95 More Songs of Summer, Two for Tuesday edition - Joe Jackson and Nick Lowe

There was a time in the late 1970s and early '80s when every band and singer that came down the pike identified themselves as "New Wave."  It got to the point where it was essentially a meaningless term - if "new wave" encompassed artists as diverse in their backgrounds, ability and sound as Joe Jackson and Nick Lowe, then what really was the point?

Which isn't to say that it was bad music - both of these artists released outstanding albums during that period, but on close examination really had very little to do with bands like The Sex Pistols, The Clash, X, Gang of Four, or The Ramones.

 

Both are still making music today, and you can hear songs from both of them on the radio, if you know where to listen.

 

"Is She Really Going Out With Him?," Joe Jackson and "Cruel to Be Kind," Nick Lowe, from the summer of 1979.