"Jaime G." and the next are super high energy songs to close the set. "One More Time" has nice guitar from Mindy Jostyn who has been bringing it the whole show. "Stranger Than Fiction" nice vocal in particular. "I'm The Man" rocks as well as it should. I love the transition to "A Slow Song" "A Slow Song" beautiful start with Mindy Jostyn's plaintive violin. I always enjoy the de-construction of players leaving the stage. The hand's free piano ending has become a JJ thing to end concerts either with "A Slow Song" or "Steppin' Out"
Night Music Studio album by Joe Jackson Released 4 October 1994[1] Genre Rock, pop, classical music Length 47:39 Label Virgin Producer Joe Jackson and Ed Royensdal Night Music is a 1994 album by Joe Jackson on Virgin Records. The album did not chart.[3] Soon after the album's release, Jackson moved to the Sony Classical label.[3] Musicians Joe Jackson - piano, electric piano, organ, various synthesizers and samplers, celeste, accordion, tom-toms, bells, vibraphone, cymbals, Salvation Army bass drum and vocals Mary Rowell - viola on "Nocturne No. 1", "The Man Who Wrote Danny Boy", "Only The Future" and "Nocturne No. 4", Violin on "Nocturne No. 4" Jean Laurendeau - Ondes Martenot on "Nocturne No. 1" and "Sea of Secrets" Taylor Carpenter - special guest vocalist on "Ever After" Michael Morreale - trumpet on "Ever After" Gary Burke - drums on "Ever After" Máire Brennan - special guest vocalist on "The Man Who Wrote Danny Boy" Dick Morgan - oboe on "Nocturne No. 3" and "Sea of Secrets" Renée Fleming - special guest vocalist on "Lullaby" Albert Regni - clarinet and bass clarinet on "Lullaby" Graham Maby - bass guitar on "Only The Future" Tony Aiello - flute on "Only The Future" Mary Wootton - cello on "Nocturne No. 4" Production Joe Jackson - arrangements, producer, sequencing Ed Roynesdal - co-producer, recording engineer, sampling Andi Grassi, Ken Thomas, Carl Glanville - recording engineer Ted Jensen - mastering engineer Len Peltier - art direction Robert Flynt - photography 1. "Nocturne No. 1" 4:01 2. "Flying" 2:48 3. "Ever After" 4:42 4. "Nocturne No. 2" 4:07 5. "The Man Who Wrote Danny Boy" 5:18 6. "Nocturne No. 3" 4:28 7. "Lullaby" 6:20 8. "Only the Future" 4:54 9. "Nocturne No. 4" 6:13 10. "Sea of Secrets" 5:28 ------------------------------------ I am not as familiar with most of the albums come up as I would like to be for the purposes of this thread, but I am certainly keeping them in the rotation to get more familiarity. I have really been enjoying this album. I do understand why it may not have been a charting album, but that falls by the wayside for me, because a lot of albums I love have not been chart burners. This album has a gentle almost new age feel about it. There is a distinct move from familiar sounds, and this album sounds pretty much unlike anything Jackson had released prior. The keyboard sound choices, in my opinion, are excellent for this album. Also interesting for this album, is the virtual absence of drums. That is not a bad thing. It is an interesting thing to me, and frankly I think it suits the overall styling of the album. Although I am guessing I am in the minority, I actually prefer this album to Laughter and Lust. Again it isn't something I can pinpoint, as it is probably just some subjective interpretation, but this album feels more substantial to me. I understand the Night Music title, because it has that kind of feel, and sound to it that invokes an evening of cocktails, possible even dressed nicely in a lounge, more than a bar. I am not exactly fluent with which song is which without listening to them yet, but the songs themselves engage me and I find them to be entertaining, interesting and they sound really good, to my ears. Ever After comes in for a slightly special mention, before we run through it, because I think that is a particularly beautiful song that has stuck with me as one to listen to in its own right. Anyhow Many of you will have much more formed opinions about this, so please share your heart and mind on this album and we'll hook into the opener on Monday. Cheers Mark
Okay, so before we talk about Night Music's individual tracks, my challenge is: Listen to the whole album straight through once with this image. You are at a play. (As Nocturne 1 plays) you are finding your seat in an older building. There are columns on either side of the stage. A red curtain hangs (from album cover) and you lower the clackety wood seat to watch. The lights dim, spotlight illuminates the curtain. They part and a man dressed in a light brown trenchcoat and fedora (see Live In Tokyo cover) is seated at the piano. He sings of losing his muse (Flying) and feeling disconnected. He supposes he should maybe just relive his glory days (Ever After) and towards the end of the song, he drops his trenchcoat and is wearing a white button up and skinny tie. Two men join him. A bassist and drummer. They look like "angry young men". The spotlight drops on the other 2, leaving the main person to put on his trenchcoat and walk back to the piano. Cutrain closes (Nocturn 2) and you hear movement. It opens to the man in the studio. He sings of wanting to find inspiration. A man dressed like a record executive comes and offers him fame and relevance. (The Man Who Wrote...) a woman dressed as an angel comes out. Curtain closes (Nocturne 3). It opens and the man is back at his piano. The Angel inspires him (Lullaby) and he finds his muse (Only The Future). He makes peace with himself (Sea Of Secrets) and sums up him new found realization. It ends with a reprise of the beginning music as the red curtain closes. The End. It's only the future....
