Blaze of Glory (Joe Jackson album) explained

Blaze of Glory
Type:studio
Artist:Joe Jackson
Cover:JoeJacksonBlazeOfGlory.jpg
Released:17 April 1989[1]
Recorded:November–December 1988
Studio:
Genre:Rock
Length:57:10
Label:A&M
Producer:Joe Jackson
Prev Title:Tucker
Prev Year:1988
Next Year:1990

Blaze of Glory is the tenth studio album by English rock musician Joe Jackson, released in 1989.[2] Jackson has stated that the album and the songs themselves were an examination of his generation as the 1980s were ending, ranging from the optimism of the 1950s ("Tomorrow's World") to the politics of terrorism ("Rant and Rave") and the Cold War ("Evil Empire"), to yuppies ("Discipline") and rockers who are well past their prime ("Nineteen Forever").[3] The title track compares the legacy of a classic rock musician who died young ("...went out in a blaze of glory") with the current wannabes ("They're just cartoons" who "think they're Superman" but "can't even fly").

Although Blaze of Glory was a modest seller, the resultant single "Nineteen Forever" reached No. 4 in the US Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart.[4] Jackson felt the album was one of his best efforts and toured to perform and support it with an eleven piece band in the U.S. and Europe from June to November 1989, and was disappointed with both the critical and commercial reaction as well as his record label's lack of support.[4]

Critical reception

Upon its release, Nick Robinson of Music Week summarised, "By taking a reflective but by no means dated look at his past work, Jackson has come up with a definitive collection of musical styles and moods that flow gracefully – each one showing a different side to his songwriting character."[5] Kevin Murphy of Record Mirror considered it to show Jackson "back to his adventurous and ambitious best" with a "diverse collection of moods that knit together to tell the story of his life from quizzical child to cynical adult". He added that the album is "typical Jackson – all jazz-tinged Sixties brass, string-swamped sentimentality and glimpses of pub rock theatrics – but done with a greater confidence and richness."

Track listing

All songs written, arranged and produced by Joe Jackson.[2]

Personnel

Musicians

Production

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1989)! scope="col"
Peak
position
European Albums (Music & Media)[6] 36
Italian Albums (Musica e dischi)[7] 20

Year-end charts

Chart (1989)! scope="col"
Position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[8] 85

External links

Notes and References

  1. 15 April 1989. New Albums. Music Week. 26. 10 September 2022.
  2. Book: Strong , Martin C. . 2000. The Great Rock Discography. 5th. Mojo Books . Edinburgh. 485–486. 1-84195-017-3.
  3. News: Pop Music Reviews . Los Angeles Times . Steve . Hochman . 30 August 1989.
  4. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4574/biography|pure_url=yes}} Biography by William Ruhlmann ]. AllMusic . 4 May 2009.
  5. Robinson . Nick . A&R: LP Reviews . . 22 April 1989 . 28 . 0265-1548.
  6. European Top 100 Albums . . 6 . 20 . 20 May 1989 . 25 . 29800226 . World Radio History.
  7. Web site: Classifiche . . it . 15 July 2022. Select "Album" in the "Tipo" field, type "Blaze of Glory" in the "Titolo" field and press "cerca".
  8. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Album 1989 . nl . . 15 July 2022.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Blaze of Glory (Joe Jackson album)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.