- Artist: Joe Jackson
- Title: Memphis
- Year: 1983
- Format: Vinyl 7 in.
- Rating (1-10): 7
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: 1984 ? – When Mary worked at Tower Records in DC.
- Keeper: Yes
This single was part of the soundtrack to the movie “Mike’s Murder” starring Debra Winger. Yeah, I’ve never seen it either. Anyhow, the primary riff in “Memphis” sounds so much like the Spencer David Group song “I’m A Man” that I can’t help but think of that when I’m listening to this. Despite that the “Memphis” vibe is more new wave than classic rock. I like it, but it bothers me. “Breakdown” on the flip is an ethereal instrumental number, and unlike any Joe Jackson music I’ve ever heard.
- Artist: Joe Jackson
- Title: Body and Soul
- Year: 1984
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 8
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: 1984 – Unknown origin.
- Keeper: Yes
Uh… When I first played this yesterday I told Mary it sounded more like Billy Joe(l) Jackson than I expected. I got the stink eye put on me for that comment. Just sayin’…
That said, “Body and Soul” has one of my all-time favorite songs on it: “You Can’t Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want).” Once that gets stuck in my head it’s there for a long time. “Cha Cha Loco” is another winner; I had forgotten about that one. Some of the other songs are just a little too “grand” or something. too fancy, too Lawrence Welk. I rated it high with an “8″ because the great songs are just so great. This is not rock and roll, it’s a collection of sophisticated songs and arrangements. Am I just too unsophisticated to get it?
- Artist: Joe Jackson
- Title: Beat Crazy
- Year: 1980
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 8
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: 1981 – Kempmill Records in Annandale, VA.
- Keeper: Yes
This one’s more eclectic and experimental than the first two. I don’t know if there were any radio hits on Beat Crazy, but for some reason the title track is more familiar than the rest. Maybe one of my friends had it on a mix tape or something. Also, this record was released as “The Joe Jackson Band.” I think everything else was just Joe Jackson.
- Artist: Joe Jackson
- Title: Look Sharp
- Year: 1979
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 10
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: 1980 ? “I know I was in high school…”
- Keeper: Yes
This is Mary’s record. I’ve never thought of myself as a big Joe Jackson fan before, but I do now. This one has the big hits “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” and “Look Sharp.” The last song “Got The Time” was covered by Anthrax in ’90s, but believe me, Joe rocks it just as hard and twice as cool. Everything else here is just as great, if not as well known.
