Friday Nite Retro
Welcome once again to Friday Nite Retro at Left in Aboite! Tonight I'm featuring the work of Joe Jackson. No, not Michael's Dad, nor the guy without shoes. . .but the British new-wave artist that hit our shores in the late 1970's along with Elvis Costello and Graham Parker and challenged the punk rock scene. You likely know his breakout single and #1 hit from his 1979 album Look Sharp:
"Is She Really Going Out With Him"
After his success with Look Sharp, Joe quickly released his second album which was appropriately titled I'm the Man. From that album:
"Different For Girls"
Joe recorded a third album with his band before embarking on a solo career. His first solo album Jumpin' Jive, featured old-style swing and blues covers of songs by Cab Calloway, Lester Young, Glenn Miller, and most prominently, Louis Jordan. I own this album and I highly reccomend it!
One of Joe's trademarks was to attempt a different musical genre with each new album; the man had no fear. His second solo effort, 1982's Night and Day, paid tribute to the wit and style of Cole Porter (and indirectly to New York City) and was his last album to hit the Top 10, peaking at #4. Joe would call New York home for the next 20 years, incorporating the sound of the city into his music throughout the 80's and beyond. He left New York in 2003 in protest of the city's new smoking ban, and returned to England. From Night and Day is another song you will likely know"
"Stepping Out"
Also from Night and Day, a personal favorite of mine. I was an 18 year old who was living this song when it came out:
"Breaking Us in Two"
In 1984, Joe released Body and Soul, which featured this top 20 hit:
"You Can't Get What You Want"
In 1989, in denial of his growing years, Joe released this top 10 tune from his album Blaze of Glory:
"Nineteen Forever"
In 2004, he covered Pulp's Common People with Ben Folds and Bill Shatner. Hey. . .I warned you first:
"Common People"
And finally,from 2005, here's Joe teaming up with Todd Rundgren (Is there anyone Rundgren hasn't worked with?) in a George Harrison cover:
"While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
Labels: FNR, Joe Jackson
posted by John Good @ 7:33 PM
6 Comments:
HECK YEAH! My favorite is "You're my Meat". Great old school. His best album I think.
Mr, Jackson was always one of my favorites. I rarely heard any of his music on regular radio,,,I hear quite a bit of it on Sirius, which is why satellite radio is worth the 12.99 a month.
I have an actual Joe Jackson album...wonder if it is worth any $$$$
LOL, john b., I have albums AND cassettes!!! How old school is that! (you never hear about cassettes anymore at all)
Just an FYI for anyone who goes to Daily Kos- I will be hosting the Saturday Nite Losers Club about 8p tonite. You need to register if you're not, but it's always a snarky fun good time, and tonite I'm doing it as a pre-valentines day smackdown on LOVE. ack.
John, you do realize that Viacom is attempting to end your Friday Night Retro format by forcing You Tube to remove all MTV style videos from their site.
Too, bad, I enjoy them.
Paddy - I threw out all of my albums when we moved two years ago, they were mostly in poor shape. But. .I still have all of my cassettes AND eight-track tapes!
Robert - Somebody's always trying to ruin something for somebody. If it comes to that, would you like to create some music videos? =)
I LUV, LUV, LUV Friday Night Retro, even if I listen to it on Monday morning.
Bar none, my absolute favorite is "Stepping Out."
BTW, "Different for Girls" displayed that most hated of all words when I clicked on it.
This video is no longer available.
That's my fault for waiting until Monday morning to enjoy Friday Night Retro.
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