Nice. I certainly agree this has to be listened to as an album. I will take your outline on board with my next listen. Thanks for the input. Very interesting
Easy Reference Guide Joe Jackson talks about his music 1989 - Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * Arms and Legs - She'll Surprise You Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * Is She Really Going Out With Him/You Got The Fever 1978- Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * Look Sharp 1979 - Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 1 One More Time Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 2 Sunday Papers Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 3 Is She Really Going Out With Him Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 4 Happy Loving Couples Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 5 Throw It Away Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 6 Baby Stick Around Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 7 Look Sharp Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 8 Fools In Love Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 9 Do The Instant Mash Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 10 Pretty Girls Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 11 Got The Time Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * b-side Don't Ask Me Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * I'm The Man Oct 1979 - Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 1 On Your Radio Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 2 Geraldine And John Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 3 Kinda Cute Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 4 It's Different For Girls Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 5 I'm The Man Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 6 The Band Blue Shirts Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 7 Don't Wanna Be Like That Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 8 Amateur Hour Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 9 Get That Girl Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 10 Friday Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * b-side Come On Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * The Harder They Come EP 1980 - Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 1 The Harder They Come Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 2 Out Of Style Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 3 Tilt Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * Beat Crazy 1980 - Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 1 Beat Crazy Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 2 One To One Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 3 In Every Dream Home ... Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 4 Evil Eye Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 5 Mad At you Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 6 Crime Don't Pay Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 7 Someone up there Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 8 Battleground Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 9 Biology Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 10 Pretty Boys Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 11 Fit Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * b-side Enough Is Not Enough Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * Jumpin' Jive 1981 - Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 1 Jumpin' With Symphony Sid Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 2 Jack You're Dead Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 3 Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 4 We The Cats (shall hep ya) Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 5 San Francisco Fan Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 6 Five Guys Named Moe Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 7 Jumpin' Jive Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 8 You Run your Mouth Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 9 What's The Use Of Getting Sober Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 10 You're My Meat Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 11 Tuxedo Junction Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 12 How Long Must I Wait for You Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * Night And Day 1982 - Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 1 Another World Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 2 Chinatown Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 3 TV Age Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 4 Target Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 5 Steppin' Out Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 6 Breaking Us In Two Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 7 Cancer Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 8 Real Men Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 9 Slow Song Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * Mikes Murder (Soundtrack) 1983 Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 1 Cosmopolitan Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 2 1-2-3 Go Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 3 Laundromat Monday Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 4 Memphis Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 5 Moonlight Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 6 Zemio Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 7 Breakdown Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 8 Moonlight Theme Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * Body And Soul 1984 - Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 1 The Verdict Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 2 Cha Cha Loco Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 3 Not Here Not Now Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 4 You Can't Get What You Want Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 5 Go For It Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 6 Loisaida Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 7 Happy Ending Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 8 Be My Number Two Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 9 Heart Of Ice Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * Round Midnight 1984 Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * Big World 1986 - Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 1 Wild West Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 2 Right And Wrong Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 3 (it's a) Big World Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 4 Precious Time Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 5 Tonight And Forever Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 6 Shanghai Sky Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 7 Fifty dollar Love Affair Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 8 We Can't Live together Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 9 Forty years Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 10 Survival Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 11 Soul Kiss Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 12 Jet Set Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 13 Tango