Joe Jackson (born 11 August 1954 in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK, as … Read Full Bio ↴Joe Jackson (born 11 August 1954 in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK, as David Ian Jackson) is a British musician who grew up in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England.. Jackson is known for the hit singles Is She Really Going Out With Him? (1979) and Steppin' Out (1982).
He started off learning to play the violin but soon switched to piano. From the age of 16 he played in bars, and won a scholarship to study musical composition at London's Royal Academy of Music. Jackson did not like the prospect of being a serious composer, and moved towards pop and rock.
His first band was Arms and Legs which collapsed after two unsuccessful singles. He then spent some time in the cabaret circuit to make money to record his own demos.
In 1978 a producer heard his tape, and got him signed to A&M Records. The album Look Sharp! was recorded straight away, and was released in 1979, quickly followed by I'm the Man and Beat Crazy in 1980. He also collaborated with Lincoln Thompson in reggae crossover.
The Joe Jackson Band was very successful and toured extensively. After the breakup of the band, Joe took a break and recorded an album of old-style swing and blues tunes, Jumpin' Jive, featuring songs of Cab Calloway, Lester Young, Glenn Miller, and most prominently, Louis Jordan. He went on to record Night and Day, an album that paid tribute to the wit and style of Cole Porter (and less directly, to New York City) and was his last album to hit the Top 10, peaking at #4.
He recorded another record that was heavily influenced by jazz, pop and jazz standards, and salsa, Body and Soul, which hit #20, containing the hit You Can't Get What You Want ('Til You Know What You Want).
Jackson followed with Big World, a three-sided double record (the fourth side consisted of a single centring groove and a label stating "there is no music on this side"). The instrumental Will Power set the stage for things to come later, but before he left pop behind he put out two more cerebral and celebratory albums, Blaze of Glory and Laughter and Lust. For some years he drifted away from the pop style, going on to be signed by Sony Classical in 1997, which released his Symphony No. 1 in 1999 for which he received a Grammy award.
Night and Day II in 2000 lacked strong pop hooks though, as usual with Jackson, displayed fine lyrics and some elegant songwriting. Volume 4 in 2003 reunited the original band and was well received. A promotional CD, bundled with the initial release, of the 'live' band playing some of Jackson's strongest material was widely admired.
Jackson is also an author, having written A Cure for Gravity, published in 1999, which Jackson has described as a "book about music, thinly disguised as a memoir". It traces his early musical life from childhood until his 24th birthday. Life as a pop star, he suggested, was hardly worth writing about.
In 2004 Jackson performed a cover of Common People with William Shatner for Shatner's album Has Been.
He has actively campaigned against smoking bans in both the USA and the UK, writing a 2005 pamphlet The Smoking Issue and issuing a satirical song (In 20-0-3) on the subject.
In 2008 the album Rain was released by Joe Jackson. Like its predecessor Volume 4, it featured members of the 'Joe Jackson Band', this time minus guitarist Gary Sanford.
Currently he lives in Kreuzberg, Germany.
Discography:
1979 - Look Sharp!
1979 - I'm The Man
1980 - Beat Crazy
1981 - Jumpin' Jive
1982 - Night and Day
1983 - Mike’s Murder, (Soundtrack)
1984 - Body and Soul
1986 - Big World
1987 - Will Power
1988 - Live 1980/86
1988 - Tucker, (Soundtrack)
1989 - Blaze of Glory
1991 - Laughter & Lust
1994 - Night Music
1997 - Heaven and Hell
1999 - Symphony No. 1
2000 - Summer in the City: Live in New York
2000 - Night and Day II
2002 - Two Rainy Nights, (Live)
2004 - Volume 4
2004 - Afterlife, (Live)
2008 - Rain
2011 - Live Music, (Live)
2012 - The Duke
He started off learning to play the violin but soon switched to piano. From the age of 16 he played in bars, and won a scholarship to study musical composition at London's Royal Academy of Music. Jackson did not like the prospect of being a serious composer, and moved towards pop and rock.
His first band was Arms and Legs which collapsed after two unsuccessful singles. He then spent some time in the cabaret circuit to make money to record his own demos.
In 1978 a producer heard his tape, and got him signed to A&M Records. The album Look Sharp! was recorded straight away, and was released in 1979, quickly followed by I'm the Man and Beat Crazy in 1980. He also collaborated with Lincoln Thompson in reggae crossover.
The Joe Jackson Band was very successful and toured extensively. After the breakup of the band, Joe took a break and recorded an album of old-style swing and blues tunes, Jumpin' Jive, featuring songs of Cab Calloway, Lester Young, Glenn Miller, and most prominently, Louis Jordan. He went on to record Night and Day, an album that paid tribute to the wit and style of Cole Porter (and less directly, to New York City) and was his last album to hit the Top 10, peaking at #4.
