"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" | ||||
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Single by Michael Jackson | ||||
from the album Off the Wall | ||||
B-side | "I Can't Help It" | |||
Released | July 10, 1979[1] | |||
Recorded | December 1978 – June 1979 | |||
Studio | Allen Zentz Recording Studios, Westlake Recording Studios and Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles[2] | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | Epic | |||
Songwriter(s) | Michael Jackson | |||
Producer(s) |
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Michael Jackson singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" on YouTube | ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" is a single written, recorded and sang by American singer Michael Jackson. Released under Epic Records on July 10, 1979,[1] the song is the first track on Jackson's fifth studio album Off the Wall (1979). It was the first solo recording over which Jackson had creative control.
"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" was Jackson's second single to hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart following "Ben" and his first solo number-one hit on the Billboard Soul Singles chart.[5] 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.[6] "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.[7]
An accompanying music video for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" was 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.[8] Jones suggested himself, and the two began work on Off the Wall.[8] 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".[9] The song was recorded in Los Angeles.[10] 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 was not a keyboardist, although certainly capable of playing piano, he had his brother Randy perform the melody on a piano in the family's recording studio.[9] 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.[11] Jackson reassured her that the song was not a reference to sex, but could mean whatever people wanted it to.[11] Upon playing the recording to Jones, it was agreed that the song would be featured on Off the Wall.[9]
In a speech at the 2016 Red Bull Music Academy, Greg Phillinganes alleged that Jackson played him an early demo of "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and said "it needs another part," after which Phillinganes suggested the bridge, and the two agreed to rate his contribution at 10% of the song. Soon thereafter, however, he was informed that his contribution would be considered merely an arrangement. Nevertheless, many pressings of the single list both Jackson and Phillinganes as composers.[12] Quincy Jones has backed Phillinganes' allegation.[13]
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!'".[8] "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" is in common time signature and the vocal range is from G♯3 to B5.[14] 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.
Release and reception
"Don’t Stop 'Til You Get Enough" was released on August 10, 1979, under Epic Records; Jackson's first solo single away from Motown Records.[9] 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'".[15] Cash Box described it as having "a zesty, infectious disco rhythm," a "funky hook line," "buzzing electronic keyboard work and bright horns."[16] The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 on October 13, and within three months of its release, it had been certified gold.[9][17][18] It was Jackson's first solo number one single since "Ben", seven years prior.[17] 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.[11] "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" was awarded platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America in 1989.[17]
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.[11] Following Jackson's death in June 2009, his music saw an increase in popularity.[19] "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[20] issue date July 11, 2009. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" charted within the top ten, placing at number nine, in France,[21] and charted within the top 20 in Italy, Portugal and Switzerland, placing at number 16, 18 and 20.[22][23][24] The song also charted at number 21 in Australia, 38 in the United Kingdom,[25] and 50 in Sweden, respectively.[26] "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"s least successful country was Japan, peaking at number 77.[27] "Don’t Stop 'Til You Get Enough" was certified platinum in Australia by CBS records Australia in 1980 (Epic's distributor in Australia) for the shipments of more than 100,000 units.[28]
"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.[10][29]
Music video
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.[11] It was Jackson's first music video as a solo artist. The music video shows a smiling Jackson in a black and white tuxedo with a black bow tie (resembling the Off The Wall album cover photo) dancing and singing the song 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.[9]
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. An arrangement of the song was performed on Jackson's Bad World Tour as part of the "Bad Groove" interlude. It was also performed on Jackson's 96–97 HIStory World Tour as part of the "Off the Wall Medley" along with "Rock with You" and "Off the Wall". Jackson would have also performed it on the This Is It concert series as part of the "Off the Wall Medley", but the shows were canceled due to his sudden death.[30]
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."[10] 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.[31] Rolling Stone and American Songwriter both ranked the song number three on their lists of the greatest Michael Jackson songs.[32][33]
William Ruhlmann, author of The All-Music Guide to Rock, praised "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" as an "irresistible dance track".[34] 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.[34] 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".[34] Jason Elias, a writer for Allmusic, noted that "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" presents a "new Michael Jackson" that was "sexual, adult, and aggressive.[8] 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."[8]
Jackson's biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli described Jackson's vocal styling as a "sexy, playful falsetto" that "no one had ever heard from him before".[9] 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".[35] 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".[10]
Track listing
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Personnel
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Charts
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[82] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[83] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI)[84] sales since 2009 |
Gold | 35,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[85] physical |
Silver | 250,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[86] | Platinum | 812,000[87] |
United States (RIAA)[88] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[88] Digital |
5× Platinum | 5,000,000‡ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- 1 2 "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". Michael Jackson Official Website. Archived from the original on April 25, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
- ↑ Jean-Pierre Hombach (2010). Michael Jackson King Of Pop. Lulu.com. pp. 185, 189. ISBN 978-1-4716-2322-6. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
- ↑ Stone, Rolling (June 23, 2014). "50 Best Michael Jackson Songs". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 4, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
- ↑ "Michael Jackson – Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (Full Multitrack Session)". YouTube.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 284.
