My introduction to the music of the Jam was…well, it was awkward. Fall of 1977. I was 17, a freshman in college, listening to the campus radio station. Looking for new. And the station gave me new: A track by this new British band. The Jam.
Was it “In The City?” “All Around The World?” “The Modern World?” Hell, “Away From The Numbers” or “Bricks And Mortar” or “Art School” or “Carnaby Street?”
No. It was the Jam’s cover of “Batman Theme.” An inauspicious first impression of a band that would come to mean so much to me in such short order.
I didn’t hear the Jam again for a while. In January of ‘78, I saw the Flashcubes for the first time. Over the course of subsequent ‘Cubes shows, their covers of the Jam’s “In The City,” “The Modern World,” and “I Need You (For Someone)” hooked me on the Jam by proxy. I started buying Jam 45s, then Jam LPs. The Jam very, very quickly became one of my favorite bands.
That is not an exaggeration. I know I talk more about the Ramones and Flashcubes, but I tell you the Jam were also right up there for me. My relative lack of interest in Paul Weller’s subsequent work with the Style Council should never obscure the fact that I loved—LOVED—the Jam. Still do. Always will.
Weller was the front man, the guitarist, the principal singer and songwriter. But the Jam were a band, a power pop trio, with bassist/vocalist (and songwriter) Bruce Foxton and drivin’ drummer Rick Buckler. I celebrate all three, together.
The passing of Rick Buckler compels us to play a few Jam sides in his memory, three from the early days and one—“That’s Entertainment”—from a bit later in the timeline. This is the modern world, built of bricks and mortar. In the city there’s a thousand things I wanna say to you.
Mostly I want to say thanks. Thank you, Paul. Thank you, Bruce. Thank you, Rick.
Thank you to THE JAM. That’s entertainment. And it is so, so much more. This is what rock ‘n’ roll radio sounded like on another Sunday night in Syracuse this week.
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl airs Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, streaming at SPARK stream, and on the Radio Garden app as WESTCOTT RADIO. Recent shows are archived at Westcott Radio
You can read all about this show's long and weird history here: Boppin' The Whole Friggin' Planet (The History Of THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO).
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Carl's new book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) is now available, and you can order an autographed copy here. You can still get Carl's previous book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones from publisher Rare Bird Books, OR an autographed copy here. If you like the books, please consider leaving a rating and/or review at the usual online resources.
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