The Jam Album: “Sound of the Jam [Bonus DVD]”

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.

Across their six albums, The Jam touched on virtually every style in existance, and this CD is a great chance to see that. Their roots were in the punk / new wave scene, but frontman Paul Weller also had a lvoe of soul, funk and jazz, as well as an itneresting socio-political approach that had a different kind of bile to the Sex Pistols - it was perhaps more positive and inspirational, even in their early days.

The selections are roughly 50/50 split between singles and album tracks, which means that a lot of singles are missing - although only the lush ballad The Bitterest Pill and the obscenely catchy When You're Young are really missed. Album tracks such as the poignant English Rose and the powerful Liza Radley are certainly among tehir finest tracks.

Their artisitc progression is quite easy to chart from the tracks here. With a love of 60s pop, they somewhat tagged onto the punk vibe in tehir early days, before coming into real form with the amazing, edgy Down In the Tube Station At Midnight, which builds into a truly stunning climax as its sad tale reaches its conclusion.

The Eton Rifles then burst them into the UK Top 10, with it's hilarious lyrics on the class struggle - "all that rugby puts hairs on your chest, what chance have you got agaisnt a tie and a crest?" - before they increasingly took influences form black American music. Start! is especially inventive, and seems to be several songs in one. The acoustic social commentary of That's Entertainment is perhaps their greatest track - no wonder its one of the few that still features in Paul Weller's solo set.

Having been heard in the film Billy Elliott, and covered by Britpoppers Gene, A Town Called Malice is their best known / least unknown song. With a very Motowny baseline it's representative of their later material, and extremely hummable, while lyrically still down to earth and quite English.

The band were soon finsihed, as the artisitc differences become too much - bassist Bruce Foxton formed punk band Stiff Little Fingers, while Weller fronted the soulful, romantic Style Council (both great bands as well). Their legacy is impressive, and too easy to overlook.

There are a number of compilations available - including boxed sets, nearly 20 - for The Jam and this 20-track edition is a nice overview on what was a brilliant recording career from 1977-1982.

Paul Weller, Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler had 18 Top 40 singles in the UK and though lumped into the punk rock explosion, were much more from the R&B and beat sounds from the 1960s. Never presented well in the United States - an early tour found them in arenas, opening for Blue Oyster Cult - the band remains one of the most influential in rock-n-roll that still has an expanding fan base.

While the set does not deliver any surprise gems from the vault, it is a great way for new or casual fans to get a better understanding on what made The Jam the best group to emerge out of the punk rock era.

The Jam is great and this collection is very comprehensive, but the DVD is not Region 1, and will not play on most DVD players in the US. If your DVD player can support PAL format, you will be OK.

Great collection. Drink a couple of cups of really strong coffee and listen to "Thick as Thieves"; the rush is like surfing a 6' peak at H.B. on a 5-10 twin fin in June.