Perhaps the biggest enigma in modern music history is Michael Jackson. His life has spiraled so far downhill over the past decade or two, and yet his musical influence is unparalleled.

Michael Jackson is the standard-bearer for every modern pop and r&b soloist in terms of entertainment value. Can you sing? Can you dance? Can you write? Can you perform?

Yet while Michael was talented, for sure, so was the brains behind his ascension -- Quincy Jones. An argument could be made that virtually all of the credit for Jackson's success in the early 1980s falls onto Q's shoulders. Jones is pretty much the most accomplished, the finest music producer in history, and his work during that era, again, is untoppable.

However, while the planet saw fit to gobble up the album "Thriller" in record numbers, there has always been a collection of us music fans who thought 1980's "Off The Wall," also produced by Quincy, was superior. And that leads me to my No. 1 song for the year 1980.

It was but one of four Top 10 hits for Michael from this album; however, it has become a standard. Written by Rod Temperton, "Rock With You" is one of the greatest pop songs of our generation, and I hereby crown it the greatest hit song of 1980.

No. 1 -- "Rock With You," Michael Jackson

Here's a reminder of the rest of my Top 10 for 1980:

No. 10 - "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)"

No. 9 - "Give Me The Night"

No. 8 - "The Biggest Part of Me"

No. 7 - "The Tide Is High"

No. 6 - "Refugee"

No. 5 - "You May Be Right"

No. 4 - "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"

No. 3 -- "Brass In Pocket"

No. 2 -- "Ride Like The Wind"