The Jam

[AcornHouse]

On my trip up to Columbus today, my main jam was The Jam. I love this band, although I wasn’t really aware of them when they existed. Not many in the US were. For whatever reason they never were able to “crack” America, even though they were one of the biggest bands in the UK in the late 70s/early 80s.
This is one of my favorites songs of theirs; the lyrics are pure poetry.

(And I will never apologize or stop spreading The Jam; they should have been more well known over here, and we deserve to hear more of them!)

 

[GGJaguar]

They got a lot of airplay on college radio when I was at university. That's how I learned about them, anyway. One of my kids discovered them about 35 years after I did.

 

[AcornHouse]

They got a lot of airplay on college radio when I was at university. That's how I learned about them, anyway. One of my kids discovered them about 35 years after I did.

I only knew them from a couple of videos on MTV. It wasn’t until I was looking for something to do with my students in Rock Ensemble that I explored their whole catalog and dived in whole hog.

 

[jp]

I love The Jam! I was also into that vein of Brit bands like The English Beat, The Specials, and Elvis Costello and The Attractions, and lots of others. Good stuff!

 

[twocorgis]

I only knew them from a couple of videos on MTV. It wasn’t until I was looking for something to do with my students in Rock Ensemble that I explored their whole catalog and dived in whole hog.

One of the greatest bands of that era, and Paul Weller has been playing an Orpheum Jumbo in recent years.

 

[HeyMikey]

Have always loved this one and it’s fun to play.

 

[AcornHouse]

One of the greatest bands of that era, and Paul Weller has been playing an Orpheum Jumbo in recent years.

And Bruce Foxton was the best bass player from that era. Driving home I had the thought that he would have been a great fit for The Who after John died. He and Rick got a raw deal when Paul decided to break up the band. Style Council wasn’t half the band, even though twice the players.

 

[Guildedagain]

The Clash was more my thing, but The Jam right up there at the top of the food chain. Weller vs Strummer? ;[]

 

[HeyMikey]

Best bass player of the 80’s new wave era… that would be Graham Maby in my book.

 

[twocorgis]

And Bruce Foxton was the best bass player from that era. Driving home I had the thought that he would have been a great fit for The Who after John died. He and Rick got a raw deal when Paul decided to break up the band. Style Council wasn’t half the band, even though twice the players.

I might argue that Graham Maby was the best bassist of that era, but it might be splitting hairs. I got to meet him when he was playing with Freedy Johnston opening up for the Jayhawks at the Landmark on Main Street in my hometown recently. I performed on that stage many times when I was young. Graham lives in Great Neck, NY, one town over from my hometown.

EDIT: I see Mike beat me to it!