alternatehistory.com

POD October 20th 1977
Michael Jackson leaves The Jacksons:

Singer Michael Jackson has left The Jacksons after the band's album Goin' Places flopped critically; in an interview Michael Jackson gave to Rai Uno he stated, "It was absolute hell recording that album, everyone was for themselves and would fight day and night. I was the most upset when A Different Kind of Lady was cut from the album, I liked it but the record label didn't."

Michael would stay in Italy until 1979; he would craft his sound whilst in Italy, he mixed Italian Progressive Rock, Soul, Funk, R&B, Disco, and Soft Rock into a new sound; this new sound was given to the world via Off The Wall. During his time in Italy Michael Jackson learned to play Piano; Off The Wall was written and recorded mostly at Jackson's home studio in Naples, and George Martin produced it with Michael Jackson; Off The Wall was pitched to several labels but most turned the album down. The labels the turned the album down were Warner Bros Records turned it down because they didn't think anyone in America was interested in Italian Rock music or the Jacksons, especially after the cancelled Wiz adaptation; Island turned it down; Motown turned it down; and 20th Century Fox Records turned it down.

Three record labels bidded for Off The Wall: Apple Records, EMI, and United Artists Records; in the end EMI won out and issued the album in the UK and Europe and Capitol Records issued it in the US as opposed to Epic as Epic turned it down and released The Jacksons from their contract.

Album Track Listing:
1. Don't Stop Till You Get Enough
2. That's What You Get For Being Polite
3. Working Day and Night
4. Bless His Soul
5. Off The Wall (Temperton)
6. She's Out of My Life
7. Gotta Find A Way Somehow
8.Goin' to Rio
9.Sunset Driver
10. Girlfriend

Off The Wall received positive reviews and was a number one hit in The US, Australia, Italy, France, West Germany,and the UK; Michael returned to the US October 25 1979.

Changes from our timeline: Despite Goin' Places being bad Michael Jackson didn't leave the Jacksons until the 80s, Quincy Jones produced Off The Wall in our timeline, IOTL The Wiz was released, and ITTL only one of the Temperton tracks was picked when IOTL all the tracks were picked.
Top