He recorded another record that was heavily influenced by jazz, pop and jazz standards, and salsa, Body and Soul, which hit #20, containing the hit You Can't Get What You Want ('Til You Know What You Want).
Jackson followed with Big World, a three-sided double record (the fourth side consisted of a single centring groove and a label stating "there is no music on this side"). The instrumental Will Power set the stage for things to come later, but before he left pop behind he put out two more cerebral and celebratory albums, Blaze of Glory and Laughter and Lust. For some years he drifted away from the pop style, going on to be signed by Sony Classical in 1997, which released his Symphony No. 1 in 1999 for which he received a Grammy award.
Night and Day II in 2000 lacked strong pop hooks though, as usual with Jackson, displayed fine lyrics and some elegant songwriting. Volume 4 in 2003 reunited the original band and was well received. A promotional CD, bundled with the initial release, of the 'live' band playing some of Jackson's strongest material was widely admired.
Jackson is also an author, having written A Cure for Gravity, published in 1999, which Jackson has described as a "book about music, thinly disguised as a memoir". It traces his early musical life from childhood until his 24th birthday. Life as a pop star, he suggested, was hardly worth writing about.
In 2004 Jackson performed a cover of Common People with William Shatner for Shatner's album Has Been.
He has actively campaigned against smoking bans in both the USA and the UK, writing a 2005 pamphlet The Smoking Issue and issuing a satirical song (In 20-0-3) on the subject.
In 2008 the album Rain was released by Joe Jackson. Like its predecessor Volume 4, it featured members of the 'Joe Jackson Band', this time minus guitarist Gary Sanford.
Currently he lives in Kreuzberg, Germany.
Discography:
1979 - Look Sharp!
1979 - I'm The Man
1980 - Beat Crazy
1981 - Jumpin' Jive
1982 - Night and Day
1983 - Mike’s Murder, (Soundtrack)
1984 - Body and Soul
1986 - Big World
1987 - Will Power
1988 - Live 1980/86
1988 - Tucker, (Soundtrack)
1989 - Blaze of Glory
1991 - Laughter & Lust
1994 - Night Music
1997 - Heaven and Hell
1999 - Symphony No. 1
2000 - Summer in the City: Live in New York
2000 - Night and Day II
2002 - Two Rainy Nights, (Live)
2004 - Volume 4
2004 - Afterlife, (Live)
2008 - Rain
2011 - Live Music, (Live)
2012 - The Duke
Fools in Love/For Your Love
Joe Jackson Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Joe Jackson:
! IT`S DIFFERENT FOR GIRLS ! What the hell is wrong with you tonight? I can't…
(Do the) Instant Mash In the supermarket there is music while you work It drives…
01 The Harder They Come Well, they tell me of a pie up in the…
07 Fools in Love Fools in love Well, are there any other kind of lovers? Fo…
09 09 The Best I Can Do I'll try to protect you If I don't get too scared I'll…
1-2-3 Go You know I'm just a small town girl I'm off…
11 I'm The Man Pretty soon now Why 'know I'm gonna make a comeback And like…
14 One To One I don't need your rockin' chair Your Geritol or your Medicar…
32 Kisses Another day Another year Another miracle Another tear Anothe…
A Place In The Rain Turn off the TV and turn off the light Turn off…
A Slow Song Music has charms they say But in some people's hands It beco…
A Slow Song 22/01/1983) Music has charms they say But in some people's hands It be…
Alchemy Red velvet curtains Open noiselessy Lovers and children Stra…
Always Something Breaking Us in Two Don't you feel like trying something new Don't you feel like…
Amateur Hour Don't make me sad Talking 'bout tomorrow It's not so…
Angel Here's a young one Hey, Rufus How's the rain on the rhubarb?…
Another World I was so low People almost made me give up trying Always…
Awkward Age I should have know that you were only just fifteen You…
Baby Stick Around Come on you people get your dancing shoes on Reds and…
Battleground Black nigga white nigga standing in the dark Listen to the…
Be My Number Two Won't you be my number two Me and number one are…
Beat Crazy Kids today-they're all the same All call themselves-some cra…
Big Black Cloud Hey hey, today's another day Gonna ride the lawn mower down…
Big World Looking over Hong Kong harbor Throw a shrimp in yellow wine …
Biology Hello-I'm back again Haven't seen you since I don't know why…
Blaze Of Glory Johnny was a young boy With nothing much except a certain…
Blue Flame I've got some walls around me, too But they're not much…
boys Pretty boys - on my tv screen Teeth so white and…
Breaking Us In Two Don't you feel like trying something new Don't you feel like…
Bridge Down there in the ashes There's gold and silver too Dear sis…
