You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want) Explained

You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)
Cover:	Joe_Jackson_-_You_Can't_Get_What_You_Want_(Till_You_Know_What_You_Want).jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Joe Jackson
Album:	Body and Soul
B-Side:	Cha Cha Loco
Released:	1984
Recorded:	1984
Studio:	Masonic Hall (Manhattan)^[1]
Genre:	Sophisti-pop, jazz
Length:	3:42 (Single Version) 4:54 (Album Version)
Label:	A&M Records
Producer:	David Kershenbaum and Joe Jackson
Prev Title:	Memphis
Prev Year:	1983
Next Title:	Happy Ending
Next Year:	1984

"You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)" is a single from Joe Jackson's 1984 album Body and Soul.^{[2] [3]}

In addition to the 7” single, it was also released as a 12” single, remixed by John "Jellybean" Benitez.

Background

The track features a slap bass performance from Jackson's longtime bassist Graham Maby. Maby recalled, "For 'You Can't Get What You Want,' on Body and Soul, Joe wanted me to slap. It was certainly not one of my strengths, but I think the track came out fine, and it was fun to play live."^[4]

Reception

Glide Magazine ranked the song as Jackson's third best song.^[5] Mike DeGagne of AllMusic called the song "explosive."^[6]

Charts

Chart (1984)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[7]	96
Canada Singles Chart	30
UK Singles Chart^[8]	77

External links

• You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want) at Allmusic.com

Notes and References

1. . February 1984 . Body and Soul . Liner notes . . A&M CD5000.
2. News: Not your average Joe. Gedye. Lloyd. 30 May 2008. Mail & Guardian. M&G Media Ltd. 2 February 2013.
3. Web site: Joe Jackson Returns with 'Rain'. May 26, 2008. NPR Music. NPR. 2 February 2013.
4. Web site: Jisi . Chris . Joe Jackson bassist Graham Maby looks back at four decades of bass playing with the songwriting great . 8 January 2020 . Bass Player . 6 May 2020.
5. Web site: Handler . Shane . Volume 26: Joe Jackson . 15 June 2009 . Glide Magazine . 6 May 2020.
6. Web site: DeGagne . Mike . Body and Soul - Joe Jackson Songs, Reviews, Credits . AllMusic . 1 October 2020 . en-us.
7. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 151. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA from mid-1983 until 19 June 1988.
8. Web site: Official Charts > Joe Jackson. The Official UK Charts Company. 2015-12-04.