The Jam - All Mod Cons
This week we take a deep dive into the 1978 LP by the Jam All Mod Cons. The Jam’s music was steeped in the urgency and energy of punk, but unlike most of their contemporaries, the Jam was not interested in tearing down what came before. Instead, the Jam unabashedly embraced the music and fashion of the 1960’s Great Britain, particularly that of the Who and the Kinks. As a result, the Jam helped to usher in the Neo-Mod movement in the UK, and gained then a rabidly loyal following in their home country.
The Jam were huge, in the UK. Charting 18 top 40 UK singles in a row. However, for some reason the Jam failed to connect with American audiences. Which is a shame, because the Jam were responsible for some of the most intelligent and tuneful music of the late 70s and early 80s.
All Mod Cons is considered a bit of a game changer for the band. The music press was largely underwhelmed by their previous effort, and the band was at a crossroads because Paul Weller (the man song writer) was admittedly suffering from writer’s block. However, inspired by the bevy a US only Kinks albums he discovered while touring America, Weller began to write short, smart, and poignant character studies set to pop music. The critics and the fans loved it. All Mod Cons set the band on a creative journey that would see each subsequent LP top the previous one on the UK Album Charts, making them one of the biggest UK bands in the process.
THINGS WE DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE
The Jam formed in 1972 when Paul Weller started playing with his school friend Steve Brookes. For a while they played as a 3 piece with drums, 2 guitars and no bass – with Weller moving to bass at some point.
Pictured (L to R) Steve Brookes, Rick Buckler, and Paul Weller - actually holding a Hofner “Beatle” Bass.
Shane McGowan of the Pogues (middle left) watching Bruce Foxton of the Jam.
As we discussed on Episode 55 of the podcast, Shane MacGowan was a big part of the burgeoning UK punk scene. He was was a big fan the Jam and was responsible for the band getting signed by Chris Parry of Polydor Records. Perry had missed out on signing both the Clash and the Sex Pistols. McGowan told him to check out the Jam who was playing at the famous Marquee Club. Impressed by what he saw, Perry signed the band.
Here’s the Jam channeling their inner mod-era Who. Pictured (L to R) Paul Weller, Bruce Foxton, and Rick Buckler.
Paul Weller says when he finally got around to hearing the Who, and in particular there debit The Who Sings My Generation, it was if he had a message from God at that said: “You will be a Mod.” He convinced the other guys to go along. They thought it gave them a distinctive look and sound & made them stand out.
Paul Weller finally met Pete Townsend in 1980 as part of a photo shoot. They are standing in front of the Marquee Club.
The photo was taken by Janette Beckman and is called “The Punk and the Mod-father: Old mod meets new mod."
The Jam released their first single “In the City” in April 1977. It reached No. 40 on the UK Singles Chart the following month and earned them a slot on Top of the Pops. This was their first Top 40 single and the first of 18 consecutive Top 40 singles.
Between the recording of their debut LP In the City and their second LP This is the Modern World, the Jam released a single called "All Around the World." It reached No.13 in the UK Singles Chart, earning them another spot on Top of the Pops.
Here’s the Jam performing the Kinks song “David Watts” live at Reading University, UK in 1979. At the record label’s urging, this was the first single off of All Mod Cons. It reached No. 25 in the UK Singles Chart.
Here’s Paul Weller performing a somewhat soulful version of“English Rose.”
