Photo by Jacob Blickenstaff

Joe Jackson’s first album of original material in seven years is set for October 2 release via Work Song/Caroline. Jackson recorded Fast Forward in four different cities (New York, New Orleans, Berlin and Amsterdam) with a different group of collaborators in each locale. Today we premiere “Ode To Joy,” which originated in one of his New Orleans sessions. Jackson tells Relix, “A lot of the songs on this album are bittersweet, but ‘Ode To Joy’ is unambiguous. It says, don’t forget, there really is such a thing as Joy, even if it’s not always there when you want it. It was recorded in New Orleans with some great local musicians, like Stanton Moore on drums and Donald Harrison on saxophone. I wanted to get some New Orleans flavor in the context of something that really isn’t New Orleans music. There’s also a little altered quote in there from Beethoven’s ‘Ode To Joy’ from the 9th Symphony. Everyone steals; I reckon you may as well steal from the best.”