Today’s oddly original classic late-70s song of the day is “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” by Joe Jackson. In my memory this is an early ’80s tune, but it was originally released in October of 1978. That initial release didn’t take so the label re-released it in July of 1979, when it went all the way to #21 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Is She Really Going Out With Him?” didn’t sound like anything else on the radio at the time, nor before or since. After a brief four-bar instrumental intro it settles into a plucked unison bass/guitar line groove, punctuated by some hi-hat and snare hits. Then you hear the opening lyrics which stop you in their tracks:
Pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street
From my window I’m staring while my coffee goes cold
That may be the single best opening line in recorded history. It gets your attention!
It’s just a fun, quirky little song—until you get to the chorus, the “Is she really going out with him?” part. That is pure power pop genius. It’s so hooky you can’t help but sing along and never want to stop. Great stuff.
The song was the very first single from Joe Jackson, from his very first album, Look Sharp!. Mr. Jackson went on to have several more hits, each one diverting more and more from his original New Wave posturing into a jazzier kind of piano-driven vibe. These later hits included “Steppin’ Out” (#6 in 1982), “Breaking Us in Two” (#18 in 1982), and “You Can’t Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)” (#15 in 1984). He’s still recording and performing today at 68 years of age.
