I always think of this as a punk version of Aja by Steely Dan. The final track on this album is Got the Time with a bassline that caused Anthrax to cover it. Fantastic band, especially the bassist.
Disagree strongly that this album was underrated. Like Talking Heads and Elvis Costello, he "hit the ground running" and was on the radio *constantly* !!!
This album is still in my rotation. Its just a classic. JJ is ridiculously underrated. Each of his albums is unique as he explores different styles. You should check out "5 guys named Moe" from just swing album.
@@AaronSpielman Joe Jackson's more recent albums, including the newest one from 2019, "Fool," have not been "100% jazz." For several years now, actually, he has continued to make rock and pop albums, while also *occasionally* making some jazz too.
One of the best albums of 1979. So many great tracks: this, "Instant Smash", "Throw It Away", "Sunday Papers", "Fools In Love", "Got the Time", "ISRGOWH".
@@rayellinwood2882 It has some great songs ("Different for Girls", "On the Radio", "Friday") but also some duds ("Kinda Cute"). A bit rushed. Beat Crazy was his crowning achievement of that period. I profiled four songs off it.
One of my favorite Joe Jackson songs is "You Can't Get What You Want (til you know what you want). There is a great live version on his Vevo channel that's just amazing. You should absolutely try to watch that one. (Oh, the saxophone! 🎷 ♥ 😍 ) He's one of my all time favorites! 💜
i loved this whole album back in 79... still do... punk / jazz.. exactly, he's sort of an odd looking dude and he probably copped shit as a teen ... a lot of his lyrics have teen "angst" or coming of age issues in them.. he was a young genius as well.
Love Joe Jackson. Genius songwriter. Can tell he was influenced by Steely Dan. There’re layers to the lyrics, as the title phrase could be interpreted as needing to dress "sharply," and also literally to look sharply "over your shoulder," paranoid of who’s coming up behind you. Kind of a commentary on our rather ruthless society, particularly in the entertainment industry. Check out "I’m the Man" by him. You should also react to Elvis Costello, if you like Joe Jackson. Elvis has so many great songs: Allison. Watching the Detectives, Everyday I write the Book, High Fidelity, I Can’t Stand up for Falling Down, God Give Me Strength, Pump it Up, Beyond Belief, Man Out of Time, Brilliant Mistake, and I can go on 😅 Dude is prolific. He also worked with Squeeze, produced some of their albums, also sang backup on the recording of "Black Coffee in Bed." Had a duet with Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze called "From a Whisper to a Scream," off of the great album "Trust." Thanks for the reactions, as always ✌🏼
One of my favorite bridges in music. Every instrument just mixes great with each other. You can't not move. Another great song from the album that never got popular or had airplay is "Fools In Love"
Joe used to live in my block in NYC... his music is great... him, and Elvis Costello both have great catalogues they came along in the mid to late 70’s... Also find Paul Young who has a great voice in that Robert Palmer style...
I've been a HUGE Joe Jackson fan since the "Night and Day" album from 1982. Then my son who was 3 years old in 1986 caught on and he and I still groove to this and all of JJ's other music from the AWESOME era of the 1980's .
Really bringing back some memories here. I've had this album since it was released plus I use to play this song in a band many years ago. I love the early Joe Jackson albums.
Hey Jamel! I'm so glad you enjoyed this song. Joe Jackson is a musician you can't easily define or categorize. You got to respect that kind of artist when you find them. ☮ out! ✌🏼
David Ian "Joe" Jackson (born 11 August 1954) is an English musician and singer-songwriter.[2] Having spent years studying music and playing clubs, he scored a hit with his first release, "Is She Really Going Out with Him?", in 1979. It was followed by a number of new wave singles, before he moved to more jazz-inflected pop music and had a Top 10 hit in 1982 with "Steppin' Out". Jackson is associated with the 1980s Second British Invasion of the US.[3] He has also composed classical music. He has recorded 20 studio albums and received five Grammy Award nominations.
Another great reaction from you. Love to see you dance around like that. Joe Jackson was banging back in the early 80s. I’m sure you remember when we all dressed like that with those shoes
I was 13 when this came out, it blew my mind, bought the record the next day. Can you do Fools in love, pretty please? He has that "the Specials" ska/punk/jazz thing going on, love it!
Joe Jackson is a GREAT musician/singer/songwriter....so diverse and talented!!!! Check out Joe Jackson Volume 4...another masterpiece from lip to label as they used to say in the days when vinyl came out.
One of my other fave songs of his is “Hometown”. The single version is fast, recorded live. When he plays it live, he does it as a ballad. Both versions are amazing for me.
"Look sharp" is a phrase from way back in revolutionary War, meaning look out of the enemy or watch it. Nowadays it's more looking good or stylin'. Probably has other meaning, but that's what I know. 👍
It's a little late now since you've listened to so many tracks from it, but a full album reaction to this album would have been amazing. One of the greatest debut albums by any artist, ever.
Hooray! Finally doing some Joe! One of five artists I consider musical geniuses (Todd Rundgren, Peter Gabriel, Pete Townshend and Roger Waters). You can’t go wrong with Joe. More please! 😊
This whole album (Look Sharp) is fire. I swear, Joe Jackson must have had a nasty breakup before writing all the songs on this album. A lot of anger bottled up in many of the songs on this album. This song was a hit when I had my first big heartbreak in high school and it was really cathartic.
If you get a chance, listen to his album, . It was recorded live over two nights. All new music, and the crowd was asked to stay silent. I believe it was one of the first to be recorded digitally. It almost feels like you've traveled the world after listening to it. There is a good video of him singing one of my favourite songs. Look up, "joe jackson wild west live" Cheers!
Okay, I admit I've heard only the hits from Joe Jackson, but HOW DID THIS SONG MISS THE CHARTS???? This was fantastic! Thanks, Jamel_AKA_Jamal, for reminding me to dig through the albums to find the real gold!!! Hope you and the Mrs. and family have a GREAT October!
Man I haven't heard this FOREVER! thanks.. Joe Jackson's music is Alternative and sometimes related to the sub-genre of Ska; it's got a similar vibe. But he does go Classical sometimes as well as straight Pop.
There's this song, his cover of Cab Calloway's "Jumpin' Jive", "Steppin' Out" and "Breaking Us In Two" as four of my favorite songs. He also covered XTC's "Statue of Liberty" (one of my favorite groups) but that was because the song fit his style rather than it being a great song.
