospect, the album has been hailed as a landmark release of the disco era.

Five singles were released from Off the Wall, two of which were Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles: "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock with You". Another two, "Off the Wall" and "She's Out of My Life", were Top 10 hits; this made Jackson the first solo artist to have four Top 10 hits on the Hot 100 from one album. The album was controversially nominated for just two Grammy Awards, with Jackson winning Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". It won Favorite Soul/R&B Album at both the 1980 and 1981 American Music Awards.

Off the Wall received widespread critical acclaim, with it being credited as a significant departure from Jackson's previous work for Motown and hailed as a major breakthrough for him. It has sold over 20 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. In 2025, it was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album continues to be lauded as one of the greatest albums in popular music, with some critics praising it as Jackson's best album. In 2008, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.