The Jam • Singles

Left to right: Rick Buckler, Paul Weller, and Bruce Foxton

I was recently reminded that it was 35 years ago this past spring that a punk band from England first started making wave. The Jam, made up by guitarist Paul Weller, bassist Rick Buckler, and drummer Bruce Foxton came from Surrey, England, made a loud noise as they brought their brash sound to the public. Bold and brash, the band looked for inspiration in the 196s Beat Music, a bit of Rhythm 'N Blues, and a healthy appetite for the early 1970s Punk to bring their own sound to the table. While still having an edge, and plenty of anger, The Jam had a bit more polish, a bit more melody than many Punk bands, making them an early New Wave band, a movement of music still brewing in England in 1977, when The Jam were recording their first single.

I was reminded about The Jam when I read that next week, November 25th, UMC-Polydor is releasing an 8-album Vinyl box set of the band, who made quite the stir in the five years they were together recording. The collection includes all six studio albums, 1977's 'In The City', 1978's 'This Is the Modern World' and 'All Mod Cons', 1979's 'Setting Sons', 1980's 'Sound Affects' and 1982's 'The Gift'. It also includes several non-album singles and B-sides, and a color hardback book with liner notes. There are other treats for fans, including period photos, a download card for all the music, and a new introduction written by the Mod-father himself, Paul Weller. Sounds great, doesn't it? Well all that inspired me to get another listen to the band, and to share that with you. Today, I will look to the non-album singles, some truly amazing songs, to remind me why I love the band. I will start with "News of the World", a 1978 single written by Bruce Foxton, and featuring him on the vocals, a rarity for The Jam recordings. The song takes a look at the world through the distorted eye of the British tabloid in the title.

In 1979, the band released "When You're Young", takes another look at the world they were living in, only through the eye of a teen eager to take on the world, and correct the wrongs they feel society is perpetrating on them and their friends. Once again, the sound was big, but polished. They influences of 1960s Pop-Rock of Cream and The Animals more obvious than the Punk Rockers of the early 1970s. The song captures an attitude of the day, and deliver it with music. This is The Jam singing "When You're Young".

"Absolute Beginners" was released in 1981, having been written by Weller, who was inspired by the novel of the same name by Colin MacInnes in 1959, a favorite of Weller. It must have truly spoken to Paul's soul, what with the examination of the life of some of the London youth, those from the edges of society. The characters embody the issues the 'Mods' were dealing with, like class struggles, drugs, and racism high on the list. And those issues are touched on "Absolute Beginners".

And, finally, in 1982, the group released "Beat Surrender", a high-powered song that shows even more polish, and you can literally feel the way Weller was transforming as a songwriter and performer, and see his next band, The Style Council, on the horizon. There vocals were tighter than ever, and the sound moved away from the Rock roots to find more Soul influences. While I do love the song very much, it did seem to lack the edgier side, the anger that could be found in the earlier work. But I couldn't stop playing it then, and I find the same is still true. This is The Jam singing 'Beat Surrender'.

This was the final offering from the band, who broke up in December of 1982. It was said Buckler and Foxton didn't speak to Weller for more than two decades, as they were that angry about the band ending. In 2006, Paul and Bruce mended their fences, and even played together a few times. However, the same could not be said about Rick. Weller moved on to form The Style Council with Mick Talbot, joining the New Wave movement with their soulful sounds, and their New Romantic look at life. The Jam were more about the sounds of the streets, of teen life, and bubbling undercurrent of tension in society. Social issues were no strangers to the band, who sang of police brutality, drugs, life on the streets, and other topics not 'acceptable' in civilized conversation. But who said Rock bands needed to be civilized? Certainly not Paul Weller, Rick Buckler, and Bruce Foxton, at least not in the 1970s.

Amy Winehouse & Paul Weller • I Heard It Through The Grapevine

On New Year's Eve of 2006, two British superstars appeared together on 'Hootenanny', a show hosted by Jools Holland, a television host since the mid-1980s of various programs, including 'Later...With Jools Holland'. He began his career as a musician, and is perhaps best known as a founding member of the band Squeeze. But on that holiday evening, singer Amy Winehouse sang with Paul Weller, an iconic name in British music, who had penned and recorded many hits before Ms. Winehouse was born. Weller was a founding member of The Jam in the mid-1970s, and later founded The Style Council, another popular British group formed in 1983, the year of Amy's birth. On 'Hootenanny', the performed "I Heard It Through The Grapevine", a song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for Motown Records in 1966. The song was made famous by the great Marvin Gaye in 1968. This is Amy Winehouse and Paul Weller with "I Heard It Through The Grapevine".

Have a great weekend!

