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The
Jam could never have a hit in America because they were thoroughly and
defiantly British. Under the direction of guitarist/vocalist/songwriter
Paul Weller, the trio spearheaded a revival of mid-'60s mod groups, in
the style of the Who and the Small Faces. Like the mod bands, the group
dressed stylishly, worshipped American R&B, and played it loud and
rough. By the time of the group's third album, Weller's song writing had
grown substantially, as he was beginning to write social commentaries
and pop songs in the vein of the Kinks. Both his political songs and his
romantic songs were steeped in British culture, filled with references
and slang in the lyrics, as well as musical allusions. Furthermore, as
the Jam grew more popular and musically accessible, Weller became more
insistent and stubborn about his beliefs, supporting leftist causes and
adhering to the pop aesthetics of '60s British rock without ever
succumbing to hippie values. Paradoxically, that meant even when their
music became more pop than punk, they never abandoned the punk values --
if anything, Weller stuck to the strident independent ethics of 1977
more than any other punk band just by simply refusing to change. Weller
formed the Jam with drummer Rick Buckler, bassist Bruce Foxton, and
guitarist Steve Brookes while they were still in school in 1975; Brookes
quickly left the band and they remained a trio for the rest of their
career. For the next year, the band played gigs around London, building
a local following. In February 1977, the group signed a record contract
with Polydor Records; two months later, they released their debut
single, "In the City," which reached the U.K. Top 40. The
following month, the group released their debut album, also called In
the City. Recorded in just 11 days, the album featured a combinations of
R&B covers and Weller originals, all of which sounded a bit like
faster, more ragged versions of the Who's early records. Their second
single, "All Around the World," nearly broke into the British
Top Ten and the group embarked on a successful British tour. During the
summer of 1977, they recorded their second album, This Is the Modern
World, which was released
This
Is the Modern World peaked in the British charts at number 22, yet it
received criticism for repeating the sound of the debut. The band began
a headlining tour of the U.K., yet it was derailed shortly after it
started when the group got into a nasty fight with a bunch of rugby
players in a Leeds hotel. Weller broke several bones and was charged
with assault, although the Leeds Crown Court would eventually acquit
him. The Jam departed for another American tour in March of 1978 and it
was yet another unsuccessful tour, as they opened for Blue Öyster Cult.
It did nothing to win new American fans, yet their star continued to
rise in Britain. Bands copying the group's mod look and sound popped up
across Britain and the Jam itself performed at the Reading Festival in
August. All Mod Cons, released late in 1979, marked a turning point in
the Jam's career, illustrating that Weller's song writing was becoming
more melodic, complex, and lyrically incisive, resembling Ray Davies
more than Pete Townshend. Even as their sound became more pop-oriented,
the group lost none of their tightly controlled energy. All Mod Cons was
a major success, peaking at number six on the U.K. charts, even if it
didn't make a dent in the U.S. Every one of the band's singles were now
charting in the Top 20, with the driving "Eton Rifles"
becoming their first Top Ten in November 1979, charting at number three.
Setting
Sons, released at the end of 1979, climbed to number four in the U.K.
and marked their first charting album in the U.S., hitting number 137 in
spring of 1980. At that time, the Jam had become full-fledged rock stars
in Britain, with their new "Going Underground" single entering
the charts at number one. During the summer, the band recorded their
fifth album, with the "Taxman"-inspired "Start"
released as a teaser single in August; "Start" became their
second straight number one. Its accompanying album, the ambitious Sound
Affects, hit number two in the U.K. at the end of the year; it was also
the band's high-water mark in the U.S., peaking at number 72.
"Funeral
Pyre," the band's summer 1981 single, showed signs that Weller was
becoming fascinated with American soul and R&B, as did the punchy,
horn-driven "Absolute Beginners," which hit number four in the
fall of the year. As the Jam were recording their sixth album, Weller
suffered a nervous breakdown, which prompted him to stop drinking. In
February 1982, the first single from the new sessions -- the double
A-sided "Town Called Malice"/"Precious" -- became
their third number one single and the band became the first group since
the Beatles to play two songs on BBC's Top of the Pops. The Gift,
released in March of 1982, showcased the band's soul infatuation and
became the group's first number one album in the U.K. "Just Who Is
the 5 O’clock Hero" hit number eight in July, becoming the
group's second import single to make the U.K. charts. Although
the Jam was at the height of its popularity, Weller was becoming
frustrated with the trio's sound and made the decision to disband the
group. On the heels of the number two hit "The Bitterest
Pill," the Jam announced their break-up in October of 1982. The
band played a farewell tour in the fall and their final single,
"Beat Surrender," entered the charts at number one. Dig the
New Breed, a compilation of live tracks, charted at number two in
December of 1982. All 16 of the group's singles were re-released by
Polydor in the U.K. at the beginning of 1983; all of them recharted
simultaneously. Bruce Foxton released a solo album, Touch Sensitive, and
Rick Buckler played with the Time UK; neither of the efforts was as
noteworthy as the Jam biography the two wrote in the early '90s, which
contained many vicious attacks on Weller.
ALBUMS In the City (1977) #20 UK This Is the Modern World (1977) #22 UK All Mod Cons (1978) #6 UK Setting Sons (1979) #4 UK, #137 US Sound Affects(1980) #2 UK, #72 US The Gift(1982) #1 UK, #82 US SINGLES 29 April 1977 "In the City" 23 July 1977 "All Around the World" 5 November 1977 "The Modern World" 11 March 1978 "News of the World" 26 August 1978 "David Watts" / "A Bomb in Wardour Street" (double A-side) 21 October 1978 "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight" 17 March 1979 "Strange Town" 25 August 1979 "When You're Young" 3 November 1979 "The Eton Rifles" 10 March 1980 "Going Underground" / "Dreams of Children" (double A-side) 11 August 1980 "Start!" 7 February 1981 "That's Entertainment" 6 June 1981 "Funeral Pyre" 24 October 1981 "Absolute Beginners" 29 January 1982 "Town Called Malice" / "Precious" (double A-side) 3 July 1982 "Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero?" 10 September 1982 "The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had to Swallow)" 26 November 1982 "Beat Surrender" |
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