Atlantico Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 14 Hometown Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 15 Man In The Street Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * Left Of Centre (Suzanne Vega) 1986 Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * Will Power 1987 Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 1 No Parasan Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 2 Solitude Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 3 Will Power Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 4 Nocturne Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 5 Symphony in one Movement Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * Tucker (soundtrack) 1988 Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * Dilly's summary's Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 1 Captain Of Industry Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 2 Car Of Tomorrow - Today Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 3 No Chance Blues Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 4 Shape In A Drape Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 5 Factory Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 6 Vera Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 7 It Pays To Advertise Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 8 Tiger Rag Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 9 Showtime In Chicago Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 10 Lone Bank, Lone Blues Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 11 Speedway Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 12 Marilee Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 13 Hangin' In Howard Hughes Hanger Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 14 Toast Of The Town Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 15 Abe's Blues Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 16 The Trial Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 17 Freedom Swing Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 18 Rhythm Delivery Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * Live 1980-1986 (April 1988) Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 1 One To One Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 2 I'm The Man Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 3 Beat Crazy Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 4 Is She Really Going Out With Him Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 5 Don't Wanna Be Like That Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 6 Got The Time Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 7 On Your Radio Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 8 Fools In Love Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 9 Cancer Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 10 Is She Really going Out With Him (acapella) Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 11 Look Sharp Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 12 Sunday Papers Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 13 Real Men Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 14 Is She Really Going Out With Him (acoustic) Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 15 Memphis Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 16 A Slow Song Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 17 Be My Number Two Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 18 Breaking Us In Two Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 19 It's Different For Girls Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 20 You Can't Get What You Want Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 21 Jumpin' Jive Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 22 Steppin' Out Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * Live In Tokyo (dvd) 1988 Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * Blaze Of Glory (April 1989) Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 1 Tomorrow's World Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 2 Me And You (Against The World) Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 3 Down to London Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 4 Sentimental Thing Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 5 Acropolis Now Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 6 Blaze Of Glory Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 7 Rant And Rave Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 8 Nineteen Forever Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 9 The Best I Can Do Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 10 Evil Empire Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 11 Discipline Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 12 Human Touch Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * Stepping Out (best of) 1990 Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * Laughter And Lust 1991 Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 1 Obvious Song Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 2 Going Downtown Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 3 Stranger Than Fiction Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 4 Oh Well Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 5 Jamie G Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 6 Hit Single Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 7 It's All Too Much Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 8 When You're Not Around Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 9 The Other Me Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 10 Trying To Cry Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 11 My house Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 12 The Old Songs Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * track 13 Drowning Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * Laughter And Lust Live (VHS) 1991 - Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * part 1 Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * part 2 Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * part 3 Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * part 4 Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread * Night Music 1994 Joe Jackson - Album by Album thread *
I have not listened to Night Music in quite a long time; I rarely spin CDs now, and this has yet, and likely never will, receive a vinyl release. I enjoy it very much by memory. Fortunately, JJ hit Calgary for this tour, his first in the area for years. I wish there was footage of the this touring ensemble as it was very good and quite different. I may have bootleg CD of the tour come to think of it which I will look for.
My pleasure. There are callbacks to his career so far embedded in the music. Night Music always felt like the soundtrack to one of those off-Broadway plays. To me it plays like audio high art. A substantive self-referential concept album. I hadn't heard anything this challenging in pop music before Night Music. The album is my favorite total album by Joe. He has released way stronger individual songs elsewhere but as a whole, this is his strongest full album.
I would say Bowie's 'Low', 'Heroes' & 'Lodger' and Talk Talk's 'Spirit of Eden' and 'Laughing Stock' all released before JJ's Night Music are much more challenging. Have you not heard those Albums?
