Customer Reviews

The Jam - The Complete Jam

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a fan of The Jam for the past 22 years I have been waiting for something like this for a while now. This is an update of the 'Video Snap' that was available in the 80's with many added extras. Every song on this collection is outstanding, every song. The Jam were never really embraced in this country because Americans only get into British music as a whole if it is filtered into an American style and sound, in my opinion. This is the reason why Def Leppard, Coldplay, etc. have done well here but more truly British bands such as Blur, The Jam or Pulp have not.

The Jam straddled two distinct style changes from the beginning (77-79) to the end (80-82) and this two-disc set makes that distinction as well. By 1980 the Pop-Punk sound of the 70's Jam gave way to more politically potent, horn laden sound that solidified them as one of the greatest British bands of all time. American bands have never been able to master the use of horns in Pop or Rock without sounding really corny or overblown and The Jam prove my point when comparing them to other American acts.

Paul Weller's attention to detail and strong song writing will be amply showcased by this set and it's about time this was released. Once you get into the Jam I highly suggest picking up a greatest hits package of his follow-up band The Style Council. While not as strong as the Jam, it showcases the style change Weller was heading into at the tail end of The Jam. And, by the way, Paul Weller has about seven solo albums out and they have gotten better with each release. The Jam ultimately is a showcase and starting point for one of the greatest musicians of the last 25 years...Paul Weller!

The bottom line is: every JAM fan should own this immediately - the quality/range of the material included on this amazing 2-DVD set is AWESOME...BUT as much as love all the TV clips, archival footage (esp the cool "Meet the Jam" piece!), live segments, and videos, I do wish they would have included the VIDEO version of the Jam's final single, "BEAT SURRENDER" which I sometimes would see on early MTV - it's really polished and exciting, oh well...AND also, where is the stunning, raw set they did on ABC's early 80's late-night "FRIDAYS" show, etc. These omissions are the only reason why I docked it one star - since it's really not "complete" but for any JAM fans, even casual ones, this is a definite MUST-HAVE keeper DVD you will go back to again and again!! Makes you feel nostalgic and even a bit SAD for a time lost in pop/rock music, never to be returned! -

The Jam never really caught in America, but in their native England, they were quite possibly the biggest and most popular band of the late 70's and early 80's. A trio made up of lead singer and guitarist Paul Weller, bassist and backing vocalist Bruce Foxton and drummer Rick Buckler, the Jam emerged from the first wave of the British punk rock scene to achieve success by merging the power of the punk movement with the musical stylings of 60's mod groups like The Who, The Small Faces and most especially The Kinks from whom they got one of their biggest hits a cover of "David Watts". The group progressed to more a pop oriented sound toward the end of the 70's and then towards a heavy rhythm and blues sound (on which Paul Weller would further explore with The Style Council) for their final album. This DVD is a must for any fan of the band as it is made of two disks that include all their live TV performances as well as all their videos. The videos are mostly made up of the crude, elementary stylings of the early days of the genre, but they still capture the power of the band, but live performances show their true greatness.

First off: BUY this DVD ! Sell off those iffy CD's you own from all those iffy bands, and put the cash towards this terrific "JAM" DVD. I have been a Jam fan from way back in '79 but never saw a video or anything from them for years no matter how hard I looked - now here's more video and live stuff than I could possibly have hoped for. It has stayed in my player for months now. I watch it everyday and never tire of it. If you are a new fan, I envy you. I had to rely on black&white stills and my imagination for years. While you my friend have a treasure trove here, bursting with colour,energy & great songs.

Simply the greatest British band since The Beatles. I can assure my American cousins that being part of The Jam era in the UK was a privilege. This DVD goes someway to capturing what The Jam were and still are about: Honesty, passion, inspiration and above all else great music. The Jam were a spiritual band that challenged their audience, changed attitudes and changed lives. A light went out in 1982 when we lost them it still saddens me today but we still have the music and this great DVD to remember them by.

As a dedicated fan of "The Jam" I was more than pleased by this DVD collection... in fact, I was totally blown away by it! The quality of the archival video was amazing - in particular, the "live" performances from the different television shows. If you are a fan of "The Jam", I guarantee you will instantly label this set a treasure, and will never let it leave your home for fear of losing it! The videos for "In The City", "News of the World" and "Strange Town" alone are worth the price of this 2-disc set.

One of the most interesting things about The Jam was listening to the music mature with each album released. "The Complete Jam DVD" adds the video dimension to this maturing process. The images take you from the early days when they were a high energy three piece slashing out punkish tunes to the final Motown influenced version of The Jam, complimented with a horn section, keyboards, and and background singers. It was truly a treat to see the videos and live performances of the songs I have loved for so many years. This DVD is a must have for any Jam fan, especially for us in the states who have been given little visual exposure to The Jam.

My first exposure to the Jam was on ABCs "Friday", a Saturday Night Live clone, in 1979 or '80. They performed "Start" and "Going Underground", I believe. The next day I bought every Jam LP that Sound Warehouse had.
Unfortunately, that was the only time I saw them perform until I bought this DVD. The Jam were definitely a band that was meant to be heard live. As much as I still like their albums "Setting Sons", Sound Affects", "In the City" and the rest, their live performances of the songs on these albums blows the studio versions away. The Newcastle City Hall gig, by itself, is worth the cost of this DVD.
Highlights:
Disc 1 Live TV:
Ultra-raw "In the City" on the So it Goes segment.
"In the Street Today", 2nd song from Old Grey Whistle Test
Disc 1 singles:
"In the City"
"Strange Town"
"Butterfly Collector"
Disc 2 Live TV:
Entire Newcastle gig, especially
"Going Underground"
"To be Someone"
"A-Bomb in Wardour Street"
"Tales From the Riverbank" 2nd song on Mandagsborsen
(Sweedish TV) and Weller's interview with clueless host.
"In the Crowd" and "The Modern World" from the Tube
segment.

Long live the Mods

Fantastic DVD. Saw footage I never had the opportunity to see before. Some old music videos and live performances. If you love the Jam, then you should not be without this DVD as part of your collection.

Great collection, with plenty of promo clips, TV appearances, and documentary footage - and very reasonably priced. Not really "complete," though, since it's missing the group's "Fridays" and "American Bandstand" appearances.