When Joe Jackson first appeared on the music scene in 1979, he was promoted as part of music\u2019s new wave. But the British-born pianist, songwriter and singer has always been about much more than musical trends. His work has explored a wide range of styles, from punk to ska to jump blues, swing, jazz and modern classical.<\/p>\n
Jackson\u2019s biggest commercial success came with 1982\u2019s Night and Day<\/em>, an urbane, sophisticated and nuanced collection of songs with a New York City feel; five singles would be issued in the U.S. from that album; two of those \u2013 \u201cSteppin\u2019 Out\u201d and \u201cBreaking Us in Two\u201d \u2013 would make it into Billboard<\/em>\u2019s Top Ten. But there are plenty other fantastic if lesser-known tracks from the prolific Jackson, who these days makes his home in Berlin. In celebration of his recent 70th birthday, here are five classics from Joe Jackson.<\/p>\n \u201cIs She Really Going Out With Him?\u201d from Look Sharp!<\/em> (1979)<\/strong>
\nJackson\u2019s debut single really did<\/em> sound like new wave, with a style and attitude that earned him praise, and comparisons to everyone from Elvis Costello to Graham Parker. Under the skinny-tie sheen, the song showed an intriguing sophistication that would be more fully explored in his subsequent work. It was a slow-burn success: On its first release in 1978, the single failed to chart anywhere in the world. Reissued a year later, \u201cIs She Really Going Out With Him?\u201d landed in the Top 40 in the UK, Australia, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands and New Zealand, and climbed to #21 in the U.S.<\/p>\n