I've only heard this album twice in its entirety over the last few months, so I'm not as "fluent" with it either. However, there is something about it that I just can't place -- it's endearing and/or charming in a very subtle way. I know it's rated highly by several of you, so I'm looking forward to many more listens over time to eventually discover what that "something" is. Like Will Power (which also casts its own unique spell), I'm already sensing a lot of patience and familiarity is required to fully appreciate Night Music. I'm sure its brilliance will, indeed, be revealed. Included below in blue is the AllMusic review from Stephen Thomas Erlewine. Usually I agree with what he writes, but I feel he was unnecessarily harsh and unfair to this album. He (like so many others) was probably expecting another variation on Look Sharp or Night & Day, became instantly disappointed upon hearing it and never gave it another chance (he also gets in a swipe at Will Power). I look forward to hearing your thoughts (rebuttals?)... _____________________________________ Joe Jackson's second attempt at "serious" composition, Night Music is an insufferable song cycle about writers' block. Jackson's lyrics are ponderous and elusive, his vocals are smug and self-important, and the unmemorable, low-key music is stiffly executed on a dry, lifeless synthesizer. What sinks Night Music is the total lack of involving music. Will Power may have been just as indulgent, yet the album had the occasional interesting twist in melodic lines and arrangements. On Night Music, everything from the production to the performance sounds processed, devoid of any defining characteristics.
I can see liking 'Night Music' more than 'Laughter and Lust', as I saw 'Laughter and Lust' as Part 2 to 'Blaze of Glory', and not as strong of an Album overall-IMO. Blaze and Laughter were my first 2 JJ Albums, then think I went back to buy 'Look Sharp' and 'Night and Day'. 'Night Music' really surprised me, as bought it unheard having loved the prior JJ Albums I heard up to that point. It was a Non Commercial Album for sure and assume only his hardcore fans bought it, but I loved it and JJ started to move closer to Peter Gabriel, David Byrne and David Bowie, as one my Top favorite Music Artist. Actually, was cemented when I went back to buy 'I'm the Man', 'Big World', and 'Live 1980-1986'. Also, bought a Best of Collection to get more of his early Songs from other early Albums. I have not played 'Night Music' in a long time, so plan to dig it out in the next week(whatever Box I have that CD placed in). Used to play it a lot, but having bought so much Music since 1994, just an Album that got buried in my CD Collection. The DR Average is 12, so just got made before the Loudness Wars, which I thought started in 1994, but maybe it was 1995, unless JJ just did a better Mastering DR than other 1994 Albums on CD.
I know this will be considered sacrilege but I was never a huge Bowie fan. Liked some of his singles fine but he never grabbed me enough to buy an album. I have heard plenty of concept albums I liked a lot but Night Music conjured up such specific imagery for me I completely bought into it.
Can confidentiality say I disagree with everything about this review. Heck, Night Music isn't even about writer's block. It is about losing your muse. Feeling uninspired by your own art. Also, it is about a journey of Joe finding his true self and learning to love it, instead of denying it.
Music is subjective, so we all have different taste, and I do not think it is sacrilege to not like any Music Artist. I cannot stand Bob Dylan. Heard at least 5-6 of his most Popular Songs, but I do not like Folk Rock Music with the Harmonica strapped to one's Grille while playing the Guitar(same goes for Neil Young and when Springsteen plays that type of Music). Then you add in that Dylan's Voice is like a Root Canal on my Ears, and I just do not get his popularity, except respect him for his Lyrics(maybe he is the Godfather of Rap Music, being a Poet and all that?).
I listened to Night Music for the first time in several years this afternoon. I liked it very much at the time of its release, but then again, JJ could likely release a bagpipe - harmonica record then and I'd like it. My opinions have changed somewhat. Reading that review, I can't say as I wholeheartedly disagree with all dude's opinions. There are a couple cringe-worthy songs on Night Music. At the time, I had been listening to classical music for just over 5 years and considered this a classical venture; today I listen to a lot of classical, and I wouldn't classify this as classical at all: it lacks the complexity, subtly & richness classical work. and the arrangements are certainly not anything like the masters may have written. JJ is a better composer in this realm than Zappa or Costello or McCartney or Joel, but I wouldn't say they set the bar above ground level. The keyboards all too often make me wince (I will sound like a broken record on this patch as with that comment, my apologies in advance). It was fun re-discovering a gem like Laughter & Lust, but I don't think that will be my experience with Night Music.
Maybe listen and don't think of it as a classical piece but a soundtrack to his career and station at the time.
