His First Self-Produced Song — Michael Jackson

THE FACT

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough — the lead single from Off The Wall and Michael's first solo #1 as an adult — was the first song he ever wrote, produced, and arranged entirely by himself. He recorded the original demo at home using glass Coke bottles for percussion.

WHAT MOST DON'T KNOW

The hushed, whispered intro that opens the track — 'You know, I was wondering...' — was the actual first take of Michael describing the song idea to his sister Janet, recorded on a portable cassette deck at the Hayvenhurst house. Quincy Jones loved it so much he insisted it stay on the final master untouched. The percussion on the demo was made by Michael banging a knife against empty glass Coke bottles in his bathroom, which he transcribed into the final track's distinctive bell-like accents. The song won the Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance — Michael's first Grammy as a solo adult artist. It was also the first song where Michael was officially credited as 'producer' rather than just 'performer'. Quincy later said: 'I knew then we were going to need a much bigger album than Off The Wall was going to be. Thriller started in that bathroom.'

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THE MOMENT

Michael Jackson — Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (Official Video, 1979) — Listen for the whispered intro — recorded at home with his sister.

SOURCES

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough — Wikipedia ↗