I'm the Man [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

Joe Jackson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 14, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 1979
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Label: A&M
• ASIN: B00005N8Y7
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,048 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent album from an underrated talent, January 1, 2005

By 

John Alapick (Wilkes-Barre, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I'm the Man (Audio CD)

I'm The Man is Joe Jackson's second album and the followup to his debut Look Sharp! which spawned the excellent hit single "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" At the time, Jackson was part of an increasing new wave songwriter movement that also included Elvis Costello. But while Costello's career has been revered for continuously challenging himself musically, Jackson's career has become almost completely forgotten despite following a similar path.

This is a shame because Joe Jackson has produced some outstanding music over the years. I'm The Man continues the power pop of his debut and showcase Jackson's knack for writing great songs with memorable melodies and thoughtful and often personal lyrics. The album starts out strong with Jackson blaring his harmonica on the rocking "On The Radio." The tracks "Don't Wanna Be Like That" and "Friday" continue in the same vein as does the excellent title track. "Kinda Kute" and "Get That Girl" are great catchy pop songs while "Amateur Hour" and "The Band Wore Blue Shirts" are more introspective tracks that also work very well. But while all these songs are great, the best tracks here are the relationship songs, the should have been hit single "It's Different For Girls" and the reggae of "Geraldine And John." The musicianship of the Joe Jackson Band is very solid, particularly bassist Graham Maby who truly shines on "Friday", "Geraldine And John", and "Amateur Hour." This is a great album that has aged very well. Highly recommended to not only fans of new wave but also fans who just like good pop music.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No sophomore slump in music or remastering, August 14, 2001

By 

doublehighc (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I'm the Man (Audio CD)

This album came out 9 months after Joe's debut with "Look Sharp!" It covers the same basic musical territory, but with perhaps an even better collection of songs. They are both way, way up on my list of all-time favorites.

As with Look Sharp!, this is everything you could ask for in a CD remaster: dramatically improved sound, a killer live version of a Chuck Berry song as a bonus track, expanded album art, full lyrics, new liner notes, and a mid-range price...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The band wore blue shirts and the music played on...., December 27, 2004

By 

Tim Brough "author and music buff" (Springfield, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: I'm the Man (Audio CD)

While lacking the immediacy of "Look Sharp," Joe Jackson delivered the goods with his follow-up, the darker "I'm The Man." Starting with the revenge of the nerds anthem "On The Radio" and closing with the life-is-hell-but-we-don't-care worker cry of "Friday," Jackson was already rapidly moving away from the skinny tie pop showcase of his debut.

While "I'm The Man" doesn't boast anything near as confectionary as "Is She Really Going Out With Him" ("Kinda Kute" tried), Jackson's fascination with jazzier textures begin to blossom here. "The Band Wore Blue Shirts" looks at Jackson's days as a cover band keyboard player in a style that was more low-key than anyone would have expected, and "It's Different For Girls" began a strong streak of complex ballads that explored relationships between the sexes. (Think "One On One" and "Breaking Us In Two.") He also still had his rocker instinct, as the terrific title track slings barbs at the consumer culture and himself.

Jackson's first two albums were pretty much of a pair. He was still working out his aggression and trying to stay inside a genre he'd all but abandon in two more albums. (The liner notes to "Beat Crazy" had him questioning his motivation, ending with the sentence "Why did we even try?") But for this pair of original albums, Joe Jackson (along with The Police, Elvis Costello and Graham Parker) was proving that new wave was not as restrictive a form as its critics sometimes made it out to be.