Favorite New Wave Albums #2 - I'm the Man
@teamfreak16 (43418)
Denver, Colorado
December 8, 2018 10:30pm CST
Honestly, as I count down my favorite new wave albums, I used a coin flip to determine #2, but here we are: I'm the Man by Joe Jackson.
Sure, you are more than likely familiar with "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" and "Steppin' Out," but Britain's Joe Jackson is so much more, with a near-five decade, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-worthy career (why is this guy not in the HOF???????) that has seen the man move easily through genre's such as pop music, jazz and swing, and even classical. And new wave. Joe Jackson first came to prominence as a new waver.
Anyway, back to the coin flip. In 1979, Jackson released two fantastic new wave albums, Look Sharp!, and I'm the Man. Either one could be #2 in this series, but only one can be, and tails it is.
I'm the Man was Joe Jackson's second album that year, and did quite well for itself, reaching #12 in the UK, and #22 on the Billboard 200 (and gold in both the UK and Canada.) And why not? A song with a twist (the guy is looking for love, while the girl is only interested in sex,) "It's Different for Girls" remains Jackson's highest-charting UK single (#5,) while "I'm the Man" simply smokes as Jackson sings from the point of view of a "spiv" who claims credit for major pop culture fads of the time ("Kung Fu. That was one of my good ones. Well what's a few broken bones when we all know it's good clean fun?" is one of my all-time favorite lyrics!) And "On Your Radio" and "Don't Wanna Be Like That" remain fan favorites all these decades later. I love this album!
Who the Man? You the Man, Joe!
(Info verified by Wikipedia)
6 people like this
5 responses
@crossbones27 (49723)
• Mojave, California
9 Dec 18
Oh I like starts like a punk song actually then kind of goes country modern style with a touch of rock. Really fun song made me think of Joe Strummer on parts.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
9 Dec 18
Plus, the lyrics are hilarious!
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (49723)
• Mojave, California
9 Dec 18
@teamfreak16 Yeah, I likes this guy. He is good. He is very aware of what is going on in the world. Hey maybe that is what is missing in a lot of these new songs. There is something missing, maybe that is part of the problem besides the obvious, lets make a quick fortune.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
9 Dec 18
@crossbones27 - I'm all for musicians making lots of money. I just prefer that they put some effort into the music and lyrics in order to do so.
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@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
9 Dec 18
I'm fairly sure that you have heard this one at some point.
He is probably best known for the 1979 hit song and first single "Is She Really Going Out with Him?", which still gets extensive US FM radio airplay; for his...
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
10 Dec 18
@Ronrybs - Probably. It was quite popular.
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@Ronrybs (19584)
• London, England
10 Dec 18
@teamfreak16 Yes, think I've got it on a compilation
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@FourWalls (69008)
• United States
9 Dec 18
Yes! Yes!!! Absolutely yes!!! (I sorta like this album.)
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@JadePlatypus (234)
• Australia
9 Dec 18
I bought his album Night and Day, for 'Real Men', but there was so much more. My biggest favourite- 'Slow Song'.
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@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
9 Dec 18
"Slow Song" is great! He did it when I saw him in Belgium.
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
9 Dec 18
That's 80s New Wave Hall of Famer Joe Jackson!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
9 Dec 18
He should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Too busy putting in Hall and Oates, I guess.
1 person likes this