FFWD Weekly
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CD Review by Mike Bell JOE JACKSON Summer in the City: Live in New York Sony · Features Jackson, longtime bassist Graham Maby and drummer Gary Burke performing songs from Jackson’s pop past and some well-chosen covers. Say it is so, Joe. Tell me please that you’ve stopped taking yourself so painfully seriously and that this is only the first step in your rebirth as contemporary pop’s mature, intelligent messiah. You’re not a composer; you’re a singer and a songwriter. A brilliant one, as Holy Grails like "Another World," "Fools In Love," "Home Town," "One More Time" and "Be My Number Two" – rendered here so immaculately – can attest. My God, your beatific take on "Eleanor Rigby" alone is enough to restore faith in even your most vocal critics. No more pompous operas, no more self-indulgent instrumental albums, and no more hyper-serious modern classical compositions – just more Joe. Say it’s so? 5/5

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