Joe Jackson - Summer in the City: Live in New York (Audio CD - May 16, 2000)

Singer-songwriter Joe Jackson may have ridden the contentious nerve of late-1970s new wave to his first chart triumphs, but he quickly proved he was no slave to fashion. Even earlier than Elvis Costello, Jackson utilized his commercial clout to explore a diverse, idiosyncratic musical palette that ranged from swing through reggae, Tin Pan Alley, and classical. Having seemingly forsaken pop songs altogether in the '90s for larger classically themed set pieces, this live recording of Jackson performing songs in peak form with a stripped-down trio (including Graham Maby on bass and drummer Gary Burke) should come as something of a pleasant surprise for Jackson fans. Imbued with a healthy dose of the singer's trademark musical utopianism, the set list is characterized by smart renditions of vintage, if not overexposed Jackson catalog gems, several of which are interpolated in medleys with a generous sampling of cover songs that are often as surprising as they are insightful. Paired with the Yardbirds' moody "For Your Love," "Fools in Love" becomes a bluesy dirge, while Steely Dan's "King of the World" neatly bookends Jackson's "You Can't Get What You Want" both musically and thematically. It's also a record that should smartly segue into Jackson's anticipated sequel to his biggest (and best) pop/jazz fusion success, Night and Day.

Condition:NEW. Brand New Factory Sealed

TRACK LISTINGS

Disc 1

1 Summer in the City (1:46)
2 Obvious Song (4:24)
3 Another World (5:02)
4 Fools in Love/For Your Love (6:36)
5 Mood Indigo (4:23)
6 The In Crowd/Down to London (7:26)
7 Eleanor Rigby (3:12)
8 Be My Number Two (3:22)
9 Home Town (3:58)
10 It's Different for Girls (4:01)
11 King of the World (3:45)
12 You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want) (3:30)
13 One More Time (3:34)