- ↑ "Michael Jackson's Catalogue Garners Major New Gold & Platinum Awards – RIAA". RIAA. August 23, 2018. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
- ↑ "The Story of... 'Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough' by Michael Jackson". Smooth. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Elias, Jason. "Song Review". Allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 28, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Taraborrelli, pp. 183–187
- 1 2 3 4 Montgomery, James (July 6, 2009). "Michael Jackson's Life & Legacy: Don't Stop (1979–81)". MTV.com. Viacom. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Halstead, pp. 92–93
- ↑ "Greg Phillinganes Lecture (Montréal 2016), Red Bull Music Academy". Red Bull Music Academy. Archived from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- ↑ Marchese, David (February 7, 2018). "Quincy Jones on the Secret Michael Jackson and the Problem With Modern Pop". Archived from the original on February 8, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
- ↑ "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough – Michael Jackson Digital Sheet Music (Digital Download)". MusicNotes.com. Alfred Publishing Co. Inc. August 25, 1999. Archived from the original on June 5, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2010.
- ↑ Holden, Stephen (November 1, 1979). "Off the Wall album review – Rolling Stone". RollingStone.com. Wenner Media LLC. Archived from the original on June 29, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2010.
- ↑ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. July 28, 1979. p. 13. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- 1 2 3 George, p. 37–43
- ↑ "The Hot 100 – 1979 Archive". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 15, 2017. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
- ↑ Ed Christman, Antony Bruno (July 2, 2009). "Michael Jackson Music Sales Surge Could Last For Months". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on April 23, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2010.
- 1 2 "Off the Wall awards on Allmusic". Allmusic. Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- 1 2 "France Songs the week of July 11, 2009". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 9, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ↑ "italiancharts.com – Michael Jackson – Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
- 1 2 "Portugal Top 20 – 24-07-2009". Top40-Charts. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ↑ "Michael Jackson – Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". Swiss Singles Chart. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 – 05 July 2009". UK Singles Chart. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ↑ "Michael Jackson – Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". Singles Top 100. Archived from the original on April 21, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- 1 2 "Michael Jackson – Chart History". Billboard. for Michael Jackson. Archived from the original on January 24, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ↑ Kent Music Report, No 341, published 5 January 1981, which lists all singles and albums that reached gold or platinum status during 1980
- ↑ "Grammy Awards 1980". RockOnTheNet.com. Rock On The Net. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved September 12, 2009.
- ↑ Appel, Stacey (2012). Michael Jackson Style. Omnibus Press. pp. 58, 68. ISBN 978-0-857-12787-7.
