The Jam
The Jam formed in Woking, Surrey, England, in 1972. The line-up was fluid at this stage, consisting of Paul Weller on guitar and lead vocals together with various friends at Sheerwater Secondary School. They played their first gigs at Michael’s, a local club. The line-up began to solidify in the mid 1970s with Weller, guitarist Steve Brookes, Bruce Foxton and drummer Rick Buckler.
The Jam signed to Polydor Records UK for £6,000 ($10,200).
In March 1977 The Jam played the first of a five-week Wednesday night run at The Red Cow, Hammersmith, London.
The Jam released their first single “In The City”, on 29th April 1977 which peaked at No.40 in the UK charts. Lyrically, the song is a celebration of youth in the big city, and of what Paul Weller called the “young idea”, reflecting Weller’s optimism for the punk movement.
The Jam released their second single “All Around the World” in July 1977 which reached No.13 in the UK Singles Chart. The single was backed by the B-side, “Carnaby Street”.
The 1977 “The Modern World” was released as a single as the first and only single from the band’s second album This Is the Modern World. The single version had slightly changed lyrics, replacing the words “I don’t give two fucks about your review” with “I don’t give a damn about your review”.
“David Watts” was released on 26th August 1978 as the first single from their third studio album, All Mod Cons. Written by Ray Davies the track originally appeared on the Kinks‘ 1967 album Something Else by The Kinks. The Jam version, which reached No.25 in the UK Singles Chart, featured bassist Bruce Foxton on vocals.
“Down in the Tube Station at Midnight” was released 21st October 1978 as the second single from the album All Mod Cons. It charted at No.15 in the UK and was backed by a cover of the Who song “So Sad About Us”, and “The Night”, written by Bruce Foxton. The back of the record jacket displayed a photo of Keith Moon former drummer of The Who who had died the month prior to the single’s release.
“The Eton Rifles” was released late 1979, (the only single to be released from the album Setting Sons), which became the band’s first UK top ten hit peaking at No.3. In May 2008, Conservative leader and Old Etonian David Cameron named “The Eton Rifles” as one of his favourite songs. Cameron’s praise for the song earned a scathing rejection from Paul Weller, who said, “Which part of it didn’t he get? It wasn’t intended as a fucking jolly drinking song for the cadet corps.”
The Jam had their first UK No.1 with their tenth release, “Going Underground” the first single of the 80s to debut at No.1. on the chart. The single’s B-side “Dreams of Children” was originally intended to be the A-side; but following a mix-up at the pressing plant, the single became a double-A-side.
The track “Absolute Beginners” was named after the Colin MacInnes novel of the same name and was one of Paul Weller’s favourites, being chosen by him when he appeared on Desert Island Discs.
In February 1982 The Jam became the first band since The Beatles to play two numbers on the same edition of Top Of The Pops when they performed “A Town Called Malice”, and ‘”Precious”, their latest double A-sided No.1 which debuted at No.1 in the UK Singles Chart. “A Town Called Malice” is played before every Millwall F.C. home game and is also played before the second half of Woking F.C. games when they play at their home ground Kingfield Stadium
On 5th November 1982 Channel 4 TV’s new music show The Tube had its first showing. Presented by Paula Yates and Jools Holland, the show featured The Jam (playing “Beat Surrender”) and an interview with Mick Jagger. The show ran until 1987 and was named after the plexiglass tunnel, which led down into Studio Five at Tyne Tees TV, the place where all the stars from the 80’s subsequently appeared.
The Jam played their last ever gig as a band on 11th December 1982 when they appeared in Brighton, England. Singer and guitarist Paul Weller formed The Style Council with keyboardist Mick Talbot and went on to enjoy a successful solo career. Rick Buckler went on to form Time UK and later The Gift and then formed From The Jam which Bruce Foxton later joined.
The Jam: About the Young Idea exhibition opened at Somerset House, London in May 2015. The first comprehensive exhibition about The Jam featured unseen material and fan memorabilia, curated by frontman Paul’s sister and former head of The Jam’s fan club Nicky Weller.