The Jam • Beat Surrender

It has been over a year since I have featured one of my favorite British Punk Bands from the late 1970s. Once I heard their music, I was truly taken by The Jam. In the mid-seventies, Paul Weller, Bruce Foxton, Rick Buckler and Steve Brookes got together, launching The Jam. Before they released their debut in 1977, Brookes left the band, leaving them a trio. The band released In The City, which featured two cover songs, and 10 originals by Paul Weller. It was the discovery of The Jam that lead to my life-long fascination with Paul Weller, whose career I followed through The Jam, to the Style Council, and finally through his solo career, which still continues today. Yes, that is an awfully long time to follow a person, and not have the police or lawyers involved. Yet Paul and I managed. Could be we've had an ocean between us... The Jam were one of the group of Punk bands who came out at the same time, like the Clash and the Sex Pistols. Their music was fast and guitar-driven, with a strong message. However, unlike the others, The Jam drew their inspiration, as it were, from the rock bands of the 60s, like The Who. Soon their look and their music represented that period, a very 60s Mod flavor. But rather than talk about it, it might be better just to show it to you. I will kick off with a song from the 1978 release, All Mod Cons. This is Down In The Tube Station At Midnight.



In 1980, The Jam released the single Going Underground, and it rocketed to the top of the UK chart to be the first #1 song for the band. It didn't appear on any of the studio album releases, but it certainly made it to most of the later compilation albums out there. It still had the Mod retro feel, while still keeping the punk edge. The song itself makes several serious statements about the British government, and the nuclear policies it held. Not leaving it there, songwriter Weller also took a swipe at the British citizens who not only let these things happen, but voted to set it all in motion. Enjoy Going Underground.



The next video features a song off the Sound Affects album, released in 1981. That's Entertainment was greeted with critical acclaim as well as the love of the fans. Since it's release, it has made most of the "Best of..." lists it could, including the list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All-Time released by Rolling Stone in 2004, and the BBC Sold On Song list that same year. It was not released as an official single, but made the UK charts as an import single, and it made it to #21. It was officially re-released in 1983 and made it to #60 on the UK chart, and made it to the Top 50 when released again in 1991. Watch That's Entertainment.



And, it only seems fitting that the last song on this post would be the final single released by The Jam. In 1982, the band released Beat Surrender, written by Weller, featuring a sound much more soulful than rocky. You could see the way Weller's music was progressing, and it wasn't staying in the direction of Punk. So it certainly seemed like it was time for the trip to rethink their futures.



Weller went on to head the retro-soul band The Style Council, while Foxton joined Stiff Little Fingers. Buckler played in several bands, and retired from music in 2009. At a live show Weller headlined in 2010, he was joined on stage by Foxton, the first time in 28 years. You can purchase The Very Best of The Jam on iTunes or Amazon. You can also check out their official website here. It is a fansite run by drummer Rick Buckler.

Amy Winehouse RIP

I wish I could say we were greeted with the shocking news that Amy Winehouse was found dead in her home today. Unfortunately, few find it to be shocking. Amy, whose star burned bright and quickly in the musical firmament, publicly fought her demons on many an occasion, and it became apparent that the demons often won. Most recently, that seem to be the case, with cancelled shows, and unfortunate performances. But there was a time when it was really all about the voice, the talent, and the gift she made of both to the world. So, without further words that will fall to the ground and futilely as did her life today, I just offer up a couple of performances that I will want to remember from the late and oh-so-talented Miss Amy Winehouse.

Don't Go To Strangers with Paul Weller




Tears Dry On Their Own




Love Is A Losing Game



Rest in peace, Amy. Amy you find your bliss in the celestial choir.

Worth Another Listen - The Jam

I had done an earlier post about Paul Weller, the British singer/songwriter whose career I followed from group to group before his solo career. The first I knew of Weller was when he was part of the New Wave/Punk band, The Jam. Weller was joined by Bruce Foxton and Rick Butler to make up The Jam. They were one of several young bands who looked back to the music of the British acts of the late 50s & early sixties, reclaiming the concept of 'mods' and put in their own spin. They seemed to be part early The Who and part Jack Kerouac, part of the 'beat generation,' only on steroids. They blazed strong in the musical sky, amazing considering they released albums for a scant 5 years, from 1977 to 1982.



In those 5 years, they put out 6 albums and went on several tours, which resulted in 3 live albums. And, as the music industry can do so well, there are 14 compilation albums, as well as 3 separate box sets. The music was rich and textured, while maintaining a raw and emotional edge all delivered at a breakneck pace, hallmarks of the punk movement. Here is a clip of The Jam performing Eaton Rifles live.



Later in the run, you could see the direction Weller was taking with the music, and it was in the direction that would later be played by the Style Council. For me, this evolution was evident in A Town Called Malice.



You can find more about The Jam at their official website here.

Worth Another Listen - Paul Weller

Paul Weller is another of my British rockers I have followed thru several bands. Paul started out with the seminal Punk band The Jam inn the mid-70s, and then the more pop/jazz influence of a forerunner of the 'Mod' sound, The Style Council for most of the 80s, before he finally went solo and became the rocker with soul. Later he mainly was a soulful singer, and pissed off his many of his British fans, who felt he sang like an American, not a Brit.

I will say, although I love Paul's talent and voice immensely, he has never been a great looker. He wasn't bad in those early years, but in more recent times, as he struggled to maintain a 'youthful' style, it only made him look older, like that creepy guy middle-aged guy hanging with the high school kids. Anyway, as much as I loved The Jam and Style Council, some of his best stuff was solo, including this cover of a Rose Royce tune.