Down to London

"Down to London" is a song by British singer-songwriter and musician Joe Jackson, which was released in 1989 as the second single from his eighth studio album Blaze of Glory. The song was written and produced by Jackson.[1]

"Down to London"
Single by Joe Jackson
from the album Blaze of Glory
B-side"You Can't Get What You Want ('Til You Know What You Want)"
Released1989
Length4:15
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)Joe Jackson
Producer(s)Joe Jackson
Joe Jackson singles chronology
"Nineteen Forever"
(1989)		 "Down to London"
(1989)		 "Blaze of Glory"
(1989)

Background

"Down to London" is one of a number of tracks from Blaze of Glory to be autobiographical. The song was inspired by the early days of Jackson's music career in London.[2][3]

Promotion

The song's music video was directed by Julien Temple and produced by Amanda Temple for Limelight.[4] During July 1989, Jackson and his band performed the song on The Arsenio Hall Show and Jackson also performed a solo piano version on VH1 New Visions.[5]

Critical reception

In a review of Blaze of Glory, Robin Denselow of The Guardian considered the album to be "inevitably patchy" but picked "Down to London" as one of its "moments". He described the song as "Sixties-style" which "echoes Buffalo Springfield's 'For What It's Worth'."[6] David Okamoto, writing for the St. Petersburg Times commented: "...only the snappy 'Down to London' - which borrows its piano line from Marvin Gaye's 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine' - manages to strike a nostalgic chord."[7]

Kristin Faurest of The Courier-Journal felt "Down to London" was the album's "most irresistible number by far". He added: "[It] shuffles and scratches along to the tune of a wailing harmonica and the kind of melody that makes you thump your hand against the steering wheel in time."[8] Peter B. King, writing for the Scripps Howard News Service, described the song as a "melodic rocker about the lure of the big city".[9]

People singled "Down to London" as the "best tune" which "boasts bouncy piano chords and lyrics about making it as a rock star".[10] In a retrospective review of the album, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic praised "Down to London" as a "brisk, stylish pop song".[1] In 2009, Glide Magazine ranked it as Jackson's 4th best song.[11]

Track listing
7" and cassette single
  1. "Down to London" - 4:15
  2. "You Can't Get What You Want ('Til You Know What You Want)" (Live) - 5:32
CD single
  1. "Down to London" - 4:40
  2. "You Can't Get What You Want ('Til You Know What You Want)" (Live) - 5:49
  3. "Sunday Papers" (Live) - 5:12
CD single (US promo)
  1. "Down to London" (LP Version) - 4:15

Personnel

Down to London

  • Joe Jackson - vocals, piano, fake harmonica
  • Joy Askew - vocals
  • Tom Teeley - guitar
  • Chris Hunter - alto saxophone
  • Tony Aiello - tenor saxophone
  • Steve Elson - baritone saxophone
  • Michael Morreale, Tony Barrero - trumpet
  • Charles Gordon - trombone
  • Graham Maby - bass
  • Gary Burke - drums

Production

  • Joe Jackson - producer, arranger
  • Ed Roynesdal - associate producer and programming on "Down to London"
  • David Kershenbaum, Joe Jackson - producers of "You Can't Get What You Want" and "Sunday Papers"
  • Joe Barbaria - engineer
  • Thom Cadley - assistant engineer
  • Bridget Daly - mixing assistant
  • Bob Ludwig - mastering

Other

References
  1. "Blaze of Glory - Joe Jackson | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  2. Smith, Richard; Scheibe, Amy (1997). This Is It (CD). Joe Jackson. Europe: A&M Records. 540 402-2.
  3. Daly, Mike (25 May 1989). "Songs of new notes". The Age.
  4. "Music Video: New videoclips". Billboard. 19 August 1989. p. 53.
  5. "TV Appearances". The Joe Jackson Archive. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  6. Denselow, Robin (21 April 1989). "Records: Down to earth in Mali". The Guardian. p. 28.
  7. Okamoto, David (7 May 1989). "Recordings: Jackson fades out in 'Blaze of Glory'". St. Petersburg Times. p. 2F.
  8. Faurest, Kristin (1 July 1989). "Tune In: Reviews". The Courier-Journal. p. 8.
  9. King, Peter B. (7 June 1989). "Joe Jackson's 'Blaze of Glory' fine contemporary pop music". The Citizens' Voice. p. B4.
  10. "Picks and Pans Review: Blaze of Glory". People. 12 June 1989. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  11. Handler, Shane (15 June 2009). "Volume 26: Joe Jackson". Glide Magazine. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
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