Important Dates In The Life Of The Jam:
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27
Mar
2020
Jamaican reggae vocalist and songwriter Bob Andy died of cancer age 75. He was widely regarded as one of reggae's most influential songwriters and recorded with Marcia Griffiths as Bob and Marcia that had a major 1970 UK hit with 'Young, Gifted and Black'. The Jamaican government conferred the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander on Andy in October 2006 for his contributions to the development of Jamaican music.
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4
Apr
2019
Liam Gallagher's Pretty Green fashion brand was rescued from administration by the JD Sports Group. It was reported they would keep the flagship store in Manchester open, but 11 other stores and 33 concessions in House of Fraser would close, putting 97 jobs at risk. Pretty Green was founded in 2009 by Gallagher and was named after a song by The Jam.
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2
Nov
2018
American guitarist Glenn Schwartz the original guitar player of the James Gang died at the age of 78. He later joined the Los Angeles based blues band Pacific Gas & Electric and in 1970, scored a national top 20 hit with the song ‘Are You Ready?’
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27
Sep
2008
Pink Floyd's manager Bryan Morrison died after spending over two years in a coma. Morrison suffered severe brain injuries in a polo accident at the Royal Berkshire Polo Club, England in 2006, and never recovered. He also managed The Pretty Things and was a music publisher for Syd Barrett, The Bee Gees, Elton John, The Jam T-Rex and Wham!
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13
Sep
2005
The home where Jimi Hendrix grew up in Seattle was saved from demolition after a new location was agreed at the last minute. The James Marshall Hendrix Foundation and the City of Seattle agreed to renovate the building into a community centre opposite the cemetery where the guitarist was buried in 1970.
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17
Jul
2005
Jamaican musician Laurel Aitken died. Dubbed as 'the Godfather of Ska', his 1958 'Boogie In My Bones' became the first release on the Island Record label and was No.1 on the Jamaican charts for 11 weeks.
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13
Feb
2005
Readers of UK newspaper The Sun voted George Michael’s ‘Careless Whisper’ as the greatest British pop single of the past 25 years. Oasis came second with ‘Wonderwall’ and Kate Bush third with ‘Wuthering Heights’. The rest of the Top 10: No.4, Robbie Williams, ‘Angels’, No.5, The Jam, ‘Going Underground’, in equal 6th, Sex Pistols, ‘God Save The Queen’ and Joy Division, ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’, 7th was Queen, ‘We Are The Champions’, 9th, The Stone Roses, ‘Fool’s Gold’ and 10th The Undertones ‘Teenage Kicks’.
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20
Mar
1993
Shaggy was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Oh Carolina', the Jamaican singer's first of four UK No.1's.
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22
Feb
1992
UK music paper the NME printed their writers all-time best debut albums; at No.1, Patti Smith, 'Horses', No.2, Joy Division, 'Unknown Pleasures', No.3, MC5, 'Kick Out The Jams, No.4, The Jesus and Mary Chain, 'Psychocandy' and No.5, Television, 'Marquee Moon'.
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18
Sep
1991
Rob Tyner lead singer with the American hard rock band MC5 died after he suffered a heart attack in the seat of his parked car in his hometown of Berkley, Michigan. MC5, (shortened from the Motor City Five), formed in Detroit, in 1965, they released their first album, ‘Kick Out the Jams’ in 1969.
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11
Dec
1982
The Jam played their last ever gig as a band when they appeared in Brighton, England. Singer and guitarist Paul Weller went on to form The Style Council with keyboardist Mick Talbot. The permanent line-up grew to include drummer Steve White and Weller's then-wife, vocalist Dee C. Lee.
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4
Dec
1982
The Jam were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Beat Surrender', the group's fourth UK No.1 and final single. They split in 1983 and leader Paul Weller later formed the Style Council before launching a solo career.
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5
Nov
1982
Channel 4 TV's The Tube had its first showing. Presented by Paula Yates and Jools Holland, the show featured The Jam and an interview with Mick Jagger. The first live act on the show was local band Toy Dolls. The show ran until 1987 and was named after the plexiglass tunnel which led down into Studio Five at Tyne Tees TV, the place where all the stars from the 80’s subsequently appeared.
