Beat Surrender

7th February 1981 – according to Wiki (that’s never wrong, right?)

The Jam’s finest hour, well that’s debatable and personal but no doubt it’s one of tracks that has best stood the test of time and stands as a testimony to Weller’s abilities to project the everyday and mundane into an indelible piece of music. One of all time favourite songs it remains a live favourite and always manages to raise an extra effort from the crowd – even getting the most stoic of fans of their arse and joining in. The single charted as an import and with Down in The Tube Station earned the band the distinction of the two best selling import singles in UK chart history.

My favourite version was the demo that appeared on Direction, Reaction, Creation (buy), here it is:

The Jam – That’s Entertainment [Direction Reaction Creation]

. . . → Read More: “That’s Entertainment” – It was 30 years ago today……

Town Called Malice was The Jam’s fifteeth single release, a double A-side coupled with Precious the single became the bands third UK #1 and the only single to chart in the USA, arguably it’s become the bands best known tune, probably due to it’s appearance in both Billy Elliot and National Lampoons European Vacation but spare a thought for the funky AA cut Precious, a favourite of mine particularly the version that appeared on the 12″ single release – a worn out copy of which lurks somewhere in my “office”, the song was written about Weller’s home town Woking and it’s message is as relevant in today’s economic times as it was 28 years ago.

A whole street’s belief in Sunday’s roast beef gets dashed against the co-op To either cut down on beer or the kid’s new gear It’s a big decision in a town called malice

From Live Jam Precious . . . → Read More: The Jam “Town Called Malice”