The Sound of the Jam

The Jam

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 25, 2003)
• Original Release Date: February 25, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Interscope Records
• ASIN: B00008BNTH
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #111,095 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Unless you choose to invest in the five-disc Direction Reaction Creation box set, this 25th anniversary collection is the best Jam available. The 20-track retrospective heads chronologically from the debut "In the City" single to the farewell one-off "Beat Surrender" by way of the most notable chart hits and a sprinkling of classic album tracks. Although fans may quibble with the exclusion of peak-period singles "All Around the World," "Strange Town," and "When You're Young" (as well as the presence of the misanthropic "Mr Clean"), what strikes anew is the taut energy of the trio's playing, the bitter bile of Paul Weller's lyrics, and the sophisticated, hook-packed update of Britbeat from one so young (Weller was still only 24 in 1982 when he broke up the biggest band in Britain). --Garry Mulholland

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good start, but lacking, November 3, 2005

By	mr.everyoneshouldlistentome - See all my reviews

I was actually able to get my hands on the Jam's greatest hits collection Gold. It's a two-disc set with disc one being the UK version of Sound of the Jam. The only difference with the US and UK versions is that the UK has six more songs. So basically, I own Sound of the Jam, and it is hard to say I am not pleased with. It serves as perhaps the perfect start and introduction to this very under appreciated band. It's in a nice chronological order, so it's easy to see how far the band progressed in their short career. In America the Jam is a very underrated band and this CD shows how underrated they truly are.

Unlike most greatest hits compilations, this one is dominated by album cuts. This is both good and bad. The good is that songs that only big fans who own the albums hear, can now be heard by a wider audience. Great songs such as "Thick as Thieves "and" Ghosts, which are not usually put on other compilations, are now thrown with songs worth of their company. The bad part about the album track domination is that many great singles, some which helped define the band, are not present. "Strange Town" and "When You're Young" were some of the Jam's greatest singles and just flat out good songs, yet they are nowhere to be found. Neither is "Dreams of Children", which was the other half of their 1980 UK number 1 single. Even standout album tracks like `"A' Bomb on Wardour Street"', are not here.

While Sound of the Jam serves as probably the greatest introduction for this amazing band, there is a lot to be desired. Key tracks in the bands catalog are missing when they should definitely be on here. However, it is good and should be bought by anyone interested in the Jam, or late seventies-early eighties music for that matter. While not the biggest band in the US, they are of much historical importance in music of the last 30 years.

Standout tracks: In the City, Down in the Tube Station at Midnight, Eton Rifles, Thick as Thieves, Going Underground, Start, That's Entertainment, Town Called Malice.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good start for collection, March 21, 2003

By	"pezboy2u" (Chicago, USA) - See all my reviews

It's a crime that the Jam are not as well known in the US as they are in the UK. Unlike many of their peers from the original punk explosion of 1977, the Jam expanded their sound with each release, becoming superstars in the UK along the way. Paul Weller, the trio's singer/songwriter, had a knack for mixing the personal and the political in songs that were simple in construct, yet catchy and powerful. With influences as diverse as 60's Motown (Check the bassline of "Town called Malice") and the Who, they cranked out one instant classic after another. This comp is a great start for neophytes, and will have you hunting down the rest of their amazing catalogue.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great intro to an overlooked band!, August 18, 2003

By A Customer

It's already been said a million times, but I guess it bears repeating: the Jam were a smart band with an edge who were idolized in their native Britain but almost completely ignored by American listeners. It's sad, but very true. (In the States, Jam leadman Paul Weller was most famous for being the only featured singer who nobody could recognize in that Band Aid video of "Feed the World (Do they know it's Christmastime?") "Oh look there's Bono, George Michael, Boy George, and Simon Le Bon. But who's that guy?")

Now with "The Sound of the Jam" one can get an idea of what American listeners missed out on the late 70's and early 80's. This is a complilation of some of the best songs from the Jam's six studio albums and greatest singles. The CD lists the tracks in chronological order from the raw punkish sound of the band's early days to the soulish/Motown derived sound of its later effots including their most famous song- "A Town Called Malice," which was featured prominently in the movie "Billy Elliot."

This is really a terrific compilation for anyone curious about this band. As mentioned above the Jam's sound evolved greatly over time and this album allows a listener to follow that progression without the expense of buying every studio album. However, this CD is a teaser because once you start listening to the Jam chances are you're going to want to hear more.