I knew practically nothing about this man until last month. I have a customer who loves Tom Waits and can imitate him and sound just like him, so I trusted his opinion on music. He continued to tell me to listen to Joe Jackson, and when I never did, he finally brought a cd in for me to listen to. He brought in Big World. I was pretty excited, thinking it'd be a spectacular album seeing as though I trusted his opinion; however when I arrived home and listened to it I found it to be a pretty awful album.
I decided to not give up hope, though, because I had heard some pretty good things about Jackson. I ended up listening to samples from Look Sharp! and decided to order it as a free selection on BMG. It's a great album, and i'm really glad I didn't give up hope on him. This is definitely a Nick Lowe situation where the man completely changed styles a "few" years into his career. It seems that Jacksons "Look Sharp" is Lowe's "Jesus of Cool," in the sense that these seem like the two guys big albums of that particular sound and then a little while later changed the tone of their career.
Except... judging from Big World vs. Dig My Mood (though Big World was mid 80's and Dig My Mood was 90's) Nick Lowe did this successfully whereas Jackson's transition was not so successful.
I hear good things of Night & Day though.
Radcliffe, for some reason I thought of you while writing this post. I have no idea if you're a Joe Jackson fan but I know you liked (Nick Lowe's) Dig My Mood (which is why you came to mind). Should I give up hope on anything past the first two albums of Jackson + Night & Day, or are there any I should give a chance?
This obviously isn't limited to Radcliffe, I just for some reason thought of him.
I don't know if what i'm saying is complete garbage, I've not heard the two of their complete album collections and i'm not pretending like I have. I just say it how it seems.
Yes Dalen, i'm rambling. I was born a rambling man.
and a man. I was born that, too. Grown, hairy. Smelly. With chicken grease smeared on my chest.

I have an irrational hatred towards Joe Jackson, which is based on him being a complete dick waaaaay back when he was touring that I'm A Man album in (cough) '79 or '80. The very next day I traded my copy of Look Sharp for The Ramones Road To Ruin, and I haven't bought any Jackson product since.

Anyway, if you like those first two albums you'll most likely also enjoy the 3rd (Beat Crazy), which is stylistically similar. After that he made a u-turn and did the big band swing thing on Jumpin' Jive and promptly lost pretty much every fan he had left. Since then it seems he insists on proving to the world that he's every inch the songwriter as Cole Porter and failing dismally at it.

But I'm not the best guy to ask. Some people, for whatever reason, not only tolerate songs like "Steppin' Out" but claim to like them. They're the ones that'll give you a more level-headed read on Jackson's output.

Night + Day is my absolute favorite for sentimental and musical reasons. JJ is one of those guys like Elvis Costello that gets a lot of props, but most people can name like 2 songs. I think you should stay with him, and try to discover some more of his albums.

To me, Night+Day is really where he hit his stride. Once again, I'm a little biased but I think previously he was kind of meandering and this was the album that gave him a voice. To me, you can't look at JJ like any other rock musician, but rather in terms of his compositions. Give him a chance. Not all of his stuff will click with you, but I guarentee you'll find songs that absolutely gel.

I like Laughter and Lust. This is hereditary and sentimental.

god Big World was such a turn-off, though.
Awful.

He does seem like he'd be a dick.

Thanks to you and FR.

I like "Steppin' Out" and a couple of his other 80s pop songs, but can honestly say his music has never really done it for me. Mind you, I like a lot of pop songs so maybe I shouldn't be weighing in here. I'm big Martha and the Muffins fan.

I have and love Look Sharp!, but I've never felt the need to own any more Joe Jackson.

Really the only song I've ever really liked by him and it's actually one of my favorite songs is "Is she really going out with him". Love that song since I was a kid.

I knew you'd get a half dozen answers before I could type this up, but here goes (star ratings only in comparison to other Joe Jackson records):

Look Sharp! - ****
New wave with pointy toed shoes.

I'm the Man - ***1/2
New wave, part 2. Falls apart a bit toward the end.

Beat Crazy - ***
New wave + a little dub.

Jumpin' Jive - ***
Swing revival 15 years too early. All covers of Louis Jordan songs.

Night and Day - ****
More keyboard, lotsa percussion, a hint of salsa. "Sophisticated" pop you can cha-cha to.

Body and Soul - ***1/2
"Night and Day" with a few more horns and a little less Latin.

Big World - **1/2
The smoother pop of recent years with a basic piano/guitar/bass/drums lineup. Meant to be a "big statement," but the songs just aren't good. I can't imagine why your customer thought this was the album to start you with.

Will Power - Don't know
His first all-instrumental "classical" record. I've never gotten up the nerve to buy it, even used.

Tucker - **
Movie soundtrack in the "Jumpin' Jive" vein. Meh.

Blaze of Glory - ***
A mixed batch of songs--some excellent, others (some of the ballads) less so. Big sound, live feeling.

Laughter and Lust - ****
Big, brassy; one lively track after another (it helps that the ballads are grouped at the end). Best set of songs he'd written in ages. Overlooked and excellent.

Night Music - *
Serious. Boring. Warning: contains opera singers.

Heaven and Hell - *1/2
Serious. A little less boring. Mostly sung by guest vocalists.

Symphony No. 1 - Don't know
Another classical album. Never heard it.

Night and Day II - **1/2
The title says it all. Well, except that the songs aren't very interesting.

Volume 4 - ***1/2
Reunited with his band from the first three albums (hence this is "Volume 4"). Good songs sharply played. Where "Night and Day II" was a failed grab at past glory, this one effortlessly succeeds.

I'm a big fan, obviously.

thanks a lot, that's really awesome you did that.
I'll take your word for it and see what they have on BMG and what they don't i'll keep an eye out for used at the record store.
I'll most likely be looking for early albums and your 4 stars.

get his live album from the mid-80's, then get one of his newer live albums. great introductory material.

I'd definitely second I'm the Man and my own personal favourite, Beat Crazy. I think they got reissued recently.

If you like "Look Sharp" than "I'm the Man" is the next logical step. Very much in the same vein as "Look Sharp", maybe a little more rockin' though, nothing really like "It's Different for Girls" on "I'm The Man". Sort of the same relationship to each other as Elvis Costello's "My Aim is True" and "This Years Model".

Night & Day is a well done piano-pop album. Very well recorded and generally satisfying, if you like that sort of thing.

Anthrax did an amazing cover of "Got The Time"

Can't argue much here. "Jumpin' Jive" is a treat, and "Laughter and Lust" was a wonderful surprise when it came out. He was amazing live when he toured that record. I can't fault a musician for being a dick, most of 'em would think I'm a dick as well.

"Look Sharp!" rated fairly high on my Listmania.

I've always thought he was a talented guy - just not up there in the upper levels ( like Costello would be, IMO ) of talent.

I've got a good "greatest hits" CD that's all I'd really ever need. I have a couple albums on vinyl, too...haven't played 'em in years & years.