Artist of the day - joe jackson.

Joe Jackson is probably one of those artists who you have never heard of, but you have heard his songs. The height of his success was in the late 70s/early 80s, when he was a prominent figure on the New Wave/Pop UK & US scenes, respectively. He is still active, although his most recent work has been a hybrid of jazz & classical (and less of his more known new wave/pop style). His best album (in my humble opinion) is his 1979 debut, 'Look Sharp!' However, one of my favorite tunes of all time is his song, 'Steppin' Out,' from his 1982 release 'Night and Day' (and, yes, the title is an homage to Cole Porter). It's not that the song itself is particularly brilliant (sample lyric: 'we are young but getting old before our time/we'll leave the TV and the radio behind/don't you wonder what we'll find/steppin' out tonight'). The thing that makes this song so special is in its performance/recording/arrangement. The use of the piano & glockenspiel over the simple, yet pulsing rhythm truly encapsulates the feeling of getting ready to go out into the 'big city.' The use of analog synths creates just the right layer of metropolitan chaos. The removed vocal style meshes with the melody as if it were a song from a bygone era. All these elements come together making the song equally romantic & ethereal, lively & forlorn. 

However, if you don't want to take my word for it, check it out for yourself!