Apparently Jam, like wine, appreciates with age. Certainly “The Jam” created between 1977 and 1982 is vintage and you wouldn’t find it being flogged at a WI Garden Fete. Somehow I can’t imagine Paul Weller attending a bourgeois, genteel, upper middle class garden fete…….It goes against the grain of his politics, his philosophy and everything he stands for!! It’s as likely as mod new wave band The Jam reforming anytime soon.

That said there is an indirect reformation of The Jam, with the re-issue of their final album, “The Gift”, to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of The Jam splitting up in December 1982. Although not one of the author’s favourite Jam albums ( I have a preference for “Setting Sons” and “Sound Effects” ), it is nevertheless a timely reminder of the talent of Paul Weller in those early years of The Jam, not just as a musician but as a lyricist and storyteller!!

Although I didn’t discover The Kinks and The Small Faces through The Jam, it is my appreciation of the former two that has led me to appreciate the talent of the latter. I grew up with The Jam – their music soundtracked my teenage years, from the raw, aggressive power of their early singles coinciding with my belligerent, bolshy adolesence – “In the City”, “All Around the World”, “The Modern World” and “News of the World” through to the more anecdotal “‘A’ Bomb In Wardour Street”, “Down in the Tube Station at Midnight” and “Strange Town”. However it was the singles from the aforementioned albums “Setting Sons” and “Sound Effects” that I most connect with. The reason being is that “The Eton Rifles”, “Going Underground” / “Dreams of Children”, “Start!” and “That’s Entertainment” are all songs that I associate with house parties and my early clumsy fumblings and gropings of girls during my Sixth Form years ( not in class I hasten to add )!! So although something of a juxtaposition, I associate Paul Weller’s cutting cynicism with the innocence of my youth!!

The Jam’s final hit singles “Funeral Pyre”, “Absolute Beginners”, “Town Called Malice” / “Precious”, “Just Who Is the 5 O’Clock Hero?”, “Funeral Pyre”, “The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had to Swallow)” and “Beat Surrender” all coincided with my university years and seemed to chime with my disinterest and disenfranchisement as a student. This was in no small part due to my right wing views and public school demeanour clashing badly with the left wing, Marxist philosophy of my lecturers!! The irony is that Paul Weller and The Jam would have been in their element on my course – like my lecturers, Paul Weller despised the establishment that I appeared to represent, so it’s a double irony that I could relate to his lyrics as a student!! Of course it’s now very apparent to me in middle age, that I am fundamentally anti establishment and authority, which gives me every right to be a licensed Jam fan!! And as a fan of The Jam, here’s my Top 5 Best Jam songs –

Top 5 Best Jam songs

1) The Eton Rifles ( 1979 )

2) Down in the Tube Station at Midnight       ( 1978 )

3) Butterfly Collector ( 1979 )

4) Going Underground ( 1980 )

5) Start ( 1980 )

1982′s The Gift will be re-issued as a massive box set on the 19th November courtesy of  Universal Records. The Gift: 30th Anniversary (‘The Gift and beyond…) features the remastered album, B-sides, 15 demos or alternate tracks, and 23 previously unreleased live recordings from the Jam’s final tour. Also included is an accompanying DVD with live footage from Jam concert and a 72 page, full-colour hardback book, compiling memorabilia, magazine cuttings, reviews, photos, new interviews with Paul Weller, a set of postcard prints and a replica 1982 tour programme. This would make a great Xmas present or alternatively how about a framed vinyl record of one of the Jam’s hits as a Xmas gift?

Celebrate your favourite Jam song in your own home or office, by ordering your favourite Jam song in a vinyl or CD format; single, album or album cover; framed and mounted as a picture disc souvenir. You can also personalise it with an inscribed / engraved plaque…… 

ORDER NOW…….. www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/

Also available – the DVD of your favourite film or TV programme framed with a personalised , engraved plaque……. ORDER NOW…….. www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/

Framed vinyl records, CDs and DVDs with a personalised plaque, make unique presents or original gifts for a special celebration  ie a Wedding ( Wedding First Dance Song ), an Engagement Party ( Our Song ), a House Warming Party ( New Home ), a 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th or 70th Birthday, a Silver, Ruby or Golden Wedding Anniversary, Father’s or Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day!!  THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!

For further information, merchandise or memorabilia, go to the Jam fan website…… http://www.thejamfan.net