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16
Feb
1982
The Jam were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'A Town Called Malice', & 'Precious', their third No.1 spent three weeks at the top of the chart.
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13
Feb
1982
The Jam became the first band since The Beatles to play two numbers on the same edition of Top Of The Pops when they performed 'A Town Called Malice', and 'Precious', their latest double A sided No.1.
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6
Sep
1980
The Jam were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Start!', the group's second UK No.1 and taken from the band's fifth album Sound Affects.
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22
Mar
1980
The Jam had their first UK No.1 with their tenth release, 'Going Underground / Dreams Of Children' the first single of the 80s to debut at No.1.
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13
May
1978
Boney M were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Rivers of Babylon'. The single which stayed at the top of the charts for five weeks was originally by the Jamaican reggae group The Melodians, whose version of the song appeared in the sound track to the 1972 movie The Harder They Come.
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4
Feb
1978
'Up Town Ranking' by Althia and Donna was at No.1 on the UK singles chart. It was the Jamaican duo's only hit, making the teenagers One Hit Wonders.
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4
Jun
1977
The Jam's debut single 'In The City' made No.40 on the UK singles chart. They went on to score 18 consecutive Top 40 singles in the United Kingdom, from their debut in 1977 to their break-up in December 1982, including four No.1 hits.
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1
May
1977
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29
Apr
1977
The Jam released their first single 'In The City', which peaked at No. 40 in the UK charts. The English punk rock/mod revival formed in Woking, Surrey, fronted by Paul Weller achieved 18 other Top 40 hits including four UK No.1's.
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2
Mar
1977
The Jam played the first of a five-week Wednesday night run at The Red Cow, Hammersmith, London. The group had just signed a four-year recording contract with Polydor records.
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25
Feb
1977
The Jam signed to Polydor Records UK for £6,000 ($10,200). They went on to have 18 consecutive Top 40 singles in the UK, from their debut in 1977 to their break-up in December 1982, including four No.1 hits. As of 2007, 'That's Entertainment' and 'Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero?' remained the best-selling import singles of all time in the UK.
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4
Dec
1976
American guitarist Tommy Bolin died from a heroin overdose aged 25 the day after opening a show for Jeff Beck in Miami, Florida. Bolin was a member of Zephyr (1969 to 1971), The James Gang (1973 to 1974) and Deep Purple (1975 to 1976).
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23
Oct
1976
The Jam played an afternoon show in Soho Market, London, England and in the evening, The Clash appeared at The ICA in London.
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9
May
1970
Guess Who started a three-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'American Woman', it was the group's sixth Top 30 hit and only chart topper. The song was born by accident when guitarist Randy Bachman was playing a heavy riff on stage after he had broken a string, the other members joined in on the jam. A fan in the audience who had recorded the gig on tape presented it to the group after the show and they developed it into a full song.
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31
May
1968
Working on what will become The White Album, The Beatles added overdubs of bass and vocals on ‘Revolution’. After numerous overdubs have been added, the final six minutes of the song evolved into chaotic, jamming, with Lennon repeatedly shouting "alright" and Yoko Ono speaking random phrases. The jam becomes the basis for ‘Revolution 9’, and this session is the first that Yoko attends.
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23
Feb
1965
Filming began on The Beatles follow up to 'A Hard Day's Night' on location in the Bahamas with the working title of 'Eight Arms To Hold You.' Other locations for filming included London, Salisbury Plain, the Austrian Alps, New Providence Island and Twickenham Film Studios. The Beatles said the film was inspired by the classic Marx Brothers film Duck Soup and was also directly satirical of the James Bond series of films.
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5
Jul
1954
Working together for the first time in a recording studio with Scotty Moore and Bill Black, Elvis Presley fools around during a break with an up-tempo version of 'That's All Right.' Producer Sam Phillips has them repeat the jam and records it. It became Presley's first release on Sun Records.
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