Be My Number Two
"Be My Number Two" | ||||
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Single by Joe Jackson | ||||
from the album Body and Soul | ||||
B-side | "Heart of Ice" | |||
Released | June 1984 (UK)[1] September 1984 (US)[2] | |||
Recorded | January 1984 | |||
Studio | Masonic Hall (Manhattan)[3] | |||
Length | 4:18 | |||
Label | A&M | |||
Songwriter(s) | Joe Jackson | |||
Producer(s) | Joe Jackson, David Kershenbaum | |||
Joe Jackson singles chronology | ||||
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"Be My Number Two" is a song by British singer-songwriter and musician Joe Jackson, released in 1984 as the third and final single from his sixth studio album Body and Soul. It was written by Jackson, and produced by Jackson and David Kershenbaum.[4] "Be My Number Two" reached No. 70 in the UK and remained in the charts for four weeks.[5]
Background
Speaking to The A.V. Club in 2011, Jackson said of the song, "I would say it's a bit world-weary or, not world-weary, but a bit, how else to express this? Once bitten, twice shy. It's saying, 'Well, let's try again, but it's not going to be like it was the first time.' So it's poignant, I think."[6]
Critical reception
On its release as a single, Jerry Smith of Music Week wrote, "A slow ballad sung with feeling, mainly accompanied by piano until the band come in at the end with a warm fluid sax picking out the melody."[7] Colin Davidson of the Evening Express described it as a "great choice as a single" and "poignant songwriting at its very best".[8] Frank Edmonds of the Bury Free Press gave the song an 8 out of 10 rating and described it as a "quiet, plaintive, thoughtful and extremely attractive love ballad".[9]
Sunie of Number One commented, "This is a pretty enough song, all tinkling piano and sad, cynical words. But it's not aimed at you or me. Divorce-scarred, mid-life Americans should lap it up."[10] Billboard noted, "A quiet tune, except for the rousing finish; just Jackson, piano, and a tone of bewildered pathos."[11]
In a review of Body and Soul, The Absolute Sound stated, "'Be My Number Two' is a song worthy of Jackson, a maybe-cynical, maybe-wise love song with a bit of hard-edged Fifties feel. This is the kind of song Jackson has always done well."[12] The New Rolling Stone Album Guide of 2004 described the song as one which "hark[s] back to the incisive cynicism of Jackson's breakthrough albums".[13]
Track listing
- 7" single
- "Be My Number Two" - 4:18
- "Heart of Ice" - 6:53
- 7" single (UK limited edition)
- "Be My Number Two" - 4:18
- "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" - 3:34
- 7" single (US promo)
- "Be My Number Two" - 4:15
- "Be My Number Two" - 4:15
- 12" single (UK release)
- "Be My Number Two" - 4:18
- "Heart of Ice" - 6:53
Personnel
- Joe Jackson - vocals, piano
- Vinnie Zummo - guitar
- Ed Roynesdal - keyboards, violin
- Tony Aiello - flute, saxophone
- Mike Morreale - flugelhorn, trumpet
- Graham Maby - bass
- Gary Burke - drums
Production
- Joe Jackson - producer, arranger
- David Kershenbaum - producer
Other
- Charles Reilly - photography
Charts
Chart (1984) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles (OCC)[5] | 70 |
References
- ^ "Joe Jackson - Be My Number Two / Heart Of Ice - A&M - UK - AM 200". 45cat. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
- ^ "Joe Jackson - Be My Number Two / Heart Of Ice - A&M - USA - BR-2673". 45cat. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
- ^ David Kershenbaum (February 1984). Body and Soul (Liner notes). A&M Records. A&M CD5000.
- ^ Mike DeGagne. "Body and Soul - Joe Jackson | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
- ^ a b "JOE JACKSON | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
- ^ Adams, Sam (12 July 2011). "Joe Jackson". Music.avclub.com. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
- ^ Smith, Jerry (9 June 1984). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 22. Retrieved 5 July 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ Davidson, Colin (16 June 1984). "Leisure Express Pop - Get It! - Singles". Evening Express. p. 8.
- ^ Edmonds, Frank (22 June 1984). "Soundscene". Bury Free Press. p. 8.
- ^ Number One magazine - Singles (reviewed by Sunie) - 9 June 1984 - page 37
- ^ Billboard Magazine - Billboard Singles Reviews - September 22, 1984 - page 70
- ^ "The Absolute Sound - Google Books". 1984. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
- ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide - Google Books. ISBN 9780743201698. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
- v
- t
- e
- The Joe Jackson Band: Dave Houghton
- Graham Maby
- Gary Sanford
- Look Sharp!
- I'm the Man
- Beat Crazy
- Jumpin' Jive
- Night and Day
- Body and Soul
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- Live 1980/86
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- Two Rainy Nights
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- Stepping Out: The Very Best of Joe Jackson
- Joe Jackson - Greatest Hits
- This Is It! (The A&M Years 1979–1989)
- Joe Jackson - Collected
- Steppin' Out - The Collection
- "Is She Really Going Out with Him?"
- "Sunday Papers"
- "One More Time"
- "Fools in Love"
- "I'm the Man"
- "It's Different for Girls"
- "Kinda Kute"
- "The Harder They Come"
- "Mad at You"
- "One to One"
- "Beat Crazy"
- "Jumpin' Jive"
- "Real Men"
- "Steppin' Out"
- "Breaking Us in Two"
- "A Slow Song"
- "Memphis"
- "You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)"
- "Happy Ending"
- "Be My Number Two"
- "Right and Wrong"
- "Left of Center"
- "Home Town"
- "(He's a) Shape in a Drape"
- "Nineteen Forever"
- "Down to London"
- "Stranger than Fiction"
- "Obvious Song"
- "Stranger Than You"
- "In 20-0-3"
- "Got the Time"
- "On Your Radio"
- "Come On"