Bright Grey She says that he's pouring fuel on the fire He turns…
Can't Get What You Want Sometimes you start feelin' so lost and lonely Then you'll f…
Cancer {Refrain} Everything Everything gives you cancer Everything …
Caravan Night and stars above that shine so bright The myst'ry of…
Cha Cha Loco You tied the knot Don't bite the hand or it won't…
Chinatown Trying to find chinatown Trying to find chinatown A hungry m…
Chrome You always were the special one The breath of air, the…
Citizen Sane If you want to live forever Ask a doctor, someone clever He…
Come On Well, they tell me of a pie up in the…
Cosmopolitan I'm okay, you're okay Why remember when it wasn't this way S…
Crime Don't Pay I got drunk with a real nice guy last night In…
Danny Boy It happened one night At three in the morning The devil appe…
Dave Dave - lives in a cave Under a hill A little way…
Dear Mom Dear Mom, I thought I found my sister Downtown, less than…
Different for Girls What the hell is wrong with you tonight? I can't…
Dirty Martini Two in the morning there's a drink in my hand (Dirt,…
Discipline Discipline can stop my hunger Discipline can quench my thirs…
Don I got drunk with a real nice guy last night In…
Don't Wanna Be Like That Okay let me tell you 'bout Some of the things…
Don't Ask Me I got ideas but I don't know it all And…
Don't Wanna Be Like That Okay let me tell you 'bout Some of the things…
Don't Wanna Be Like That 14/01/1980) Okay let me tell you 'bout Some of the things…
Down To London Stop - what's that sound It's the death rattle of this…
Drowning I don't love you But I'm lost Thinking of you And the ghosts…
Eleanor Rigby Ah, look at all the lonely people Ah, look at…
Enough Is Not Enough Slow down, you know you're leaving me behind You seem to…
Ever After Now that you're gone Nothing is wrong But every thing's chan…
Evil Empire There's a country where no one knows What's going on in…
Fabulously Absolute Go on and shove it in my face How I should…
Fairy Dust Here See the little queer There's a volunteer Don't you thin…
Fast Forward I′m hitting fast forward Seems like we'd gotten kind of stuc…
Fifty Dollar Love Affair Oh the romance of these harbour towns Lights that shimmer on…
Fit Don't laugh - but there are people in this world Born…
Five Guys Named Moe I gotta tell you a story from way back Truck…
Flying The older I get the more stupid I feel I don't…
Fool Tougher than Superman, smarter than Batman Could be a thin m…
Fool's In Love Fools in love Well, are there any other kind of lovers? Fool…
Forty Years Here in berlin - people line up to get in To…
Friday Lazy Gilly was a flower child All the summer Calmly…
Friend Better Have a drink, have a drink, have a drink on…
Fugue 1 / More Is More Let it rain, let it rain Let it rain, let it…
Fugue 2 / Song of Daedalus Call me cool as January I walk like the breeze And wear…
Fugue 2/Song of Daedalus Call me cool as January I walk like the breeze And wear…
Fugue No. 2 Call me cool as January I walk like the breeze And wear…
Geraldine And John See the bright red sports car, see the happy couple See…
Get That Girl Hey you I'm dancin' with your girl Her head is…
Girl What the hell is wrong with you tonight? I can't…
Glamour & Pain I've had that dream again Where I'm flying thirty feet Above…
Glamour and Pain I've had that dream again Where I'm flying thirty feet Ab…
Go For It What the hell is wrong with you tonight? I can't…
Goin' Downtown Joe Jackson and Drew Barfield) I could cool out I could hang…
Good Bad Boy We hear you, we see it You do it like you…
Got The Time Wake up, got another day to get through now Got…
Happy Ending I'm in a movie Where boy meets girl What happens to me In…
Happy Loving Couples I've just been to see my best friend He's got another…
Happy Loving Couples 14/01/1980 I've just been to see my best friend He's got another…
Happyland It was on a summer night, she says, a year…
Happy_Loving_Couples I've just been to see my best friend He's got another…
Health and Safety We're not marching off to war We're marching on one spot We…
Heart Of Ice Take a knife Cut out this heart of ice Hold it high Walk…
Hell of a Town It's a hell of a town There's smoke coming up through…
Hit Single You might have seen me hangin' 'round I never miss one…
Home Town Of all the stupid things I could have thought This…
Hometown Of all the stupid things I could have thought This…
How Long Must I Wait For You You told me you would me at the station gate For…
I Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues / Do Nothin' 'Til You Hear From Me Ain't got the change of a nickel, Ain't got no bounce…
I Got It Bad The poets say that all who love are blind, But I'm…
