Beat Crazy (song) - Misplaced Pages

"Beat Crazy" is the title track to the Joe Jackson Band's 1981 album Beat Crazy. Written by Joe Jackson, and sung by Graham Maby, it was released as a single in 1981.

Background

According to Jackson, when he performed the song live at Pinkpop Festival in 1980, the song is dedicated to "drug-crazed teenagers all over the world." The lyrics of the song complain of how kids of the time are too busy on drugs – saying that they are all too "beat crazy" – to take responsibility and get jobs. Musically, the song, like many others on Beat Crazy, is more reggae-influenced than songs on Jackson's previous two albums. Unlike many other songs by Jackson, the lead vocals are performed by bassist Graham Maby with Jackson on supporting vocals. The vocals also feature an echo effect.

"Beat Crazy" saw a single release in January 1981 as the second single from Beat Crazy (the first being "Mad at You," which did not chart). Backed with a rerecording of Jackson's first hit, "Is She Really Going Out With Him?," the song failed to chart. A third single, "One to One," also failed commercially.

Reception

"Beat Crazy" was described by AllMusic reviewer Chris True as Jackson's "first real attempt at breaking out of his quasi-snide power pop and bringing in other styles and musical forms to add depth to his work." He continues, saying, "He pulls it off fairly well, he is a pretty good songwriter and has a great ear for sound and production, but, as stated before, reggae was already a minor element in rock at the time, so it doesn't really make or break the song, it’s just a small step into new ground."

The song is also a personal favorite of Joe Jackson's. On his official website, Jackson, who felt that the Beat Crazy album was mixed, said, "There’s some good stuff on it," later saying, "I especially like the title track and 'Biology'."

Personnel

Joe Jackson - supporting vocals
Graham Maby - lead vocals, bass
Gary Sanford - guitar
Dave Haughton - drums

Charts

Chart (1981)	Peak position
UK Record Business Singles Top 100	100

References

Jackson, Joe. "'Beat Crazy' at Pinkpop". YouTube.
^ True, Chris. "'Beat Crazy' (song)". allmusic.com.
Jackson, Joe. "Beat Crazy". joejackson.com.
"Singles Top 100". Record Business. Vol. 3, no. 44. 2 February 1981. p. 11.

v t e Joe Jackson
Discography The Joe Jackson Band: Dave Houghton Graham Maby Gary Sanford
Studio albums	Look Sharp! I'm the Man Beat Crazy Jumpin' Jive Night and Day Body and Soul Big World Blaze of Glory Laughter & Lust Night and Day II Volume 4 Rain The Duke Fast Forward Fool What a Racket!
Classical albums	Will Power Night Music Heaven & Hell Symphony No. 1
Soundtrack albums	Mike's Murder Tucker
Live albums	Live 1980/86 Summer in the City: Live in New York Two Rainy Nights Afterlife At the BBC Live Music - Europe 2010 Live at Rockpalast
Compilation albums	Stepping Out: The Very Best of Joe Jackson Joe Jackson - Greatest Hits This Is It! (The A&M Years 1979–1989) Joe Jackson - Collected Steppin' Out - The Collection
Singles	"Is She Really Going Out with Him?" "Sunday Papers" "One More Time" "Fools in Love" "I'm the Man" "It's Different for Girls" "Kinda Kute" "The Harder They Come" "Mad at You" "One to One" "Beat Crazy" "Jumpin' Jive" "Real Men" "Steppin' Out" "Breaking Us in Two" "A Slow Song" "Memphis" "You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)" "Happy Ending" "Be My Number Two" "Right and Wrong" "Left of Center" "Home Town" "(He's a) Shape in a Drape" "Nineteen Forever" "Down to London" "Stranger than Fiction" "Obvious Song" "Stranger Than You" "In 20-0-3"
Other songs	"Got the Time" "On Your Radio" "Come On"
Video	Laughter & Lust Live

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