What I liked about the "Night and Day" album by Joe Jackson in 1983 was the fact that it was different. While rock was busy dividing and sub-dividing itself into categories and sub categories, including my beloved heavy metal, Joe went out and made an album that you really can't put anywhere. Of course, as was the style of the time, so called music officianadoes simply called it new wave. That is very lazy in my humble opinion. I just appreciate it the album because it was so unique although the fine musicianship of Joe and his band had something to do with it as well.
My first experience with Joe Jackson came a year earlier with the song many know him best for, "Is She Really Going Out With Him." Why I never visited any of his previous albums, I'll never know but it was the "Night and Day" album that made an impression on me. Funny thing is that this album is a contrast to the mentioned song as that song is more of a hard rock tune and this album has definite hints of jazz and combined with some of the sarcasm with some of the lyrics, reminds me a little of the great Frank Zappa.
Let's start with what many people know, the two singles "Steppin' Out" and "Breaking Us in Two." In 1983, a lot of people played the former song before going on nights out and I don't blame them. It is a great song to get you in the mood. The latter song is more of a ballad type and I get the impression that it's about a relationship on the rocks. While slower than the other songs on the album, it's definitely not soppy and is a decent song.
Singles aside, the rest of the album holds up very well. All songs are definitely played very well here. Many of them are piano dominated with his best efforts heard on the track "Cancer," one of my favourites on the album. He just goes to town on the ivories for the final two or three minutes of the song. Furthermore, I love the assertion the song makes that every thing will be found to cause cancer. The way scientists are going on these days, that song is a bit of a prophecy fulfilled. He also sarcastically sings about television in with "T.V. Age" and "Real Men" was written in response to the emerging gay community in New York. As you have probably guessed by now, I do take a specific interest in albums' opening and closing songs. For me, they can make or break an album. Both of the positioned tracks on "Night and Day" pass my mark. "Another World" grabs your attention from the start and "A Slow Song" takes the album out on a sublime note. Overall, this album is proof that music didn't need to be categorized to be good.
Track Listing:
- Another World
- Chinatown
- TV Age
- Target
- Steppin' Out
- Breaking Us in Two
- Cancer
- Real Men
- A Slow Song
Joe Jackson- vocals, pianos, organ, alto saxophone, harmonica, synthesizer, vibraphone
Sue Hadjopoulos- flute, percussion, congas, xylophone, timbale, bells, bongos, backing vocals
Graham Maby- bass, percussion, backing vocals
Grace Milan- vocals
Ed Roynesdal- keyboards, violin
Larry Tolfree- timbale, percussion, drums
Richard Torre- percussion, clave, bongos, cowbell
Al Weisman- vocals
There's a very interesting thing about the "Night and Day" album. As you go through the list of musicians on it, there's not one guitar mentioned. Normally, the metalhead in me would scream, "Wot, no guitars!" That leads to another question: How can an album not have any guitars on it and sound this good? The answer is down to the musical genius that is Joe Jackson.
Next post: Golden Earring- Cut
To buy Rock And Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
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