This Is It! (The A&M Years 1979–1989)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]

This Is It! (The A&M Years 1979–1989), released in February 1997, is a Joe Jackson compilation double album, covering his period with A&M Records between 1979 and 1989.^[1]

Critique

Allmusic journalist Stephen Thomas Erlewine, notes that the album does not include any material from Laughter & Lust (which could hardly occur given the name of the compilation vs. the fact that Laughter & Lust was released by Virgin and in 1991...), but otherwise presents a comprehensive overview of Jackson's work.^[3]

In his book The Great Rock Discography journalist Martin C. Strong awards the album 8 out of 10.^[1]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Joe Jackson, except as noted.

Disc 1

1. "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" - 3:40
2. "Fools in Love" - 4:31
3. "One More Time" - 3:19
4. "Sunday Papers" - 4:23
5. "Look Sharp!" - 3:26
6. "Got the Time" [live] - 4:45
7. "On Your Radio" - 4:04
8. "It's Different for Girls" - 3:45
9. "Don't Wanna Be Like That" - 3:45
10. "Amateur Hour" - 4:10
11. "I'm the Man" - 4:00
12. "Tilt" - 2:48
13. "Someone up There" - 3:51
14. "One to One" - 3:26
15. "Beat Crazy" - 4:18
16. "Biology" - 4:35
17. "Jumpin' Jive" (Cab Calloway/Frank Froeba/Jack Palmer) - 2:43
18. "What's the Use of Getting Sober (When You're Gonna Get Drunk Again)?" (Bill Meyers) - 3:48
19. "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" [live] - 4:36
20. "Another World" - 4:13

Disc 2

1. "Breaking Us in Two" - 4:50
2. "Chinatown" - 4:28
3. "Real Men" - 4:05
4. "Steppin' Out" - 4:22
5. "A Slow Song" - 7:00
6. "You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)" - 4:55
7. "Not Here, Not Now" - 5:30
8. "Be My Number Two" - 4:24
9. "Happy Ending" - 3:40
10. "Wild West" - 4:35
11. "Right and Wrong" - 4:37
12. "Home Town" - 3:14
13. "Precious Time" - 3:24
14. "Me and You (Against the World)" - 3:52
15. "Down to London" - 4:18
16. "Nineteen Forever" - 5:45
17. "The Human Touch" - 5:10

References

Joe Jackson
Studio albums	Look Sharp! I'm the Man Beat Crazy Jumpin' Jive Night and Day Body and Soul Blaze of Glory Laughter & Lust Night and Day II Volume 4 Rain The Duke Fast Forward
Classical albums	Will Power Night Music Heaven & Hell Symphony No. 1
Soundtrack albums	Mike's Murder Tucker
Live albums	Big World Live 1980/86 Live in New York: Summer in the City Two Rainy Nights Afterlife Live Music - Europe 2010
Compilation albums	Stepping Out: The Very Best of Joe Jackson This Is It! (The A&M Years 1979-1989)
Notable singles	"Is She Really Going Out with Him?" "Sunday Papers" "One More Time" "I'm the Man" "It's Different for Girls" "The Harder They Come" "Beat Crazy" "Jumpin' Jive" "Steppin' Out" "You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)" "Home Town"
Other songs	"Got the Time" "Come On"
Book:Joe Jackson