I'm Beginning To See The Light / Take The 'a' Train / Cotton ... I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
I'm Beginning To See The Light / Take The 'A' Train / Cotton Tail I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
I'm The Man Pretty soon now Why 'know I'm gonna make a comeback And like…
I'm The Man 14/01/1980) Pretty soon now Why 'know I'm gonna make a comeback And li…
If I Could See Your Face If I could see your face The face of the girl…
In Every Dream Home The guy who lives upstairs Is an actor so they say,…
Instant Mash In the supermarket there is music while you work It drives…
Invisible Man One, two, three, four One, two Hey, can you hear me now As…
Is She Really Goin' Out With Him Pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street From m…
Is She Really Going Out With Him? / It Pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street From …
Is She Really Going Out With Him? / It's Different For Girls Pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street From m…
Is You Is Or Is You I got a gal who's always late Every time we have…
Is_She_Really_Going_Out_With_Him Pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street From m…
It What the hell is wrong with you tonight? I can't…
IT DON What good is melody, what good is music If it ain't…
It's All Too Much Some days I can't get started Wondering which shoe to put…
It's Different For Boys What the hell is wrong with you tonight? I can't…
It`s Different For Girls What the hell is wrong with you tonight? I can't…
Jack You're Dead When you got no more assurance Than a great big hunk…
Jackson Joe Steppin' Out Now The mist across the window hides the lines But nothing…
Jamie Jamie G. I want you Even though I know that I…
Jamie G Jamie G. I want you Even though I know that I…
Jamie G. Jamie G. I want you Even though I know that I…
Jumpin Jive Boys, what you gonna say down there? Oh boys, what you…
Jumpin' With Symphony Sid Jumpin' with my boss Sid in the city Jumpin' with…
Jumpin' Jive Boys, what you gonna say down there? Oh boys, what you…
Jumpin' with Symphony Sid Jumpin' with my boss Sid in the city Jumpin' with…
Junkie Diva Junkie Diva – won′t you sing for me I'm so happy…
Just Because Can’t drink the water Can’t breathe the air Can’t hide down …
Keep on Dreaming Baby I′ve been thinking you and I Should keep on dreaming Fo…
Kinda Kute Ya make a guy feel humble I make a fool of…
King Of The City We were brought up in a boring town Watching our feet…
King of the World Hello one and all Was it you I used to…
Laundromat Monday Monday Laundromat Monday Monday Laundromat Monday I want…
Little Bit Stupid You stole a wig from your sister And a gun from…
Look Sharp Big shot, tell you what, tell me what goes on…
Love At First Light It's the crack of noon And I sit here watching you…
Love at First Sight It's the crack of noon And I sit here watching you…
Love Got Lost Here we go, Monday morning at last In the land of…
Lullaby Shall I stay or go Through the door Will the pen…
Mad at You When you're fixing your make-up You know you take too long A…
Man In The Street I'm not a happy guy But I'm not always sad…
Me And You If I could be two places at one time I'd be…
Medley: You Can't Get What You Want Sometimes you start feelin' so lost and lonely Then you'll f…
Memphis Memphis, where the hell is Memphis? I got to get away,…
Mood Indigo You ain't never been blue; no, no, no, You ain't…
Mood Índigo You ain't been blue; no, no, no. You ain't been blue, Till…
Moonlight Moonlight, starlight, star bright I think I see my shadow on…
Moonlight Theme instrumental…
and many more tracks by Joe Jackson.
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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AdamasMst
I never miss him when he comes to Montreal. I really think this guy is brilliant!
emmyemmaemza
this is amazing...i've recently discovered his work, it's so diverse, haha i don't know where to start! thank's for posting
aramanth
An epic song pairing! Joe never fails to impress... this has aged well.
Thanks for posting!! 🔹🔸🔹🔸🔹🔸🔹🔸🔹🔸🔹🔸🔹🔸🔹🔸
Inez Anne H
Love the way it falls in and out of the two songs and that driving bass throughout really brings it home
John Reilly
The version on the live album has Joe playing an absolutely brilliant melodica solo. That is the only thing missing from this one. Still just top notch.
Paul17373
His first album, "Looks Sharp"
Sublime Music Channel
Deeeeeeep!!! Bless you for posting this!
Myrrh* Greenwich
My absolute favorite!
Trev
Really superb, thanks for posting
Poprougefizz
What album is this version of Fools In Love/For Your Love on? Thanks so much. I love this medley.