"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson. Written by Jackson, and released by Epic Records on July 10, 1979, It remained at number one for six weeks on Billboard Soul Singles chart. It is certified 5× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song also achieved worldwide success, reaching number one in nine other countries. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" was well received by contemporary music critics and is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most iconic disco songs of all time.
An accompanying music video for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" was directed by Nick Saxton and released in October 1979. The video shows Jackson dancing, as well as being shown in an innovative triplicate, in different color backgrounds. The song also won Jackson his first Grammy Award and American Music Awards.
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. The song was recorded in Los Angeles. Upon playing the recording to Jones, it was agreed that the song would be featured on Off the Wall. Quincy Jones has backed Phillinganes' allegation.
Composition
"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" is the first solo song written by Michael Jackson, although "Blues Away" had been released in 1976.
Musically, it is credited as a disco-funk song. The song's full length on Off the Wall is just over six minutes. The song 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!'". Instruments used are a six-piece horn section (two trumpets, alto sax, tenor sax, trombone, and baritone sax), string section (arranged by Ben Wright), and two guitars, keyboards, bass, drums and percussion. The song's tempo is upbeat at 120 beats per minute. The song begins with a spoken word section by Jackson before he bursts into singing.
Musician Sheila E. has gone on record to say that she was part of the recording process, playing percussion and adding the "water bottle" sound heard at the beginning of the track.
Release and reception
"Don’t Stop 'Til You Get Enough" was released in the US on July 10, 1979, under Epic Records; Jackson's first solo single away from Motown Records. Cash Box described it as having "a zesty, infectious disco rhythm", a "funky hook line", "buzzing electronic keyboard work and bright horns." The song topped the US Billboard Hot 100 on October 13, and within three months of its release, it had been certified gold. It was Jackson's first solo number one single since "Ben", seven years prior.
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. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" peaked at number seven on Billboards Hot Digital Songs Chart, peaking at number nine on the charts issue date July 11, 2009. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" charted within the top ten, placing at number nine, in France, The song also charted at number 21 in Australia, 38 in the United Kingdom, and 50 in Sweden, respectively. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"s least successful country was Japan, peaking at number 77.
"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.
Music video
thumb|alt=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 accompanying 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.
Legacy
James Montgomery of MTV noted that "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", along with Off the Walls other three singles, "showcased (or, more specifically, unleashed) Jackson's talents as entertainer, a vocalist, a writer and, most importantly, as a leading man." Rolling Stone and American Songwriter both ranked the song number three on their lists of the greatest Michael Jackson songs. In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked it number 57 in their list of the "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time".
William Ruhlmann, author of The All-Music Guide to Rock, praised "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" as an "irresistible dance track". 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. 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." 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".
| 2
|-
!scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM)
| 3
|-
!scope="row"|Canada Top Disco Singles (RPM)
| 1
|-
!scope="row"|Denmark (Tracklisten)
| 5
|-
!scope="row"|Finland Jukebox (Suomen virallinen singlelista)
| 12
|-
!scope="row"
|-
!scope="row"|Italy (Musica e Dischi)
| 15
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
!scope="row"|South Africa (Springbok Radio)
| 1
|-
!scope="row"|Spain (AFE)
| 5
|-
|-
|-
|-
!scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100
| 1
|-
!scope="row"|US Disco Top 100 (Billboard)
| 2
|-
!scope="row"|US Cash Box Top 100
| 1
|-
!scope="row"|US Radio & Records CHR/Pop Airplay Chart
| 5
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+2006 weekly chart performance for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
!scope="col"|Chart (2006)
!scope="col"|Peak<br />position
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+2008 weekly chart performance for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
!scope="col"|Chart (2008)
!scope="col"|Peak<br />position
|-
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+2009 weekly chart performance for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
!scope="col"|Chart (2009)
!scope="col"|Peak<br />position
|-
|-
|-
!scope="row"|Canada Digital Songs (Billboard)
| 19
|-
!scope="row"|France (Billboard) France Songs
| 9
|-
|-
|-
|-
!scope="row"|Japan (Japan Hot 100)
| 77
|-
|-
!scope="row"|Portugal (Top 20)
| 18
|-
|-
|-
|-
!scope="row"|US Hot Digital Songs (Billboard)
| 19
|-
|-
! scope="row"| Canada Hot 100 (Billboard)
| 49
|-
! scope="row"| Chile (Billboard)
| 19
|-
|-
! scope="row"| Ecuador (Billboard)
| 21
|-
|-
|-
|-
! scope="row"| Greece International (IFPI)
| 18
|-
! scope="row"| Iceland (Billboard)
| 16
|-
|-
! scope="row"| Luxembourg (Billboard)
| 17
|-
! scope="row"| Middle East and North Africa (IFPI)
| 13
|-
|-
|-
! scope="row"| Peru (Billboard)
| 6
|-
! scope="row"| Portugal (AFP)
| 47
|-
|-
|-
|-
! scope="row"| United Arab Emirates (IFPI)
| 7
|-
|}
Year-end charts
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+1979 year-end chart performance for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
!scope="col"|Chart (1979)
!scope="col"|Position
|-
!scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report)
| 50
|-
!scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
| 27
|-
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
| 31
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100)
| 50
|-
!scope="row"|New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
| 13
|-
!scope="row"|UK Singles (Music Week)
| 23
|-
!scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100
| 91
|-
!scope="row"|US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard)
| 3
|-
!scope="row"|US Cash Box Top 100
| 17
|}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+1980 year-end chart performance for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
!scope="col"|Chart (1980)
!scope="col"|Position
|-
!scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report)
| 12
|-
!scope="row"|South Africa (Springbok Radio)
| 4
|}
Certifications
References
Bibliography
- George, Nelson (2004). Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection booklet. Sony BMG.