"I Can't Help It" was written by Stevie Wonder and Susaye Greene. Stevie Wonder and Susaye Greene are credited as its composers, and some listings also name them as lyricists. Michael Jackson recorded it between May and June 1979 during the sessions for his album Off the Wall, produced by Quincy Jones and released by Epic on August 10, 1979. It is not one of the album's singles, which were "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", "Rock with You", the title track, "She's Out of My Life" and "Girlfriend". It is regarded as a jazz piece, and Quincy Jones praised Jackson's qualities as a jazz singer.
Later versions that stand out include those by Grover Washington Jr. (1980), Judy Roberts (1981), Joe Pass (1985), Will Downing (2002), Ruben Studdard (2009) and Gretchen Parlato (2009).
