The Joe Jackson Look Sharp! Poll!

He had at least one hit in the US before he had any over here IIRC.

"Look Sharp" may have been the first LP I ever bought for myself - I'll have been 8 I guess - it was early enough that my copy's on white vinyl, which was at least a little bit limited-editiony. I played it so very much but I don't supposed I've played it in 25 years; I did hear it played in full at Hot Doug's in Chicago a few years ago and I was shocked by how well I knew it, totally programmed into my brain.

I am at a loss as to which song to vote for.

There is near nary a not totally killer diller song on this record. Perhaps Instant Mash and Pretty Girls. The rest is kinda unfuckwithable, imo. In fact, I'm with Tim, I have no bloody idea where to place my vote yet.

never been able to get over what a blatant rip of EC this is, it's so shameless

so I'm a little baffled that scott loves this record cuz scott I thought you hated Elvis...? I know you can't give away his back catalog lol

he's EC without the baggage, it's not hard

this is a better album than My Aim is True or at least more fun

nah

well, maybe. it's def not as good as This Year's Model, EC's rhythm section is really the heart of what's good about his early stuff. I'll take Bruce Thomas over whoever Joe Jackson's bassist is any day.

Joe Jackson splits the difference between Elvis Costello and Graham Parker.

I like this sooo much more than any Costello or Parker or other Stiff-like records circa 1978. There's an effortlessness to Joe Jackson's first moves. Like the Cars and Pretenders as noted, also Blondie. Hooks and riffs in equal measure.

I like Joe's persona/voice way better than Elvis's. He really sells the sweaty hormonal intensity of these characters, how the sneer when it shows up is an affected defense mechanism... Copeland was going for this as well but usually seems to be looking down on his protagonists.

I think I voted for one of the "zeros"
cuz it gets to feel more pain..

i like the first three elvis records. those early singles. they were cool. "pump it up" will always be my fave EC song because i'm dumb like that. but i never listen to that stuff. i always listen to the first two joe jackson records when i get them in at the store. i play them a ton for about a week and then i'm good for the year.

i like the early elvis hits basically. i'm the same way with the clash. i just like to hear the hits.

basically all that stuff reminds me of my brother. he worked at a record store in town back then and he bought all of it. nick lowe. dave edmunds. stiff stuff. he played a tonic for the troops a lot. i was glad. i got to hear it all. it all sounded pretty cool to me. it was definitely "his" stuff.

my new wave explosion was a year later. kings of the wild frontier. and i was off to the races. and that was "my" stuff. straight from rush and judas priest to antmusic.

i like the early elvis hits basically. i'm the same way with the clash. i just like to hear the hits.

I'm the same way with both those artists, and I've certainly tried to expand my interest in them to no avail.

Joe Jackson's early LPs deserve revisiting, I'm surprised there's never been deluxe reissues.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

That result looks about right. "Got The Time" is a monster.

Like I said!