The Jam - About the young Idea (The Best Of)

Get back in touch with The Jam!!!

The Jam formed in Working in Surrey in 1972, have not been around since 1982 when they split, but From the Jam led by Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler have been cheering out Jam tunes on the live circuit for the last few years, Until Bruce and Rick actually fell out. Meaning people got to hear the bands songs in a live environment, with two of the key members for a while. After Rick leaving Bruce was joined on stage by Paul Weller to the amazement of the fans in attendance. They played a few numbers together and hinted at a reunion, but until then fans can listen to the best numbers on this new release.

This actually is a great compilation consisting of the best material by The Jam. The first CD strangely starts off with a radio add for the single 'In the City' before breaking into the single itself. This beat three piece mix up the best of the Mod sound with Punk and influences that came from the early work of The Beatles and the Rock numbers of The Who. Backed up by Paul Weller distinctive vocals and steady stop start rhymes you could never mistaken a track by The Jam for some one else which is a really good thing.

The second track 'Art School' more emulates the sound artists like The Undertones, The Buzzcocks and The Adverts, all bands that where around at the same time and I think took influences off each other. This is a nice quick track that blasts through like the rate of notes, unlike 'Away from the Numbers' a tune that I found really slow and a little out of tune. The nice thing about this compilation is that as well as the big hits it includes demo versions of songs like 'Taking' my Love' which was previously unreleased and the brilliant 'Burning Sky'. I really like the old school retro sound of the first track I mentioned, it mixes Blues and Rock with that 60's vibe to grab you and make you want to dance.

Also if your a big Jam fan you get a massive fourty seven songs going over two CD's, also the art work and presentation of the release is really nice. Which makes this two disc set a must to add to your collection, even if you already have the tracks. Weller shows off his great song writing on 'All around the World, The Modern World' and the brilliant 'English Rose'. Which all see great musicianship and backing vocals to them, provided by Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler and some tracks Steve Brookes and Dave Waller.

The catchy 'David Watts' is a nice treat, with it's monotonous and rhythmic backing to the steady drum beat provided by Rick. But it's tracks like 'Down in the Tube' that really speak to you and set the tone of the society that The Jam, especially Paul Weller was living in at the time. It really has a feel of the time, but some of the messages would actually be very current at the moment. I myself have never really been into the Mod scene, and The Jam were not one of my favourite bands to come out of the Punk revolution. I was more into the rowdy bands like the Sex Pistols and The Damned, who dressed up in clothes that were falling apart. The Jam in the suits always seemed like they, were the upper class idea of Punk and were far to clean cut for me.

 

But listening back now they really did have a lot to say and I really like how they do this in the music. And sometimes they are suttle and sometimes they are straight to the point. Like on the brilliant 'Billy Hunt', which hits their message straight at you like TV Smith did with The Adverts. If you had The Jam play now, I think they would play in a massive venue but I think it's the small stage they belong on. Playing songs like the hit single 'The Eton Rifles' which is near the end of the first CD.

The second CD starts off with their thundering hit 'Going Underground', a song that I think everyone from their era and Mod's and Punk's now... would consider as one of their anthems. Listening to these CD's you realise how many hits and great songs The Jam actually had, and we could not possibly mention them all. Like 'Dreams of Children' a song that I hadn't really hear, but now love. And 'That's Entertainment' which so many people have covered, and a song that I have always loved. It is so simple but so effective and must be a song that really defined the time.

 

'Funeral Pyre' to me is a newly discovered gem, that I think I will listen to for years. It almost has a Goth feel to it in places. I think 'Town called Malice' would be the most popular song on CD two, and listening to it I really can see why. It's so well written and really stands out, so I keep listening to this track over and over again.

I am really discovering The Jam again after listening to this CD and I have found a new respect for them. So I think this is a brilliant double CD for fans of The Jam and people looking to get into the Jam. It's just so well put together and a real bargain for the money so go out and get it now... you won't be disappointed.

Review by Dan Devour