In 1985 Jackson played piano on Joan Armatrading's album "Secret Secrets", and in 1986 he collaborated with Suzanne Vega on the single "Left of Center" from "Pretty in Pink"s soundtrack. Jackson's next album was "Big World", with all-new songs recorded live in front of an audience instructed to remain silent while music was playing. Released in 1986, it was a three-sided double record; the fourth side consisted of a single centering groove and a label stating "there is no music on this side". The instrumental album "Will Power" (1987), with heavy classical and jazz influences, set the stage for things to come later, but before he left pop behind, he put out two more albums, "Blaze of Glory" (which he performed in its entirety during the subsequent tour) and "Laughter & Lust". In 1995, Jackson contributed his version of "Statue of Liberty" on a tribute album for the English band XTC called "".