Hit or Shit: Joe Jackson - Steppin' Out

[fange]

What do you think of JJ's big hit from 1982? Thumbs up or down?

[Charlie O.]

Both thumbs up.

[rayge]

Used to hate it and him. The only reason I don't hate them now is that I've given up on hatred. Would still rather not have it anywhere in my vicinity though. I'm perhaps not the only one. You can't really give his stuff away on discogs.

[DarknessFish]

I don't mind the cheap sounding sequencer and drum machine providing the rhythm section. The rest is horrible.

[osgood]

I liked a lot his first two records and started to lose me a bit with Beat Crazy. Jumpin' Jive was ok in its out-of-the-box way, but then I found Night and Day a real stinker, and listening again to this does not change my feelings at all.

[fange]

Geez, a lot of grumpy bastards around tonight.

I'm not a big JJ fan but i like this one. There is a lovely propulsive energy to it thanks to the crisp early 80s drum sound, and those piano chords give it an elegant, nightime jetset kind of charm.

["BING E BONG"]

It's OK. His other big hit was better.

[rayge]

Mar 4, 2020 11:05:21 GMT fange said:

Geez, a lot of grumpy bastards around tonight.

It's the morning where the grumpy bastards are/were. And I can't answer for Pepe of course, but here in the YUK it's a cold grey and miserable one too.

[loveless]

Oh, I think it's a beauty.

The song, the track, the lyric, all of it conjures something pretty vivid - like a 1982 version of Petula Clark's "Downtown". All dingy, pre-smoking ban nightlife.

The breakdown before the return chorus (I guess they just take the bass out and add glockenspiel) is a masterstroke.

[Deleted]

Mar 4, 2020 11:05:21 GMT fange said:

Geez, a lot of grumpy bastards around tonight.

I'm not a big JJ fan but i like this one. There is a lovely propulsive energy to it thanks to the crisp early 80s drum sound, and those piano chords give it an elegant, nightime jetset kind of char

We're not a pop board, even less so than on BCB, so you shouldn't be surprised Ange!
I'm with you, more or less. I don't like it quite as much as you as the melody never really goes anywhere for me, just merely loops. But I like the relaxed, easy vibe it creates, it's got an easy going warmth.

[fonz]

I think it’s triff

[Deleted]

my loathing of JJ knows no bounds..I'd sooner go to a Styx concert than listen to him..[Shudder]..That didn't feel too good..

[Deleted]

Never liked it much. I thought it was more an exercise or pastiche of a certain style of pop music.

[toomanyhatz]

It's brilliant.

Despite being equally as trapped in the 'sounds of the decade' as plenty of stuff I hate, it manages to sound sophisticated and timeless. That's 'cause there's melody and structure and stuff. That stuff is timeless. A great song can cut through all the silly trappings.

"Breaking Us in Two" is equally good.

[toomanyhatz]

I also endorse what Loveless said above.