THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

812-Michael Jackson-Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.

1979-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 2.56. A tip for those who choose this as their karaoke song. There are two ‘ooh’s’ at 4.27, as opposed to just the one at 2.18. You must also work your way through the minefield of vocal tics, and hiccups, and occasional grunts.

Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29th, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, United States, he died on June 25th, 2009, from cardiac arrest, caused by a Propofol and Benzodiazepine overdose, administered to him by Conrad Murray, his personal physician. Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson’s death for having inadvertently overdosed him with a powerful surgical anesthetic, Propofol, which was being improperly used as a bedtime sleep agent. Murray served roughly two years out of his original four-year prison sentence.

With record sales in excess of 400 million copies, Michael Jackson (see also best songs 511-249-191 and 137) is amongst the very elite best selling artists of all time, and he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th Century, he is fondly referred to as the ‘King of Pop.’ The discography of Michael Jackson as a solo artist includes 10 studio Albums released between 1972-2001, of which the first four were on ‘Motown’ records, and 77 singles issued as either the lead or featured artist between 1971-2023, his first 14 solo singles were all released on ‘Motown’ records, between 1971-1978. There are also 19 official compilation Albums, and one soundtrack Album available. In America on Billboard, and also in the UK, all of his last five Album releases reached Number 1, with his 1982 Album ‘Thriller,’ with sales in excess of 70 million copies worldwide, being the best selling Album of all time. On the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, Michael Jackson has had 40 top 40 hits, with 13 of those tracks making Number 1, including ‘Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,’ while in the UK, as a solo artist he has charted within the top 40 on 54 occasions, with seven of those tracks reaching the Number 1 spot. For the discography of The Jackson 5, and the Jacksons, see best songs 137.

‘Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough’ was the first of five singles released from Michael Jackson’s fifth solo studio Album ‘Off the Wall,’ from August 1979, the song was written by Michael Jackson, and co-produced by Jackson, and Quincy Jones (see also best songs 1022-889-703-511-357 and 191.) ‘Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,’ and it’s parent Album ‘Off the Wall,’ are a defining moment in the career of Michael Jackson, as it was the first time in over a decade of recording that he had full creative control over his own output. Michael Jackson had met Quincy Jones in 1978, when both had been working on the film ‘The Wiz,’ where Jackson was playing the part of the ‘Scarecrow,’ and Jones was serving as the musical supervisor, and music producer. It was there that Jackson asked Jones if he could recommend anyone to work alongside him on his future solo career. Jones would work with Jackson on his next three studio Albums,’Off the Wall, (1979) ‘Thriller,’ (1982) and ‘Bad’ (1987.)

The musicians who appeared on ‘Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,’ include Jim Gilstrap on backing vocals, Louis Johnson, (1955-2015) (see also best songs 1022 and 889) on bass, and Sheila E. (see also best songs 1045) on percussion. Also playing synthesizers, was Greg Phillinganes, who would go on to work with Michael Jackson on his next three studio Albums, he also worked on dozens of other major artists records as well. Greg Phillinganes claims that he made significant contributions to the development of ‘Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,’ and that it was agreed that he would receive 10% of the royalties, however he was later informed that his contribution would merely be considered as an arrangement of the song. Quincy Jones has backed Phillinganes, saying,’He wrote the C section, Michael should’ve given him 10% of the song. Wouldn’t do it.’

It is said that when Jackson’s mother, Katherine, who is a devout ‘Jehovah’s Witness,’ first heard ‘Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,’ she was shocked by the lyrical content, and felt that the title could be misconstrued as pertaining to sexual activity. Jackson reassured her that the song was not a reference to sex, but could mean whatever people wanted it to.

‘Lovely is the feelin’ now, fever, temperatures risin’ now. Power (oh power) is the force the vow, that makes it happen. It asks no questions why, (ooh) so get closer (closer now) to my body now. Just love me ’til you don’t know how (ooh.’)