From 1979 to 1989, Joe Jackson averaged an album a year; some were great (Look Sharp!, Night And Day), some were a chore (Will Power) and some remain inexplicably out of print in the U.S. (Beat Crazy, where are you?). But 1979′s I’m The Man remains the favorite in the Idolator flophouse, as it features his finest new-wave rave-up (“I’m The Man”) and a ballad (“It’s Different For Girls”) that some of America’s finest news outlets might regard as “emo before it was emo”:
Joe Jackson – I’m The Man [MP3, link expired]
Joe Jackson – It’s Different For Girls [MP3, link expired]
Oh, WORD on all counts. Especially on the proto-emo genius of “It’s Different for Girls.” I especially love the acoustic version from Jackson’s 1988 Live 1980-86 set.
Even in middle age, Joe Jackson remains the true Angry Young Man, long after Elvis C. emerged as a pretender. (A very talented pretender, but still.)
“Beat Crazy” just supposedly came out in the US on some new reissue label called “American Beat Records” (don’t understand that name)..
http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7424469&BAB=…
I used to have an awesome cardboard standing display of “I’m The Man” which used to really freak out my dog…
do what you must to get your hands on any look sharp!/i’m the man live shows. the performances are largely fierce & energetic. would’ve loved to have been able to say that i was there, but…
start here: http://electronicallyyours.blogspot.com/2007/03/joe-jackso…
you’re welcome
All sorts of word. I vote for a Joe Jackson comeback, of sorts.
ok, you guys need to stop reading my playlists. it’s not fair. also: someone at idolator has extremely similar tastes to someone at loudersoft and that person likes the person at idolator very much.