Joe Jackson’s 1981 Jumpin’ Jive — his fourth studio album — features a dozen covers of 1940s Swing-era classics.
This album was sandwiched between the punk-tinged New Wave of his first few albums and the more musically sophisticated pop he would deliver on his next album, Night and Day.
Today’s track comes from a musical of the same name, with lyrics and music by 40s bandleader Louis Jordan.
Truck on down and dig me Jack
There’s Big Moe, Little Moe, Four-Eyed Moe, No Moe
Look at brother, look at brother, look at brother Eat Moe
Moe, Moe, Moe, Moe, Moe, Moe, Moe
Who’s the greatest band around
Makes the cats jump up and down
Who’s the talk of Rhythm Town
Five guys named Moe
When they start to beat it out
Everybody jump and shout
Tell me who do the critics rave about
Five guys named Moe
They came out of nowhere
But that don’t mean a thing
They rate high and you’ll know why
When you hear them sing
High brow, low brow, all agree
They’re the best in harmony
I’m telling you folks you just got to see
Five guys named Moe
There’s Big Moe…
Little Moe…
One guy… Big Moe
Two guys… Little Big Moe
Three guys… Four-Eyed Moe
Four guys… No Moe
Five guys… Eat Moe
Five little guys named Moe
I’ve always loved this album, and played it a lot in my college days. I didn’t realize he released this so early in his career before Night and Day. Good stuff!