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Post by jno on Mar 30, 2016 10:40:03 GMT
Lots of great tunes to choose from this week, but which is your favourite single by The Jam? Pick ONE ...
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Post by ace5150 on Mar 30, 2016 10:57:05 GMT
Just ONE choice? We got to slag off two supermarket cafes! And why no Ghosts or Butterfly Collector, both sub-lime songs! I went for Eton Rifles, the lyrics are genius.
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Post by jno on Mar 30, 2016 11:26:32 GMT
I agree - all totally top songs these. If I had to pick my least favourites though, it would have to be 'Just Who Is The 5 O'Clock Hero?' or 'The Modern World' - never been particularly fussed on these two. Of all the others though, it is a really tough choice, particularly so between 'Eton Rifles', 'Going Underground', 'Strange Town', 'When You're Young', 'Town Called Malice', 'Beat Surrender', 'Bitterest Pill' and 'News of the World'. I think of all those, it has to be 'Eton Rifles' versus 'Going Underground' for me - love both of these, with 'Going Underground' having the killer D power chord riff at the start which somehow was why Rickenbacker guitars were built alongside a distortion pedal for me. Despite playing guitar for years trying to get this spot on like the original recording seems almost impossible for a metal head me. 'Eton Rifles', top chord progression and I just love the thick guitar sound with the organ slapped in there - the chorus "What a catalyst you turned out to be, ..." is a superb twist in this song - totally love it! I had another listen to both of these and I think live I like 'Eton Rifles' more but as for studio recordings I have to go with 'Going Underground' - totally top song with guitar, bass and drums on max with top lyrics from Weller. The only negative about this song is Weller's diction - despite having heard 'Going Underground' a million times I still struggle to fully understand the lyrics properly ... particularly the lines "As their lies wash you down and their promises rust ... You'll see kidney machines replaced by rockets and guns" and "These braying sheep on my TV screen". Still a totally superb song though and with "Dreams Of Children" on the B-Side, it gets my vote here! I didn't think I would vote for 'Going Underground' though. 'Bitterest Pill' is indeed the dodgiest video for me. "Come on boy, come on girl, succumb to the beat surrender" ... quality in abundance here ... I challenge ANYONE to tell me there has ever been as much intensity in a LIVE performance on any ITV show in the last 15 years as in this one below (and The Jam were coming to end by now):
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Post by felixdeburgh on Mar 30, 2016 14:19:55 GMT
That's Entertainment for me although I could easily have picked any one of 8. I just like the simple, quieter, acoustic nature of it from a band better known for powerful, driving chords. Any other bands have the same word in three consecutive singles like The Jam did with 'World'?
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Post by jno on Mar 30, 2016 16:57:40 GMT
Best album is Setting Sons IMO My favourite album is 'Snap!'
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Post by ace5150 on Mar 30, 2016 17:38:17 GMT
Just ONE choice? We got to slag off two supermarket cafes! And why no Ghosts or Butterfly Collector, both sub-lime songs! I went for Eton Rifles, the lyrics are genius. 'Ghosts' was a superb album track only. And the truly fantastic 'The Butterfly Collector' was a B Side only. Yes, re-read the original topic.
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steve
Winchester Regular
Posts: 42
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Post by steve on Mar 30, 2016 21:57:43 GMT
I choose absolute beginners as her in doors said it was her favourite !
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Post by daz on Mar 31, 2016 7:06:06 GMT
I've went 'In The City' as this is where it all started.
Too hard to pick just the one. I think the beauty of the group is that they quit whilst they were ahead, no journey into the mediocre for them.
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Post by chopper on Apr 5, 2016 16:55:39 GMT
I (just) went for Strangetown,but I really like Absolute Beginners,along with Start,That's Entertainment,Dreams Of Children & Precious.
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Post by Portland Road on Apr 7, 2016 9:22:34 GMT
They were very consistent, but I like the brass and the uplifting feel of 'Absolute Beginners'.
