Monday, October 27, 2003
The date after each song/artist is the date the song first hit the top of Billboard's R&B chart. The chart was titled "Hot Soul Singles" from 7/14/73 through 6/26/82, at which point its name changed to "Hot Black Singles" for the remainder of the 1980s. All chart data is taken from Joel Whitburn's Top R&B Singles 1942-1995 (Record Research, Inc., 1996).
"Rock With You," Michael Jackson (1/5/80)
Off the Wall's title track (#5 later in 1980) has always been my favorite single from said album, but this one was always the dealbreaker. It was preceded by the burn-this-disco-out workout of "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," but it was on "Rock" where MJ transformed himself, effortlessly, into the true king of pop. He coos (just listen to the way he leans into that opening "giiiiirl"!), he opens up (and nails the "rock"s in the chorus), and he sounds so fucking joy-filled it nearly makes me tear up - where did this Jacko go? Is he still trapped, somewhere, in that plastic surgery museum that passes for Jackson today? Oh, and in case it doesn't (for some reason) go without saying, Quincy Jones's production here is alarmingly masterful, one of his greatest singles, ever. Just that opening 0:02 snare tattoo alone should've won a Grammy. A
"Rock With You," Michael Jackson (1/5/80)
Off the Wall's title track (#5 later in 1980) has always been my favorite single from said album, but this one was always the dealbreaker. It was preceded by the burn-this-disco-out workout of "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," but it was on "Rock" where MJ transformed himself, effortlessly, into the true king of pop. He coos (just listen to the way he leans into that opening "giiiiirl"!), he opens up (and nails the "rock"s in the chorus), and he sounds so fucking joy-filled it nearly makes me tear up - where did this Jacko go? Is he still trapped, somewhere, in that plastic surgery museum that passes for Jackson today? Oh, and in case it doesn't (for some reason) go without saying, Quincy Jones's production here is alarmingly masterful, one of his greatest singles, ever. Just that opening 0:02 snare tattoo alone should've won a Grammy. A
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