Disco de Joe Jackson: “Joe Jackson Live 1980-1986”

"Live 1980-1986" is assembled like 4 separate live E.P.s rather than a traditional live album. Each of the two discs presents two different tours, so four are represented in total. Each tour gets 5 or 6 songs. The bands are different for each tour so it's easy to trace the evolution in Jackson's approach to music making. Casual fans may be put off by the fact that the versions of his two biggest hits are all quite different from their original studio incarnations. He gives three different takes on "Is She Really Going Out With Him", and frankly, none of the three appeal to me nearly as much as the original. On his other big hit, "Steppin' Out", he slows the song down dramatically, and the result is hypnotic - it's my second favorite cut on the album. My favorite is "Fools In Love", which is played at a slow tempo similar to the original, but is fleshed out and stretched out to over 7 minutes. Most of the other tracks stick closer to their original arrangements, but with some interesting variations, such as the punchy horns added to "Sunday Papers". I think this collection is a great souvenir for the true believers, but I think those with only a casual interest in Jackson's music will find it unessential.

I did not usually like Live albums, you lose alot in the translation, but this one really captures Joe Jackson's ability to snare the imagination of those that were there. He includes songs from all parts of his tours throughout 6 years of touring. At the risk of sounding like a syrupy record reviewer, this album is as close as you can come to being able to step out, look sharp and reach back to the fun times when music was not pressed out of the same cookie cutter. Hey, I fell in love with my wife to Slow Song...we actually used it to dance to at our wedding. That is about as sentimental as I get, so this must have something to it!!! Enjoy...

I agree with the guy who wrote that Joe Jackson does not get his due. This album is wonderful. I owned Joe Jackson studio albums when I was in college and loved them, so I am a fan. I went away from the power pop/punk genre -- I had not listened to Joe Jackson for several decades -- and now I listen mostly to jazz/classical recordings. Hey, I'm old now. Last week I downloaded this album just for old time's sake, not really expecting much more than a trip down memory lane. THESE RECORDINGS ARE GREAT. The arrangements of the old songs are original and interesting, the musicianship is excellent (this guy can really play and his sidemen are just amazing), and the performances are ... well, I wish I had been there.

To put it frankly, this is Joe at his best. A must for fans.