“Is She Really Going Out With Him?” by Joe Jackson (1979)
Dad’s Song of the Day #44, Oct. 12, 2025
We were talking yesterday about the t-shirt I was wearing, which is the cover to Joe Jackson’s debut album, “Look Sharp.”
This album came out at the height of the late 70s/early 80s New Wave era, and Joe fit in comfortably with artists like Elvis Costello and The Cars.
“Pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street” is one of the great opening lines in pop music, setting this song in the mind of a young man who wonders how it is that beautiful women end up with ugly/mean guys.
This was the “hit” from an album full of great songs and—in addition to some truly witty/disturbing lyrics— it features a very stripped-down, minimalist production.
For me, it’s the bass line that I find so intoxicating…I’ve believed for many years that Joe Jackson’s bassist Graham Maby is painfully overlooked when it comes to those end-of-year and best instrumentalist lists. (His bass lines on songs like “Got the Time”, “I’m the Man”, and “Beat Crazy” are all creative and unforgettable).
Anyway, I got the shirt because I think it’s one of the coolest album covers ever, and just obscure enough to speak to a limited tribe: a few weeks ago, mom and I were out for a walk and a fellow of *ahem* a certain age rode past us and shouted “great shirt!!”
It made my whole day.