Joe Jackson – I'm The Man

Shane Buettner is live with Steven Westman on The Audiophile Roundtable right now: https://www.youtube.com/live/uXo3YnLpVk0?si=IEjG0BFt9Am2pczm

This is a PERFECT ALBUM Look Sharp ain't no slouch either

Fantastic detailed sound! Brilliant wide soundstage. Great work by Bernie Grundman

One of two essential Joe Jackson albums (along with Look Sharp).

My copy has Matrix / Runout (Side A Etched): T1 AM SP04794A (RE-2)-T6
Matrix / Runout (Side B Runout): SXT AMSP04794B- T2 scratched out/overwritten T1 added

I Joe Jackson playing on NYC rock radio more than Elvis Costello. Maybe that's my personal prejudice for Joe over Elvis. Maybe it isn't. Either way, JJ was on the radio a lot in NYC from 1978 - 80.

Everything here is bright and trebly, including the awesome Graham Maby's bass. I'm sure that's on purpose as opposed to a problem with mastering.

There are subtle hints around the edges that JJ might've been grinding against the stylistic confines imposed by New Wave. There's melodica, reggae riddims and odd (for New Wave at least) chord progressions. But the zippy tunes and less piano than 'Look Sharp!' is a hedge against all that.

I bet Joe was a Steely Dan fan. You can almost hear it in the cynicism of the 2 best songs on here: 'Friday' and 'It's Different For Girls'. Also in the character studies of shysters like 'I'm The Man' and the hapless working stiffs of 'The Band Wore Blue Shirts'. It would become more apparent later on smooth tunes like the mu-chord laden 'Stepping Out'.

Y Next to the A&M Logo indicates the Terre Haute Pressing Plant.

Is anyone else's copy pressed off-center? It still sounds great, so no complaints (though it looks a little funny spinning for that reason), but I was just wondering.

Very cool boxset and cleverly setup. If you had a record changer and stacked all 5 records and played side 1 of each beginning with record one you will have played the same order as the album version. Then do the same with side 2 of each record and you have the same order as the album version of side 2. If you take one record at time and play side one and then flip it on side two you have a very different track order. Nice cool boxset with picture sleeves and a small poster. Very collectible for fans of Joe Jackson!

It really sounds amazing, great disc to own and play !