In 1982, Joe undertook another significant style shift with the Latin-flavored, percussion-heavy Night and Day.  This album, of course, gave us "Steppin' Out", his biggest hit.  As I am wont to do, I am posting one of my album filler favorites instead, the mamborrific "Cancer."

Hear a live performance of "Cancer" on YouTube

This is part of a week-long series on the music of Joe Jackson.

In 1981, Joe saw fit to release an album of 30s and 40s swing and jazz standards.  Jumpin' Jive featured the likes of "Tuxedo Junction" and "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby", as well as the eponymous Cab Calloway track.

Make no mistake, these are real swing tunes, about as faithful to the original style as you could imagine.  Name me one other rock and roll artist, of that or any era, who could have performed these songs that convincingly.  You could probably count them on one hand, at best.

Here is a YouTube live performance of "Jumpin' Jive."  I really wish I could have found a studio version of something from this record, but this'll have to do.  Still a great interpretation, even with just a stripped down 4-piece combo.  UPDATE:  Crap, this was removed within the last day.  Dammit.  Oh well, I leave it to you, gentle reader, to check out this wonderful album however you see fit.

This is part of a week-long series on the music of Joe Jackson.

Early in Joe's career, his band was essentially a group of somewhat sophisticated rock and rollers.  His first two albums (Look Sharp! and I'm the Man) both came out in 1979, and even though his music really didn't seem to fit the label, not in my opinion at least, the term "new wave" was often applied to it.  That buzzword is still used to describe his early catalog even today.

In any case, even though Look Sharp! may be a stronger album as a whole, the title track from I'm the Man is by far my favorite Joe song from that era.  It's just one those genuinely exciting, punch a hole in the wall tunes.

Music video for "I'm the Man" on YouTube

YouTube live performance

This is part of a week-long series on the music of Joe Jackson.

Now well into his 50s and still going strong after a 30-plus year career, English pianist/singwriter Joe Jackson has been an enormous favorite of mine for decades.  So I'm giving him a week of hero worship.

This is the guy that gave us "Is She Really Going Out With Him" and "Steppin' Out", neither of which will be posted here.  He's had a very eclectic career and his catalog has covered many different styles, and I hope to showcase as many of them as I can.

Wikipedia article on Joe Jackson

And I'm bringing the animal dealie to a close with a song from every sorority's favorite balding, mumbling acoustic guitar player.

Wait, do sororities even listen to this guy anymore?  It's not like I'd know.

YouTube fan-made video for "Big Eyed Fish"

YouTube live performance

OK, this song has nothing to do with animals.  It's a song about a type of haircut - an ape drape is, of course, another term for a mullet.

But dammit, it's got "ape" in the title.  And I haven't been able to get this song out of my head for about a week now.

Fan-made video for "I've Got an Ape Drape" on YouTube

In keeping with the animal thing, I am posting this song from Dead Milkmen's 1987 album Bucky Fellini.  I gave my detailed Milkmen write-up in a previous post, so you can refer back to that if it suits ya.

My company just had an awesome catered tri-tip lunch, so today's pick would seem to fit.

(BURP)

YouTube fanvid for "Surfin' Cow"

Cat!  Cat!  Cat!

Another animal song!  Another animal song!  Another animal song!

Cat!  Cat!  Cat!

Pressed for time!  Pressed for time!  Pressed for time!

Quick entry!  Quick entry!  Quick entry!

Cat!  Cat!  Cat!

YouTube fanvid for "Cat"

I love Cake, both the food and the band.  My Grade A Numero Uno Top Dog Head Cheese Cake album is 1998's Prolonging the Magic, so it seems right to continue the animal motif by posting "Sheep Go to Heaven."

YouTube fanvid for "Sheep Go to Heaven"