Quote:
Originally Posted by Boeing Guy
Being a big fan of Joe Jackson, I got into him in the early 80's, I would say he is anything but punk.
Night and Day, the album which 'Steppin Out' was off was a nod and tribute to Cole Porter.
he is just finishing a tribute album to Duke Ellington, his work comprises Classical, Jazz, Pop and Rock sometimes combining them all.
I have seen him a few times live and he is one of the best live acts I have ever seen.
To say that Punk paved the way for him, well if having a record producer hear your tape, then signing you is down to the influence of punk so be it. but where does that leave The Beatles.
His label at the time was A&M a rather large label.
To be fair, I always thought the start of DIY etc started with the Teac A3440 4 track reel to reel and the Tascam home studio that used cassettes.
Maybe we should class Marillion as punk, they don't have a record label, instead rely on their fans to buy albums up front, so they can record them.
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It's the musical climate of the time and his first hit 79 "Is she really going out with him!" is most definately on the bandwagon of Elvis Costello style market! This is how record companies work - they advise artists and produce artists to make their sound fit the moment. That record is definately of that sound of New Wave - no not punk mate but there is a line drawn by punk of the type of music that was in the chart before punk and then after wards and there is a massive difference! Records that made it in 78 - 79 like Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson would not have been as successful before punk.
This is not just my opinion but many well known music business pundits.
You had Punk - New Wave - Power Pop - Joe Jackson wasn't punk, his single "Is she really going out with him!" was New Wave and I bet the producer made sure it was like that so they'd get a hit!
Quote from Wikipedia entry on him -
" He was popular for his pop/rock and new wave music early on before moving to more eclectic, though less commercially successful, pop/jazz/classical hybrids."