With the album “Off the Wall” Michael Jackson became “cool” to me. Sure, he had done solo albums before that one, but they were all “Jackson Five-ish”. But the guy I now saw on the the album cover, all tux and white socks, was just…cool. And he backed it up with my favorite Jackson song of all time, “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough”. I remember wondering “that’s Michael Jackson? Really?”
I just remember that when I first heard it, it struck me like a whirlwind! The vocals were exciting, mesmerizing; from a time before he started over doing that “hiccup” thing starting with “Thriller”. Quincy Jones’ production compelled me to concentrate on the music! There seemed to be a new, hidden delight every time I listened to the song. And JACKSON WROTE IT! He wrote that mofo!
As far as I’m concerned he never did another song to equal it. For pure pop/funk/disco/whatever genius, “Don’t Stop” remains the breakout revelation from the young guy with white socks.