Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough

"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"

A generic label with the iconic "Epic" logo on the top of the label and "QUINCY JONES PRODUCTIONS" on the upper right. The rest on the label contains credits and factual information about the product itself.

A-side label of U.S. vinyl single
Single by Michael Jackson
from the album Off the Wall
B-side "I Can't Help It"
Released August 10, 1979
Format 7" single, 12" single
Recorded December 1978[1]
Genre
Length 6:05
Label
Writer(s) Michael Jackson
Producer(s)
Certification Platinum (United States and New Zealand)
Silver (United Kingdom)
Gold (Australia)
Michael Jackson singles chronology
"A Brand New Day"
(1979)
"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
(1979)
"Rock with You"
(1979)
Music video
"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" on YouTube

"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" is a single written and recorded by American singer Michael Jackson. Released under Epic Records on August 10, 1979, the song is the first single from Jackson's fifth studio album, titled Off the Wall. The song was the first solo recording over which Jackson had creative control. Jackson said that the song's lyrics were not a reference to sex, but could be about whatever people wanted them to be about.

"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" was Jackson's first single to hit #1 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 chart in seven years, and his first solo #1 on the Soul singles chart.[2] It remained at #1 for six weeks on Billboard's Soul chart. The song was a worldwide success. Within a few months of release, the 45 was certified Gold, and eventually earned a Platinum certification for sales in excess of two million US copies.

"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" was well received by contemporary music critics. An accompanying music video for the song was released in October 1979. The video shows Jackson dancing, as well as being shown in a triplicate, in different color backgrounds. The song also won Jackson his first solo Grammy and American Music Awards. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" is considered to be the first song to showcase Jackson's talent as a solo artist, both as a singer and songwriter. Since the song's release, it has been covered by numerous musicians.

Background and production

In 1978, Jackson starred as the Scarecrow in The Wiz, an urbanized retelling of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. After the filming, Jackson, who was still a member of The Jacksons, approached the film's musical director, Quincy Jones, to ask if he knew of any producers to help with Jackson's future solo endeavors.[3] Jones suggested himself, and the two began work on Off the Wall.[3] After listening to hundreds of demos, the two decided upon the ones to record. These included "Workin' Day and Night", "Get on the Floor" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".[4] The song was recorded in Los Angeles recording studios.[5] Jackson claimed that when the melody of "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" came to him, he couldn't shake it off. He found himself humming and singing it while walking through the Jacksons' Encino home. As Michael could not play, he had his brother Randy perform the melody on a piano in the family's recording studio.[4] When Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, a devout Jehovah's Witness, heard the song, she was shocked by the lyrical content, and felt that the title could be misconstrued as pertaining to sexual activity.[6] Jackson reassured her that the song was not a reference to sex, but could mean whatever people wanted it to.[6] Upon playing the recording to Jones, it was agreed that the song would be featured on Off the Wall.[4]

Composition

Musically "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" is credited as a disco-funk song. The song's full length on Off The Wall is just over 6 minutes. "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" introduced Jackson's falsetto voice and vocal hiccups, which would become one of Jackson's signature techniques. Along with Jackson's vocal hiccups, Jackson's voice in the song was described as having vocal tics—from the hiccups, a "grunt", and "the 'oho!'".[3] "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" is played in the key of B Mixolydian and in common time signature. In the song, Jackson's voice range is from G#3 to F#5. Instruments for "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" are a 6 piece horn section (2 trumpets, alto sax, tenor sax, trombone, and baritone sax), string section (arranged by Ben Wright), and 2 guitars, keyboards, bass, drums and percussion. The song's tempo is upbeat at 120 beats per minute. "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" begins with Jackson speaking, before singing the song's lyrics.[7]

