Summer in the City: Live in New York [LIVE]

Joe Jackson

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 16, 2000)
• Original Release Date: May 16, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00004TB7H
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #113,537 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Singer-songwriter Joe Jackson may have ridden the contentious nerve of late-1970s new wave to his first chart triumphs, but he quickly proved he was no slave to fashion. Even earlier than Elvis Costello, Jackson utilized his commercial clout to explore a diverse, idiosyncratic musical palette that ranged from swing through reggae, Tin Pan Alley, and classical. Having seemingly forsaken pop songs altogether in the '90s for larger classically themed set pieces, this live recording of Jackson performing songs in peak form with a stripped-down trio (including Graham Maby on bass and drummer Gary Burke) should come as something of a pleasant surprise for Jackson fans. Imbued with a healthy dose of the singer's trademark musical utopianism, the set list is characterized by smart renditions of vintage, if not overexposed Jackson catalog gems, several of which are interpolated in medleys with a generous sampling of cover songs that are often as surprising as they are insightful. Paired with the Yardbirds' moody "For Your Love," "Fools in Love" becomes a bluesy dirge, while Steely Dan's "King of the World" neatly bookends Jackson's "You Can't Get What You Want" both musically and thematically. It's also a record that should smartly segue into Jackson's anticipated sequel to his biggest (and best) pop/jazz fusion success, Night and Day. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars He's the man., June 1, 2000

By	A. F. GILLITT (Alameda, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Joe Jackson is no stranger to recording live, already providing a 2cd live set and the recorded live "big world." This cd is a real treat for fans of his musical style before his orchestral meanderings of the last decade. The arrangements are spare, just Jackon's piano, Graham Maby on bass and Gary Burke on drums. But the songs themselves are full and rich and fully realized.

Nearly half the songs on the disc are covers, all of them good choices that are well-executed. Standouts include Steely Dan's "King of the World" (wish that Fagen's voice sounded as good these days as Jackson's), a catchy "Summer in the City" and a delicate and lovely "Eleanor Rigby."

The highlights of this disc are his reworkings of his own songs, especially "Another World" and my favorite "It's Different for Girls."

It's really wonderful to see that almost 25 years after the release of "I'm the Man" that Joe Jackson still is. This disc couldn't be any tighter, and the song choices and musicianship displayed make this a CD worthy of anyone's collection.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Joe Jackson album I own, January 1, 2005

By	M. Packham "Stuart" (Perth, Western Australia Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an outstanding album, one of the best I own. Personally I'm a big fan of piano based singer/songwriters, and after listening to this live album of Jackson with the sparse arrangement of a piano, bass and drums, it's clear he's one of the best there is. His playing is a mixture of rock and jazz, without any pedal or fudged notes. There's some fantastic covers as well. He swings from a Duke Ellington cover ('Mood Indigo') to a sparse Beatles cover ('Eleanor Rigby') then onto a brilliant Steely Dan number ('King of the World').

For those who are piano players this is also a great album to listen to. It may not be clear to people who don't play piano, but listening to Jackson with a trained ear... the guy can really play. In contrast to the sparse shuffles of Randy Newman and the pedal-heavy slamming of Ben Folds and Elton John, Jackson rises to the top. And he's got a great voice too.

This is a great replay album too, so buy it and wear it out.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hot Fun in the Summertime, June 13, 2000

By	Greg Schmid (Olmsted Falls, OH) - See all my reviews

Where have you been, Joe Jackson? We always knew you could write witty, ascerbic, and sometimes, very thoughtful songs. During your second stage (Night and Day, etc.) we knew you could tickle the ivories with the best popsters. Summer in the City, Joe's latest and greatest live disc, shows you also have an uncanny ability to arrange seemingly disparate songs into one wonderful medley after another.

Stripped down to the basics of drums (Gary Burke), bass (who else but Graham Maby), piano and vocals (Joe), this thirteen song collection recorded in 1999 live in New York showcases some of Joe's tunes and some excellent covers.

He seamlessly combines Ramsey Lewis' "The In Crowd" with "Down to London". Then he melds a haunting "Eleanor Rigby" (the second cover version I heard of this song today, the other by Michael Stanley on his solid Eighteen Down) with his "Be My Number Two". He's not done. He combines Steely Dan's "King of the World" with "You Can't Get What You Want".

The vocals are sharp, the recording is flawless, and the musicianship is solid, even though I would have liked to have heard more from Graham. Summer in the City is a revelation, a return to form for Joe, and the best live album in at least two years.