Joboxers - Like Gangbusters

Name: Joboxers
Album: Like Gangbusters
Year: 1983
Style: Blue-Eyed Soul, Swing, Motown
Similar Bands: Joe Jackson, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Elvis Costello, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Madness, The Jam
"One-Word" Review: Showtune Soul & Swing
Based Out Of: London, UK
Label: RCA, Victor

 Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Sleeve, Record

Like Gangbusters (1983)

1. Boxerbeat 3:03 (single)
2. Crosstown Walk Up 3:02
3. Fully Booked 3:22
4. Not My Night 2:28
5. Just Got Lucky 4:45 (single, #36 US) /
6. She's Got Sex 2:59 (single b-side)
7. Curious George 3:22 (single b-side)
8. Hide nor Hair 3:15
9. Crime of Passion 2:46
10. Johnny Friendly 5:05 (single)

Album Rating (1-10): 8.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Alan Shacklock - Producer
• Mike Pela - Engineer
• Ian Mullard - Mgmt
• John Wallace - Sax (Heavyshift, Stargazers, Big Town Playboys, Sound Barrier, Peter an the Test Tube Babies, Little Willie Littlefield, Tot Taylor, James Taylor Quartet, Marshall & the Shooting Stars, Princess Erika, Grant & Forsyth, Jive Romeros, Virna Lindt, 
• Nick Pentelow - Sax (Andy Fairweather-Low & the Lowriders, Juice on the Loose, Shortlist, Wizzard, Glenn Cardier, Steve Gibbons Band, Louis Clark, Adrian Snell, Roger Chapman, Paul Field, Rejects, Normaal, Swans Way, Diz Watson, Cliff Aungier, Big Jay McNeely, Nick Lowe, Ron Kavana, Flesh For Lulu, Poli Palmer, Elton John, Vic Goddard, Chas & Dave, Colin James hay, Dreams Come True, Gary Moore, Wishbone Ash, Squeeze, Virunga, Paul Millns, Moody Marsden, Martin Barre, Stephanie Lawrence, Jim Preen, Robert Forster, Balham Alligators, Jack-E McAuley, Rhythm Kings, Geraint Watkins, Ui, Eric Bibb, Bill Wyman, Lee Sankey Group, Annie Haslam, Tony Stevens, Mick Abrahams, High Society, Slim Chance)
• Dig Wayne (Timothy Wayne Ball) - Vox (Buzz and the Flyers, DW & the Chisellers, Matt Bianco)
• Sean McLusky - Drums, Vox (Subway Sect, If?, Joe Public, Stingrays, Johnny Britton, Euston Jones, Whitey, Cazals)
• Chris Bostock - Bass, Vox (Subway Sect, Spiritual Cowboys, Style Council, Stingrays, X-Certs, Johnny Britton, Spear of Destiny, Shakespears Sister, Amina, Rhythm Sisters, Tracey Thorn)
• Robert Marche - Guitar, Vox (Subway Sect, If?, Earl Brutus, Joe Public, JLP Sessions Project, Johnny Britton, Euston Jones, The Grid, Dreadzone, )
• Dave Collard - Keys, Vox (Subway Sect, If? The The, Lisa Stansfield, Johnny Britton, Humpe Humpe, Billy Ocean, Richenel, Beth Nielsen, Tanita Tikaram, Laura Satterfield, Celien Dion, Gardenz Darkx)
• Steve Rapport - Photos
• Andrew Christian - Cover

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but from the grainy cover, and depression era newsies outfits, I imagine this is going to be tedious, overthought, overproduced jangly college radio rock.

Album Review: So the album does have a mid-80's pub-band-discovers Jazz feel, but it is done so through very fun and bouncy swing and blue eyed soul /motown songs...somewhere between Madness and Dexy's with some Cab Calloway thrown in. I guess I could just say Joe Jackson, or offer "Town Called Malice" for comparison. Singles "Boxerbeat" and "Just Got Lucky" (featured in 40 Yr Old Virgin) are super catchy and fun tracks that make up for some of the free-er jazzy numbers and slightly odd compositions like "Curious George" and "Fully Booked." They have reunited and are scheduled to play in London this year (2020)

Stand Out Track: Boxerbeat, Just Got Lucky

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