Customer Reviews

Will Power

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Here's Joe Jackson's most neglected album. Why does it possess this luminous quality? Most likely because it contains all classical music. No vocals (unless one counts the boy soprano). No lyrics (unless one counts the few lines the boy soprano sings). Lots of solo piano, woodwinds, strings. Nothing at all that a typical Joe Jackson fan in 1987 would have expected. A polka album would have probably been less of a shock. Jackson's previous album of 1986, "Big World" (another hard to find gem) messed around with multitudinous styles, but nothing whatsoever like "Will Power".

Jackson's 1999 "Symphony No. 1" surprised fans as a big departure. Why? He had already composed and recorded "Will Power" some 10 years earlier. "Will Power" was the real shocker, "Symphony No. 1" a mere follow-up (though much more acclaimed and far less neglected). Far more surprising is Jackson's roots in classical composition. His website lists associations with the Royal Academy of Music, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, and a musical directorship of a Playboy Club. Those who thought of Jackson as a composer of "serious music" probably fell out of their chairs stunned when they heard "Look Sharp".

"Will Power" contains some great music. Jackson completely exposed his roots, versatility, and abilities as a composer on this one. "No Parasan" is a slowly building creshendo that explodes into pleasant dissonance at the climax (this song used to scare the crap out of my pet hamsters, especially with the volume cranked, poor guys). The song "Solitude" evokes its name. It feels lonely. The heavy reverb on the boy soprano helps. It also feels a little troubled. "Nocturne" is a gorgeous solo piano piece with Jackson at the keys. This and "Solitude" justify picking this one up. The album ends with "Symphony in One Movement". A sixteen minute beef stew of classical styles (sometimes it sounds a little Bernstein, sometimes Copland, other influences can be heard also).

Lastly, the cover. In an interview at the time of the album's original release Jackson said "I left the cover blank so you can put other records in it if you want to". The CD maintains the LPs philosophy. Nowhere on it do the words "Joe Jackson" or "Will Power" appear. Of course the CD book rectifies this. One of the best pictures of Jackson awaits inside.

Not everyone will appreciate this album. Fans of both Joe Jackson and classical music will likely love it. It still stands up today, and probably will well into the future (assuming that someone makes more copies).

I've listened to Joe Jackson since his debut album of the late 70s, but only truly began to appreciate his approach to music years later. Having been a creature of habit during his freshman recording days, I received his early music with little regard, and even a shallow contempt for what I perceived as "not your usual music." Indeed. By the time "Body and Soul" had already been out for a while I finally realized that Joe Jackson wasn't an abberition, he was somewhat iconiclastic. Based on the times each of his recordings were released, none were definitively categorized by the standards of their times, yet each one could not have been more perfect for the times they were released. "Will Power" is definitive Joe Jackson, who has never confined himself to any genre, yet has done so many so well. The result of his "classical" approach was no different. Joe Jackson's voice figuratively comes through as loud and clear in this recording as in any other of his recordings. An almost entirely lyricless recording- there is a smattering of symphonic choral accompaniments at moments that breaks out of powerful classical arrangments. But throughout the entire arrangements, coming out of the powerfully utilized classical instrumentations was personality and "voice" of Joe Jackson. He and Randy Newman both have that knack, to attack varieties of music with aplomb and an ability to leave a personal stamp on it in some way. I bought this record with a "Body and Soul" or "Stepping Out" brand of music expectation, and only bought it having misunderstood the music store assistant who described it to me. I couldn't put this away. "Syphony No. 1, Solitude" and "Nocturne" are all fabulous pieces of music with attention to detail in creating powerful passions through demonstrations of light and intense keyboarding and matching accompaniment. This has always applied to Joe Jackson recordings, and "Will Power" took things into new waters, evoking the memories of similar music instilled into us at earlier school age, venturing me into other categories of musical appreciation. I soon became more passionate about classical music (ultimately becoming a subscription member of The Chicago Symphony Orchestra). But I don't rate this CD high because of Beethovian standards. It would be pretentious to even consider Jackson by famous world symphony standards. That's not why I rate it so highly. I like it for what it is on its own, not to how it compares to the great symphonies in the world and their classical interpretations. This is merely Jackson putting his stamp on in the symphonic arena and getting fabulous results. I can understand why many, much less Joe Jackson fans alone didn't buy this in record numbers. Some have their preferred Jackson and/or music genres and don't care to accept Joe in his entirity. But in buying this CD, you get a definitive Joe Jackson record. He is heard throughout this entire recording- his moods and attitudes. I have to admit, I still have only the cassette, since finding this on CD can be cost prohibitive, if successful at all. But if CD remastering has the typical quality upgrade, then listening to this recording will be that much more of a pleasure. A pleasant surprise for those with expansive musical tastes.