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Post by jno on Apr 13, 2016 4:21:29 GMT
Who is the woman in 'The Bitterest Pill' video?
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Post by Portland Road on Apr 13, 2016 8:23:01 GMT
P.S. in the list of singles, I don't know 'Sitting On The Fence' by The Jam.... But I quite like the song 'Sitting On The Fence' by Twice As Much (1966), a Jagger-Richards composition on Immediate Records.
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Post by jno on Apr 13, 2016 8:36:36 GMT
I really like Weller's guitar bits in this song - great Rickenbacker sound - love it. Geek hat on - there is a pretty cool part in this song too when he he sings "mocking shadows", where Mr Weller plays a nice two note run upwards: A, Bm, C#m, D, Em, F#m, G, A, all in first inversion (3rd note first). I totally love that which if you play it the other way i.e. climb down, it is more or less the exact same "bawling Memphis geetar" straight out of KING CURTIS'S 1967 hit 'Memphis Soul Stew' - totally see what Weller was listening to back in the day. Just thought I'd mention this as we are in the age of "music rip orfs" Did they NEVER do this live, anywhere?!
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Post by ace5150 on Apr 13, 2016 19:26:19 GMT
I really like Weller's guitar bits in this song - great Rickenbacker sound - Mr Weller plays a nice two note run upwards: A, Bm, C#m, D, Em, F#m, G, A, all in first inversion (3rd note first). Not too dissimilar to Stairway to Heaven if you ask me.
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Post by jno on Apr 13, 2016 20:11:18 GMT
Yup, I've definitely seen them there As and Bs in a few million other songs.
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Post by bodiesstuntdouble on Jan 6, 2017 18:50:06 GMT
Another near impossible task to choose just one but I opted for Absolute Beginners - great combination of their trademark heartfelt lyrics but with the added dimension of Weller's love of Soul very prominent in this fast~paced upbeat track - perfect for wearing down a bit of shoe leather on the dance floor :-)
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Post by flyingsquad on Jan 6, 2017 19:01:39 GMT
All great songs but I went for 'Eton Rifles'. I think it's one of the best songs ever written. I can listen to it 100+ times and never get bored with it.
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Post by Zimbo on Jan 6, 2017 19:24:51 GMT
I went for Tube Station, I think it's the start of them being something really special. Got to agree with ace that Butterfly Collector is a great song.
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Post by thecraftyleek on Jan 6, 2017 20:17:28 GMT
I've picked Absolute Beginners, not because it is the best song, but because it has the best B-side 'Tales From The Riverbank.' This is a far better song, haunting, introspective and has all the elements of great Jam track: bass, drums and twangy guitar.
It's such a hard choice though as there are so many good singles. My second preference would be Town Called Malice/Precious followed by Going Undeground/Dreams of Children. I get more bang for my buck then.
Perhaps we should have another poll. 'Which Jam non-singles should have been singles?' I'm glad to read 'Ghosts' is popular favourite above. I would also add 'Wasteland', 'Pretty Green' and 'Set The House Ablaze' to this list.
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Post by thecraftyleek on Jan 6, 2017 20:24:05 GMT
Who is the woman in 'The Bitterest Pill' video? I may be mistaken, but I think reference is made to The Bitterest Pill video in A Beat Concerto. Bruce Foxton did not turn up to the video shoot as he was upset about the impending Jam split. This is very true. There is a reference to a girl in this book, but it may about the backing singer on the record.
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Post by thecraftyleek on Jan 6, 2017 20:28:52 GMT
Point of order. The Tube was on Channel 4, not ITV. In fact, after Countdown, I think I'm right in saying that the first episode of the Tube (featuring The Jam) was the second or third programme ever broadcast on Channel 4. Jeez, I'm so full of useless information,
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Post by jno on Jan 7, 2017 4:02:27 GMT
Perhaps I should make this thread 'Sticky' then... *boom tish* On second thoughts, bad idea. Sounds more like you're auditioning for the part of Higgins for a new Magnum PI film than deputising for Paul Weller mias.