Release and reception

"Don’t Stop 'til You Get Enough" was released on August 10, 1979, under Epic Records; Jackson's first solo album away from Motown Records.[4] It was well received by contemporary critics. Stephen Holden, of Rolling Stone, described the song as "one of a handful of recent disco releases that works both as a dance track and as an aural extravaganza comparable to Earth, Wind and Fire's 'Boogie Wonderland'".[8] Within three months of its release, the song was at the top of the charts and had been certified gold.[4][9] Reaching number one on Billboard's Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles charts in the United States; it was Jackson's first solo number one single since "Ben", seven years prior.[9] It remained atop of the Billboard Hot 100 for one week. It also reached the top of the charts in Australia, New Zealand, Norway and South Africa, and peaked at number three in the United Kingdom.[6] "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough"s was awarded platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America in 1989.[9]

In 2006, "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" reached number 17 in the United Kingdom, following the Visionary campaign, whereby 20 of Jackson's hit singles were reissued in several European countries.[6] Following Jackson's death in June 2009, his music saw an increase in popularity.[10] "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" peaked at number seven on Billboard's Hot Digital Songs Chart, peaking at number nine on the charts[11] issue date July 11, 2009. "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" charted within the top ten, placing at number nine, in France,[12] and charted within the top 20 in Portugal and Switzerland, placing at number 18 and 20.[13] The song also charted at number 21 in Australia, 38 in the United Kingdom,[14] and 50 in Sweden, respectively.[13] "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough"s least successful country was Japan, peaking at number 77.[13] "Don’t Stop 'til You Get Enough" was certified gold in Australia by Australian Recording Industry Association in 2009 for the shipments of 35,000 units.[15]

"Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" earned Jackson his first solo Grammy Award, winning Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 1980 Grammy Awards. It was also nominated for Best Disco Recording. The song also received Favorite Soul/R&B Single at the 1980 American Music Awards.[5][16]

Music video

A adult African American male with short black hair. He is pointing forward with his right hand and is making a facial expression and he is wearing a black bow tie with a black and white tuxedo. Behind him, there is a pink background.
Jackson in the music video for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"

The music video for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" was directed and produced by Nick Saxton and made its world premiere in October 1979.[6] It was Jackson's first music video as a solo artist. The music video shows a smiling Jackson dancing and singing "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" in a black and white tuxedo with a black bow tie while appearing chroma keyed over a background of abstract geometric figures. At one stage, Jackson is seen dancing in triplicate, which was considered innovative at the time.[4]

The music video was included on the video albums: Video Greatest Hits - HIStory, Number Ones and Michael Jackson's Vision.

Live performances

Michael Jackson performed this song on The Jacksons' Destiny Tour on the second leg, as well as the Triumph Tour. During the ''Victory Tour'' and the first leg of the Bad Tour, Michael would sing lines from the song while performing "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)". Michael also performed this song as part of the "Off the Wall Medley" on his HIStory World Tour, but only on certain concerts. Jackson was also going to perform it for the This Is It concert series, but the shows were cancelled due to his death.

Michael Jackson: The Experience

The song is featured in the video game Michael Jackson: The Experience.

Cover versions

"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" has been covered by multiple artists since its release in 1979.

Legacy

James Montgomery of MTV noted that "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", along with Off the Wall's other three singles, "showcased (or, more specifically, unleashed) Jackson's talents as a [sic] entertainer, a vocalist, a writer and, most importantly, as a leading man."[5] After Jackson's death, AOL's Radio Blog released a list, entitled "10 Best Michael Jackson Songs", which placed "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" at number ten on the list.[27]

William Ruhlmann, author of The All-Music Guide to Rock, praised "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" as an "irresistible dance track".[28] John Lewis, author of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, noted that the "jittery, frenetic opening track" is the centerpiece of Off the Wall.[28] He concluded that "Jackson's falsetto hollers and frisky yelps serve as an obbligato to the lead line, punctuating Ben Wright's thrilling string arrangement and Jerry Hey's tight horn charts".[28] Jason Elias, a writer for Allmusic, noted that "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" presents a "new Michael Jackson" that was "sexual, [an] adult, and aggressive.[3] Elias commented that "Like the best of Jones' late-'70s, early-'80s work, this [song] wasn't quite disco, couldn't be hardcore funk - it was an amalgam of styles with the all-important pop accessibility."[3]