- ↑ AOL Radio Staff (June 26, 2009). "10 Best Michael Jackson Songs". AOLRadioBlog.com. AOL Inc. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
- ↑ "50 Best Michael Jackson Songs". Rolling Stone. June 23, 2014. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
- ↑ Uitti, Jacob (December 17, 2021). "Top 20 Michael Jackson Songs". American Songwriter. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
- 1 2 3 "Off the Wall album reviews". SuperSeventies.com. Super Seventies. Archived from the original on September 23, 2004. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
- ↑ George, p. 23
- 1 2 "Michael Jackson – Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Michael Jackson – Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". Ultratop 50 (in Dutch). Archived from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ↑ "Don't stop 'til you get enough in Canadian Top Singles Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on October 24, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- ↑ "Don't stop 'til you get enough in Canadian Dance Music Singles Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- 1 2 Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Michael Jackson". Sisältää hitin – 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 113. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
- ↑ "Top-Hebdo 9 février 1980". top.france.free.fr (in French). Select "09/02/1980" from the drop-down menu. Archived from the original on April 28, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Michael Jackson – Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved May 29, 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Michael Jackson".
- ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 43, 1979" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Michael Jackson – Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Michael Jackson – Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Michael Jackson – Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". VG-lista. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ Samson, John. "Don't stop 'til you get enough in South African Chart". Archived from the original on August 12, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
- ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- 1 2 "Michael Jackson – Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- 1 2 "Michael Jackson – Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. September 30, 2021. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
- ↑ "Off the Wall awards on Allmusic". Allmusic. Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
- ↑ "Michael Jackson – Chart History". Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. for Michael Jackson. Archived from the original on January 6, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ↑ "Billboard Oct 20, 1979" (PDF). Billboard. New York, NY, USA. October 20, 1979. p. 54. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
- ↑ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending OCTOBER 13, 1979". Archived from the original on September 11, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Cash Box magazine. - ↑ "Michael Jackson". Archived from the original on January 6, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
- 1 2 "Michael Jackson – Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- 1 2 "Michael Jackson – Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- 1 2 "Michael Jackson – Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Michael Jackson – Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Michael Jackson – Chart History". Billboard. for Michael Jackson. Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- ↑ "Chart Track: Week 27, 2009". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023 – via Imgur.com.
- ↑ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1970s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on January 24, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ↑ "Ultratop Jaaroverzichten 1979". Ultratop 50 (in Dutch). Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6855a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1979". Dutch Top 40 (in Dutch). Archived from the original on September 8, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ↑ "Dutch Charts Jaaroverzichten-Single 1979". Single Top 100 (in Dutch). Archived from the original on July 19, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ↑ "Official New Zealand Music Chart – End of Year Charts 1979". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on July 4, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ↑ "Top Singles 1979". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. December 22, 1979. p. 27.
- ↑ "Top 100 Hits for 1979". longboredsurfer.com. Archived from the original on July 30, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1979". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ↑ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1979". Archived from the original on September 11, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Cash Box magazine. - ↑ "National Top 100 Singles for 1980". Kent Music Report. January 5, 1981. Retrieved January 17, 2022 – via Imgur.
- ↑ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1970s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on August 28, 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1980". Archived from the original on January 16, 2004. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
- ↑ "Australians Metal for Jackson" (PDF). Cash Box. December 19, 1987. p. 31. Retrieved December 8, 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ↑ "Danish single certifications – Michael Jackson – Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
- ↑ "Italian single certifications – Michael Jackson – Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved January 3, 2022. Select "2021" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
- ↑ "British single certifications – Michael Jackson – Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
- ↑ "British single certifications – Michael Jackson – Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". British Phonographic Industry.
- ↑ Copsey, Rob (August 27, 2018). "Top 60 Michael Jackson songs on the Official Chart". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- 1 2 "American single certifications – Michael Jackson – Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
Further reading
- George, Nelson (2004). Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection booklet. Sony BMG.
- Halstead, Craig (2007). Michael Jackson: For the Record. Authors OnLine. ISBN 978-0-7552-0267-6.
- Taraborrelli, J. Randy (2004). The Magic and the Madness. Terra Alta, WV: Headline. ISBN 0-330-42005-4.