It was 44 years ago that the world was introduced to the hit UK band the Jam with. They debuted their hip, gritty sound on Polydor records and became an instant hit. Though they lasted less than a decade, the Jam’s influence in the music scene was tremendous as they helped bridge the pop and punk worlds while staying true to their roots. This week we celebrate the great talent that was the Jam (and frontman Paul Weller’s 53rd birthday).
Starting in 1975 while still in school, Paul 
Weller, Bruce Foxton, and Rick Buckler formed the Jam and began playing the London scene. Their following grew quickly and by April of 1977, the Jam put out their first single In the City. One month later, the single expanded into a full album with the full-length release of In the City. Their first single rocketed to the UK’s top 40 charts and from 1975 to 1982, the Jam remained in the spotlight, producing hits. While coming to fame in the era of punk with bands like the Sex Pistols and the Clash, the Jam seemed to engage more with the pop sensibilities and started the re-emergence of the mod scene.
The Jam led the mod-revivalist movement in both style and substance. Their dress showed the style and their songs infused the R&B influence. Mod and punk-rockers often came to a head and battled out their differences at beaches with fist-fights. At the heart of the matter however, the Jam and bands like the Clash were often talking about the same thing. When Weller wasn’t writing songs about love, he was writing political songs and attempting to make listeners aware of social issues. The Jam, while the forefront of the mod-revival, had punk influence laced throughout their music.
During the Jam’s tenure at Polydor records, the band released 6 albums and 16 singles, all of which made the charts in the UK. Oddly enough, the Jam never had the same amount of success in the US. Despite a tour with Blue Oyster Cult in 1978, the Jam seemed to limit their fame to the UK. In fact, their highest charting album in the US was Sound Affects, reaching only as high as number 72. Weller, in the time between the start and end of the Jam, continuously became more and more perturbed with the band and the music it was producing, despite being extremely successful. In 1982 after the release of their sixth and last album the Gift, the Jam split up.
Even though the Jam’s recordings lasted only five years, their legacy lives on in many bands of the 80’s and 90’s including such big names as the Smiths and Oasis and their music was featured in the 1997 movie Grosse Point Blank. After their break-up, Weller went on to form the Style Council and later went on to do solo work, which he continues to do. Weller, as a solo artist has released 10 albums, his most recent being Wake up the Nation, released on Yep Roc last May. Foxton went on to manage the Vapors and later became the bassist for punk band Stiff Little Fingers. He also enjoyed a brief solo career and most recently formed From the Jam with drummer Rick Buckler, touring and playing the Jam songs sans Weller. The break-up of the Jam may have meant the loss of a talented and fun group, but their incredible songs live on. And if you’re lucky enough, you can hear Weller playing some of the Jam classics when he rolls through your town.
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