Blog battle: 'Thriller' vs. 'Off The Wall'

Tuesday marks the release of "Thriller 25" -- the epic, 25th anniversary edition of Michael Jackson's landmark album. Cause for celebration? Sure. (Break out the winecoolers and pudding pops.)

But it seems some people out there think the original 1982 album is a RUNNER-UP to other M.J.'s other work. (Unless they're talking about his cosmetic work, I'm baffled.)

By some people, I could only mean Sean Daly, a music critic who's more machine now than man -- twisted and evil. Daly claims that 1979's "Off The Wall" is the real opus. So you know what that means...

BLOG BATTLE ... battalion style. I think it's demented and social (but social) that I even have to explain the rationale here, but Daly's a glutton for punishment -- and for fresh lamb chops, not that this is relevant here, but the guy smells like a Irish butcher shop most days of the week.

Read Sean's sad case first, then read this, you pretty young thing!

TOP 3 REASONS THRILLER IS THE ULTIMATE MICHAEL JACKSON DISC:

3. THE NUMBERS: Number of people who own "Thriller" -- approximately 105-million and counting. Number of people who own "Off The Wall" -- three ... Sean Daly, the roller skating rink down the road and Stevie Wonder (who thought he was buying a copy of "Thriller.")

2. THE TUNES: Nobody woos the opposite sex to "She's Out of My Life" -- except maybe Kenny G or Macaulay Culkin. The rest of us queue up "Human Nature," which is like Spanish Fly to our species. And "Wanna Be Startin' Something" trumps any disco-ridden track on the earlier disc for drawing people to the dance floor. Remember, "Thriller" had SEVEN top-10 singles. And a video for the title song features dance moves that are as ingrained in western culture as anything short of indoor plumbing and microwave popcorn.

1. PRIMO MICHAEL: On the cover the "Off The Wall," Michael looks like Eriq La Salle from "Coming to America" ("Just let your Soul Glo!"). Is that the Michael everyone loves? No, M.J. in 1982 was in his prime -- red leather pants, single glove, slightly smaller nose (but nobody complained.) He christened the Moonwalk to "Billie Jean" -- not "Burn This Disco Out." And Weird Al chose to lampoon "Beat It" -- not "Rock With You."

You know why? Because when it comes to 80s classics, even Weird Al knows that this album can thrill you more than any ghost would dare to try.

Comments

[Jeff...feeling oh so silky smooth!!]

It had "Thriller". Game, set, match.

Now wake up Vincent Price and sic the zombies on SD (even the fat blue one who has trouble emerging from the sewer).

[jane]

It's gotta be "Thriller" -- although truth be told, I do have great affection for "Off The Wall."

The album was a HUGE and critical part of the soundtrack to my college years. I went so mad for "Beat It" that I spent one Sunday afternoon in Gainesville driving around to every retail outlet I could think of looking for the 45-single. Never did find it that day -- so for weeks, I would radio-station hop, hoping to catch someone playing it, as "Billie Jean" was the tune getting the most airplay at that point.

My roommates and I had a party in our crappy little apartment for the debut on MTV of the full-length "Thriller" video. Granted, we also had nightly soirees to watch and giggle over the Dr. Ruth show, but anything remotely deemed event-worthy was something to be toasted with cheap beer. And the Thriller video certainly qualified.

Hearing "Human Nature" brings back not just one, but a couple of memories of romantic liaisons, the details of which I shall not discuss here for the sake of decorum -- but suffice it to say that the song brings a smile to my face. And once a "PYT", always a "PYT" -- in my heart, anyway.

"Thriller" was one of the first albums I could see, thanks to MTV, as well as hear. For every song on there, I have a location reference.

Seminal. Ground-breaking. Booty-shaking. It wins. No contest.

[chase]

Mixed emotions: Michael Jackson driving off a cliff in your new Porsche.

[Walter Cox]

Mamasemamasamamacoosa! 'Nuff said.

[80sfan]

Is none of the above an option?

[Brad]

This isn't even close. Thriller. The end.

[SPIKY SANDY]

While both albums were wonderful, the kudos has to go to Thriller! It was played more and heralded more. Besides, I actually bought the cassette tape of it. I never did own Off The Wall, which I enjoyed hearing music from. Thriller was and is the biggest hit EVER!

[Jeff in Cuba]

Despite my penchant for fence-sitting in these situations, I'm going to stake out a position on this one.