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Post by thecraftyleek on Jan 7, 2017 8:15:24 GMT
What great photos. But even though it's never going to happen, would you like to see a Jam reunion? I used to think it was such a shame that they'd never regroup, but have really mellowed on this issue over the past few years. Paul and Bruce have made up, played on each other' albums, Bruce is knocking out Jam tunes pretty much nightly with From The Jam and he even did it with Rick for a while. By all accounts, Rick is a lovely guy and really should get back with Bruce and Russell Hastings. I've seen FTJ three times and they are superb. Bruce's two recent albums are better than anything Weller has since Stanley Road. Thoughts?
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Post by daz on Jan 7, 2017 13:06:14 GMT
I think it would be good if they could just get together for a beer and bury the hatchet. Paul and Rick haven't spoken for 34 years, they surely would be different people to what they were back then and be able forget about any shyte which happened so long ago. They don't need to be best friends forever, but just celebrate the musical legacy the three of them have left with The Jam. Weller may have been the creative force, but he has never done anything close to what he achieved with Rick and Bruce IMHO. I wouldn't like to see them record new music though. The Jam were of their time and you couldn't recreate what they had now. Love the pictures by the way MIAS, but I am sure you have a bit of the stalker about you. I would never be able to ask for an autograph or picture taken with any of my heroes.
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Post by Zimbo on Jan 7, 2017 15:18:24 GMT
It's sad it should be so acrimonious. I'd also like them to bury the hatchet. It could be in private, but just to know that they were on decent terms. The three of them made amazing music together. Weller should be grateful for their musicianship.
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Post by thecraftyleek on Jan 7, 2017 16:09:24 GMT
I always felt The Jam should have reformed for Live Aid in 1985. Obviously, the Style Council were there already and it was a non-starter as Paul had made his mind up only three years earlier. In the early 90s too, Weller was without a label and really in a state of musical limbo. The Greatest Hits package was riding high in the UK charts. No doubt Paul must have thought about it. Then Wild Wood came out in 1993, which is easily Paul's best solo album. The rest is history. It's a shame that Rick and Bruce no longer get along. When I saw From The Jam at Brighton in 2007, it was a great night out. Rick actually messed up the ending to Private Hell on stage and silently apologised to Bruce. I still think FTJ would be better with Rick on drums. They are great now, but it would be more legitimate with Rick up there too. They should also invest in a brass section, as they don't play much '82 stuff without the brass. But I guess it means paying out more. As a bass player, I'm a huge fan of Bruce. I think FTJ should throw in a few of his 83-85 songs just for good measure. I'd much rather hear Freak or Play This Game To Win than anything Weller had done since Stanley Road. Or am I just being biased?!
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Post by barrythebook on Jan 7, 2017 23:41:48 GMT
'Down In the Tubestaion' for me.
"My life swam around me, it took a look and drowned me in it's own existence.The smell of brown leather,it blended in with the weather. It filled my eyes,ears,nose and mouth,it blocked all my senses, couldnt see,hear,speak any longer ....."
Surely amongst the best lyrics ever written?
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Post by Zimbo on Jan 7, 2017 23:43:10 GMT
'Down In the Tubestaion' for me. "My life swam around me, it took a look and drowned me in it's own existence.The smell of brown leather,it blended in with the weather. It filled my eyes,ears,nose and mouth,it blocked all my senses, couldnt see,hear,speak any longer ....." Surely amongst the best lyrics ever written? Great minds, Barry!
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Post by barrythebook on Jan 7, 2017 23:56:13 GMT
I've got a stunning version of 'Down in the Tubestation' here somewhere on the the B side of a 'Thats Entertainment' 7 inch single.
Its a live recording and IIRC it was from a gig in Germany and this particular version featured an excellent drum finale.
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Post by Terry on Jan 11, 2017 5:53:35 GMT
don't know a single one of those songs... :-(
I guess it was a bit before my time as I was born in '67 and additionally TJ were more of an underground band not known too well in Germany...
Might listen in to check them out, tho.
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