Sorting out these alternative best of’s can be so tricky because very often, once the singles we all know and love have been removed, there’s not a lot left. Thankfully I already knew The Jam would be different. Infact, I could have copped another hours worth of songs quite easily such was Wellers prolific nature and high standard.
Sticking out like a sore thumb amongst the skunky herbert’s of first generation punks, originally The Jam were little more than retro mod’s doing their high energy Who thing. I must have seen them 6 or 7 times, in places as varied as the Nag’s Head, High Wycombe, the 100 Club and the unwelcoming hanger of Bracknell Sports Centre. They were never less than manic, Weller trembling with the intensity of his missionary zeal, inspiring absolute faith and devotion from the kids at the front in their target T-Shirts and parkas.
For a good few years, those of All Mod Cons, Setting Son’s and a multitude of singles, The Jam were completely peerless. Of course, in the end they, or rather Weller, simply ran out of steam with nothing left to say and no place left to go. Way, way too trad to ever be post punk despite overlapping with its stylistic phases and obsessions, he solved the conundrum by ending it all, a brave, brave move and one he’s clearly never regretted.
01 ART SCHOOL / In The City May 1977
02 AWAY FROM THE NUMBERS / In The City May 1977
03 SOUNDS FROM THE STREET / In The City May 1977
04 TIME FOR TRUTH / In The City May 1977
05 LIFE FROM A WINDOW / This Is The Modern World November 1977
06 TONIGHT AT NOON / This Is The Modern World November 1977
07 SO SAD ABOUT US / Single B Side August 1978
08 TO BE SOMEONE / All Mod Cons November 1978
09 IN THE CROWD / All Mod Cons November 1978
10 FLY / All Mod Cons November 1978
11 THE PLACE I LOVE / All Mod Cons November 1978
12 THE BUTTERFLY COLLECTOR / Single B Side March 1979
13 THICK AS THIEVES / Setting Sons November 1979
14 PRIVATE HELL / Setting Sons November 1979
15 LITTLE BOY SOLDIERS / Setting Sons November 1979
16 BURNING SKY / Setting Sons November 1979
17 DREAMS OF CHILDREN / Single B Side February 1980
18 LIZA RADLEY / Single B Side August 1980
19 PRETTY GREEN / Sound Affects November 1980
20 MONDAY / Sound Affects November 1980
21 MAN IN THE CORNER SHOP / Sound Affects November 1980
22 TALES FROM THE RIVERBANK / Single B Side October 1981
23 GHOSTS / The Gift March 1982
24 CARNATION / The Gift March 1982
25 THE GREAT DEPRESSION / Single B Side June 1982
