Spanning two discs and 38 songs,
A&M
's 2001 release
Steppin' Out: The Very Best of Joe Jackson
provides about as complete an overview of
Joe Jackson
's prime years as most listeners could want. Sure, this will not have everything that a hardcore fan loves, but it will have everything that a serious fan, who doesn't want to buy actual albums, needs: all the hits, plus most of the significant album tracks. For a while,
Jackson
was one of the most vital
singer/songwriters
around, testing his limits with each album and writing fine songs along the way. This album collects them all, proving that he was a formidable talent at the peak of his powers. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine