Happy Birthday Joe Jackson!

• I really regret not going to see him play at Mississippi Nights some years ago.

• I love Joe Jackson. I still remember the first time that I heard "Is She Really Going Out With Him" as a kid. Had to find out who it was, and then had to own it, after that!

• In addition to his early stuff, I like "Big World", especially the way it was recorded.

• Joe Jackson is pretty much unbeatable -- those first two records go hand-in-hand with albums from the Jam and E. Costello, and Night & Day (1982) is likewise killer.

• Joe Jackson is criminally underrated and I'm constantly perplexed why Elvis Costello gets all the new wave cred while Joe is overlooked. In addition to Look Sharp and I'm The Man, most of his recognizable songs came from the fantastic Night & Day album as well. Even his stuff after that holds up as he diversified his sound. The big band/swing on Beat Crazy, the jazz on Body and Soul, the rock ballads on Blaze of Glory, and the pure pop of Laughter & Lust all capture his diverse style and songwriting. Haven't kept up on his stuff after he hit the classical realm, but the dude is crazy talented and influencial.

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