'' is a
1980 album by British group
The Jam . This release, their fifth album, is frequently considered the closing point of The Jam's artistic peak begun on their third LP, ''
All Mod Cons '' and carried through on its follow-up, ''
Setting Sons ''. This is considered by many fans and critics to be The Jam's best album; only ''
All Mod Cons '' receives more claims thereto. To this day, Paul Weller considers this album to be The Jam's best work.
After the ambitious, harder-rocking ''Setting Sons'', The Jam returned to the pop-oriented outlook of ''All Mod Cons'', albeit with a noticeably different sound. The most salient influence on this album is '60s British psychedelic pop, such as ,
Gang Of Four , and
Joy Division and, particularly evident in
Rick Buckler 's drumming,
Michael Jackson 's ''
Off The Wall '' album. Indeed, singer/guitarist/songwriter
Paul Weller said at the time that he considered the album a cross between ''Off the Wall'' and ''Revolver''.
This album features the group's second UK number one single, "Start!", built around a bassline obviously inspired by The Beatles' "
Taxman ", the lead cut on ''Revolver''. Ironically,
Polydor pushed for "Pretty Green" to get the single release instead, thinking it a surer bet, but Weller insisted on "Start!"
"Pretty Green" is perhaps the apotheosis of the Michael Jackson and Beatles fusion, melding a throbbing funk bassline and rhythm with melodic guitar breaks and psychedelic sound effects. The group would later explore the "
Britfunk " sound in earnest on their next and final album, ''
The Gift ''.
Perhaps The Jam's best known and most acclaimed song is the striking acoustic ballad "
That's Entertainment "; it was recently named to the
List Of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time at #306, The Jam's lone entry. For a full discussion of this song, see the relevant article page.
- All tracks written by Paul Weller except as noted.
# "Pretty Green"
# "Monday"
# "But I'm Different Now"
# "Set The House Ablaze"
# "
Start! "
# "
That's Entertainment "
# "Dream Time"
# "Man In The Corner Shop"
# "Music For The Last Couple" (
Rick Buckler ,
Bruce Foxton ,
Paul Weller )
# "Boy About Town"
# "Scrape Away"