I didn't end up getting Night Music until a couple years after its release, but I really loved most of the vocal songs. Some of the synth and programming choices were unfortunate (IMHO), and I again wish that I could hear what David Kershenbaum might have done with the same material. Still, the high points for me are so high that they raise my overall estimation of the album to one of his very best--perhaps not quite at the level as the four masterpieces from Night & Day through Blaze of Glory, but probably a little better than anything else, including some very good recent albums. There's some real magic in some of these tracks that I don't think he's ever quite recreated.
Nocturne 1 It's funny but I don't think of this as a classical album at all, I think of it as more a new age, meets jazz-pop hybrid. We have some baroque overtones, and some new age sounds and feels, and the occasional pop(ish) song. I think this is a really nice opener to the album. I love the descending pattern that leads us into the digital keyboards. I think the keyboard patterns are nice, and I like the melodic movement here also. The melody reminds me slightly of Love Look What You've Done To Me, that I know of from Boz Scaggs, but not enough to be concerned about it. I like the space and dynamics used here. I think they add to the feel of the song. There is a somewhat soundtrack feel to this, that gives it a wandering cinematic kind of feel. So this ends up being a good intro track. Not the best thing Joe has ever done, but certainly not a write off.
Very nice write-up. I pretty much agree with your assessment on this. It doesn't feel classical to me at all, but more like easy listening pop/show tunes. I like the descending line played on what I assume is electric guitar--it seems like this particular guitar sound (sort of liquid and violin-like) will feature in many of his instrumental compositions moving forward. When it switches to the electric piano sound, I'm a little more ambivalent. It doesn't sound terrible or anything, but I can't help but wonder how it might sound with a grand piano or some other instrument instead. Still, I'm guessing he chose it due to a certain wistful quality that fits the music. But I'm kind of allergic to new agey or smooth jazz stylings, and admit that when the electric keyboard comes back with some more programmed-sounding patterns after the pause, it starts sounding cheesy to me, But the descending motif returns in a very nice arrangement before the transition to "Flying." Mark W.'s final two summation sentences pretty much convey my overall summation as well.
"Nocturne 1" is a lush & dreamy beginning to this album. I don't mind this track at all even though everything is JJ except for the pensive viola & the Ones Martinot providing its signature eeriness, it has more of group feel. Why this works for me better than the next track is that the synth does not cheapen it. But why have a synthesized harpsichord? Night Music could have been much improved with the authentic sound & tones of real wood and string. That will be the flaw throughout Night Music for me. Consider the build 2:30-3:00 and how strings & percussion would create oodles more drama.
Nocturne 1 It's been a long time since I have listened to Night Music. My recollection is that I didn't care for the instrumental passages and that I only liked about half of the traditional songs. In fact, I copied the five tracks I liked and sold the disc. So, in reviewing this album, I'll be listening to the YouTube tracks. As it turned out, this would be the last JJ album I would buy. In looking at the tracks I kept I find that my memory was faulty. I kept two of the Nocturne passages and three of the traditional songs. Nocturne 1 was a keeper for me. But after listening, I was reminded of why I wasn't motivated toward repeat listens. This music is so different that it's difficult for me to "judge" it's merit. So I'm going to pass on reviewing the instrumental passages. They are what they are. Ultimately, I think Night Music made me realize what I want from JJ. I love Look Sharp, Beat Crazy & Laughter And Lust. I like Big World & Night And Day very much, but they are tier two albums within his catalog for me. The others are tier three, a few tracks I like but much more of a challenging listen. Night Music is tier three. I suppose, after Night Music, I was no longer willing to go along wherever the artist's muse took him. I understand that, at some point in the future, Joe returned to pop music. I am looking forward to following his journey now, from a distance, and I hope that, when we get back to pop, to get back on board. Or, at least, to be turned on by the odd track as we go on. But I am getting ahead of myself. Let's make it through Night Music, hear what others think, and remind myself of what I think.
I like Night Music but from what I recall Joe had to record it on a low budget and in many places use synthetic versions of instruments, and I think the album suffers from sounding a bit chintzy. Did Joe ever really claim that this album was supposed to be “classical”? (Or Will Power for that matter.) I don’t think “instrumental” equals “classical.”
