Favorite "( )" Songs #1 - "You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)"
@teamfreak16 (43710)
Denver, Colorado
May 1, 2017 7:05am CST
We have reached the pinnacle of parenthetical songs with #1 in my Favorite "( )" Songs series, which is songs with parentheses in the title ( @FourWalls is doing the same thing with both rock and country, so check those out as well.) The top spot belongs to "You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)" by Joe Jackson.
Englishman Joe Jackson began his musical career in 1970. He was playing bars when he was 16, and studied musical composition on scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music. One of the original new waver's, Jackson has had a diverse career that has seen him explore jazz, swing, pop, and even classical music. The Grammy Award winner is also a pro-smoking advocate in both the US and UK.
From his 1984 album, Body and Soul, "You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want? )" is an energetic, jazzy, horn-laden tune that reached #15 on Billboard Magazine's Hot 100 chart.
When I saw Jackson in concert, in 1989, in Belgium (part of an all day festival,) he walked out, waved, sat down at his piano, and the band broke into this as his opener. I knew right then and there it was going to be a great set. And it was.
Enjoy!
(Info verified by Wikipedia)
Music video by Joe Jackson performing You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want). (C) 1988 A&M Records
8 people like this
8 responses
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
1 May 17
"Joe Jackson (Alternative 80s Radio Staple!)"
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
1 May 17
@teamfreak16 It's mainstream because it crossed over to the popular charts but Steppin' Out still has that distinct 80s sound.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43710)
• Denver, Colorado
1 May 17
@JohnRoberts - Oh, no doubt. An 80's classic.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43710)
• Denver, Colorado
1 May 17
And mainstream with "Steppin' Out!" The guy could do it all.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86993)
• United States
1 May 17
No!!! Terrible choice!!! I call foul!!!! (And I'd better stop lying before a lightning bolt hits me. 
)
Par exellence!!!! Great series, too!
(Oh, and I have a "bodies of water" countdown in the pipeline if you want to get started on that. 
)
)
Par exellence!!!! Great series, too!
(Oh, and I have a "bodies of water" countdown in the pipeline if you want to get started on that. )1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43710)
• Denver, Colorado
1 May 17
Hmmm. I'll have to see what I can come up with. I'm doing motorized vehicle deaths next.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43710)
• Denver, Colorado
1 May 17
@FourWalls - Huh. I hadn't considered it. That would be interesting to do.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
2 May 17
Y'all are inspiring me to do a countdown. I just haven't decided what theme yet. I've got a pretty varied music collection.
2 people like this
@crossbones27 (53005)
• Mojave, California
2 May 17
Now you tell me that you saw him in Belgium. I could have got that right. lol Fun song with a cool horn section. I also love Belgium. They brought me Brooklyn who is Part Belgium Malinois. She is awesome and attacking a broom while enjoying this song.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (53005)
• Mojave, California
2 May 17
@teamfreak16 Yeah, heard that after I wrote this. They say I am a slow typer. It was really cool and actually listened song twice I liked it so much. Really cool bass on this song. I think that is all you need a cool horn section some killer bass and always some melodic rhythm.
It was really cool and actually listened song twice I liked it so much. Really cool bass on this song. I think that is all you need a cool horn section some killer bass and always some melodic rhythm.1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43710)
• Denver, Colorado
2 May 17
@crossbones27 - That guy has been his bassist forever.
1 person likes this
@amadeo (111937)
• United States
1 May 17
@teamfreak16 sorry about the errors in the comment.My fingers get carried away on the key board.LOL
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43710)
• Denver, Colorado
3 May 17
@Ronrybs - That's what I tell people, it would be very boring if we all listened to the same thing.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (21492)
• London, England
3 May 17
@teamfreak16 Strange really, I do have quite wide ranging tastes. Still, a dull old world if we all liked the same thing!
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
1 May 17
I didn't know there were so many () songs. :-) What, no "Don't You (Forget about me)" - Simple Minds?
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43710)
• Denver, Colorado
1 May 17
It was one of the last ones I cut. I saw them on that tour. Great live band.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43710)
• Denver, Colorado
2 May 17
@FayeHazel - They opened for The Pretenders at Red Rocks. Only opening act I've ever seen get called out for two encores.
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
2 May 17
@teamfreak16 Oh wow, you got to see them! I have the "greatest hits" cd was truly impressed by the number of great songs they do...
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
1 May 17
Yep definitely a New Waver there.
He is a smoking advocate too? lol
Well he is great I know I have heard him for sure.
Well he is great I know I have heard him for sure.1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43710)
• Denver, Colorado
1 May 17
He's even smoking on the album cover!
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
1 May 17
@teamfreak16 Night and Day was one of my favourite albums but it just doesn't work the same in the download or even CD generation. The whole getting up and turning it over was integral to the experience.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43710)
• Denver, Colorado
1 May 17
@boiboing - I had it on cassette. I had to turn it over.
