Oh how I adored The Jam and Paul Weller. As a Clash fan it was not very cool but I adored “Eaton Rifles” and sang it to the annoyance of everyone who knew me. That, and ‘Down At The Tube Station At Midnight”. Great stuff, great hits and their suits were spiffy.
There is a celebration about to take place for their album ‘The Gift’. This was a breakthrough for them and provide some pretty big hits such as “Town Called Malice”. That thing was released in 1981. For some reason they’re calling it the 30th anniversary but even I can do the math and realize that’s not right. So this would actually be the 31st if not the near 32nd year celebration for this release!
"I don't remember any feeling at first of it being the last record, when we first went into it anyway," Paul Weller tells NME. "It was done in two halves, we started it in ’81 before Christmas and we finished it off after Christmas. But I think it was alright, there were a lot of tunes written upfront and there was a pretty positive atmosphere among everyone."
This album also dipped into Wellers political side: "I was thinking about the times we were living in. It wasn’t the height of Thatcherism but she was well into her stride by that time. The country was being depleted and the working classes were being shat on. It was a very desolate time. You couldn’t help but be touched by the politics of the time, you were either for or against it and I was reflecting what I saw around me."
Alrighty then….
In honor of the big event there will of course be a meg super duper deluxe box set edition of the album bonus tracks which include the band's last singles 'Great Depression', 'The Bitterest Pill', and 'Beat Surrender'. It will also include a previously unreleased 'Live At Wembley' recording of The Jam's last ever tour and a compilation DVD of live footage and TV appearances. Why do they always throw in that super duper? Give us the real deal. Cassette or vinyl same packaging charge the same cost it was when it was released. That would be best tribute.
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