"Off The Wall" was probably MJ's finest work as a musician, and certainly was the radical departure from his "Jackson 5" path that put him on the course for "Thriller". Music historians 100 years from now will more likely cite it as MJ's "landmark" recording.

Nonetheless, there's no denying the cross-cultural impact of "Thriller". It's tendrils reached into every aspect of popular culture: music, TV, movies, fashion, comedy and even politics (MJ didn't get to meet the President because of "OTW"). The music cognoscenti may have noticed MJ turning the corner with "OTW", but everyone on the planet noticed him jam on the accelerator as "Thriller" raced across the cultural landscape in a tire-squeeling cloud of blue smoke.

If "OTW" is a finely carved jade figurine, then Thriller is a 150-pound concrete lawn ornament. Sean can argue the intrinisic artistry of the former, but when you throw them both into the pop culture pool, there's no denying which one makes the bigger splash.

[Mike in Austin]

Off the Wall wins. The original. Everyone here has valid responses, etc. but the facts are facts, Off the Wall is just a bad ... MJ album.
And the Rock with you video, friggin awesome. Simple, groovy and to the point. Who doesn't own Off the Wall on vinyl?

[jane]

Mr. Daly really threw the gauntlet down, challenging us "Thriller" apologists to set aside our intellectual arguments, give a listen and compare. So I did.

I've listened through my MJ playlist twice. While I did boogie happily to the "Off the Wall" contingent (especially "Working Day and Night"), my original analysis still stands. Plus, I realized that I just don't like "She's Out of My Life." Ugh.

It's still "Thriller" for the win with this groovanista.

[Spears]

Somewhere, a hundred yards to the south of me, Sean Daly is crying into his huge plate of lamp chops and brussel sprouts.

Thanks for the love, 80s nation!

[Marissa]

There's no crying! We're dancing! And it's not in Thriller V-formation either.

"why don't you just dance across the floor... and I sure would like just to groove with you..."

[jane]

All this talk of lamb makes me think that Mr. Daly is more a mutton than a glutton for punishment...

[Clark]

"Working Day And Night" is MJ's tightest groove and all around funkiest song ever. Nothing on Thriller comes close. Just sayin'

[Spears]

One more pro-Thriller comment. Actually just a name. ....

Eddie ... Van ... Halen.

[jane]

Of course. Goes without saying. Total bonus for the "Thriller" cause.

[Bassnote]

Thriller. Just for the historical impact.

[Valdimar (Iceland)]

Thriller, no question.

[TopDogscss]

Don't you think that after thriller it was all down hill?

[Ben S]

Michael Jackson looks nothing like Eriq La Salle, on the Off The Wall cover, that's a big insult to Michael Jackson. Eriq La Salle looks far more like Lionel Richie !!!

[Ben S]

I became a life long Michael Jackson fan with the Thriller album in February 1983. But I prefer the Off The Wall album, it's a much funkier album than Thriller.

Their is no denying that Thriller is one of the greatest albums of all time. And no album has had such an impact on popular culture as Thriller over the last 25yrs. Off The Wall turned Michael Jackson in to an superstar and Thriller turned Michael in to an Icon.

But for most Michael Jackson fans and music lovers in general who grew up in the 1980's, looking back they will see that Off The Wall is the better album that deserves a lot more credit.

For the casual album buyer, Thriller may be the only Michael Jackson album they own and to them Thriller will be Michael Jackson's best album (which is why Thriller is the biggest selling album of all time). Along with Prince's huge selling Purple Rain album, many of those people who bought Thriller never bought another Michael Jackson album again, the reason people think it was all downhill for Michael Jackson after Thriller which isn't true.

The Bad album and era were huge. Bad sold 29 million albums. It had 5 No.1's in the USA (the only album to contain 5 No.1 hit singles). The 1987-89 Bad Tour turned Michael Jackson in to a Living Legend, with amazing live singing and super slick and fast dancing, it was Michael Jackson live at his peak, with rave reviews from the media. Oh and the Bad Tour and album made Michael Jackson the first Entertainer to earn over £100 million in a year. So it wasn't all down after Thriller.

Michael Jackson will always be best remembered for the Thriller album, and what an amazing album to be known for. But despite what the media say's, he's still a success as even his so called flop albums sell more than the likes of Justin Timberlake and Robbie Williams.