Jackson's biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli described Jackson's unveiling of a "sexy, playful falsetto" that "no one had ever heard from him before".[4] Nelson George stated that the argument for Jackson's greatness began with the arrangements of "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". He noted that the percussion and backing vocals were "artfully choreographed" to "create drama and ecstasy on the dance floor". He concluded, "It's one thing to make a dance record it is another to instill that track with an epic, celebratory quality as Michael does here".[29] James Montgomery of MTV noted that Off The Wall contained a "masterful mixture of fiery disco tracks", specifying "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" and "Workin' Day and Night".[5]

Track listing

European 7" single (EPC 7763)[30][31][32][33][34]
  • A. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - 3:58
  • B. "I Can't Help It" - 4:29
Netherlands 12" single (EPC 12.7763)[35]
  • A. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - 5:53
  • B. "I Can't Help It" - 4:29

"Visionary" DualDisc single (82876725112)[36]
CD side
  1. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (7" Edit) - 3:58
  2. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (12" Edit) - 5:53
DVD side
  1. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (Video) - 4:11

Personnel

  • Written and composed by Michael Jackson
  • Produced by Quincy Jones
  • Co-Produced by Michael Jackson
  • Michael Jackson: Lead and background vocals
  • Additional background vocals by Jim Gilstrap, Augie Johnson, Mortonette Jenkins, Paulette McWilliams and Zedric Wiliams
  • Louis Johnson: Bass
  • John Robinson: Drums
  • Sheila E.: Percussion (uncredited)
  • Greg Phillinganes: Electric piano
  • David Williams, Marlo Henderson: Guitars
  • Michael Jackson, Randy Jackson, Richard Heath, Paulinho Da Costa: Percussion

  • Horns arranged by Jerry Hey and performed by The Seawind Horns:
    • Jerry Hey: Trumpet and flugelhorn
    • Larry Williams: Tenor, alto saxophones and flute
    • Kim Hutchcroft: Baritone, tenor saxophones and flute
    • William Reichenbach: Trombone
    • Gary Grant: Trumpet
  • Rhythm arrangement by Greg Phillinganes and Michael Jackson
  • Vocal and percussion arrangements by Michael Jackson
  • String arrangement by Ben Wright
  • Concert master: Gerald Vinci
  • Recording Engineer: Bruce Swedien

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (1979-1980) Peak
Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[37] 11
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] 1
Canadian RPM Dance Music[38] 1
Canadian RPM Top Singles[39] 3
Denmark (Tracklisten)[6] 1
Germany (Official German Charts)[40] 13
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[41] 2
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[42] 2
Irish Singles Chart[43] 10
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[44] 1
Norway (VG-lista)[45] 1
South African Chart[46] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[6] 2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[47] 4
UK (Official Charts Company)[14] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[6][11] 1
US Dance Club Play[11] 2
US Hot R&B Singles[11] 1

Sales and certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[48] Gold 35,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[49] Silver 250,000
United States (RIAA)[50] 2× Platinum 2,309,000[51]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Chart (2006) Peak
Position
France (SNEP)[52] 52
Italy (FIMI)[53] 6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[42] 39
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[54] 2
UK (Official Charts Company)[14] 17
Chart (2008) Peak
position
France (SNEP)[52] 54
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[54] 7
Chart (2009) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[55] 21
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[37] 47
French Singles Chart[12] 9
Italy (FIMI)[53] 16
Japan (Oricon)[13] 77
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[42] 10
Portugal (AFP)[13] 18
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[56] 50
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[47] 20
UK (Official Charts Company)[14] 38
US Billboard Hot Digital Songs[11] 9

References

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Further reading

External links

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