The Jam - In the City (1977)

The Who's song "In the City" was pretty unremarkable and, as a b-side to the non-album single "I'm a Boy", rarely saw compilation release. To say that this particular song inspired anything is a bit of a stretch but maybe not so much in the case of British punk band The Jam, whose first single and album were also called "In the City". The Who's cut on youth in the city doesn't get away from girls, fun in the sun, and a light undertone of rebellion. Contrastingly, The Jam's lyrics reveal a "young idea" sweeping the city that neither harkens for lawlessness nor revolution (like most punk music of the time), but instead mourns the loss of identity and respect ("Whatever happened to the great Empire?") and the rising movement to reattain them.

The Jam formed in 1972 around Paul Weller in Woking, Surrey, England with the rest of the band made up of various secondary school friends that played Rhythm and Blues covers in the local pubs. By '75, the band lineup solidified with Weller on bass, Bruce Foxton and Steve Brookes on guitars, and Rick Buckler on drums. Punk innovators The Clash and Sex Pistols refocused The Jam onto an edgier and faster punk sound. At the same time, The Jam fell into the mod lifestyle (predicated by bands such as The Who) as the movement had revived in working class England. Paul Weller would purchase his own Italian scooter and the band's look showed off tailored suits (while most other punks wore ripped clothes and leather jackets). Mod bands like The Who also played an important role in the evolution of The Jam's sound that synthesized classic rock and the contemporary punk scene. Brookes left the band just before The Jam signed to Polydor Records. He was not replaced, and Weller took over guitar duties from Foxton who moved took over on bass.

The Jam released their debut single "In the City" in April of 1977 that found its spot in the Top 40 of the UK charts. The album of the same name, released soon after, was successful both critically and commercially in the UK. It consisted mostly of original songs penned by Weller and rounded off with two punk covers of Larry Williams's "Slow Down" and the "Batman Theme". The album's pervasive theme was the previously mentioned "young idea" that accurately reflected "pre-20s delusions" according to Record Mirror's Barry Cain. It could be found in songs like "In the City", "Sounds from the Street", and "Bricks and Mortar" that proclaimed British pride and a nostalgia for an idyllic England of a previous generation. The fast-paced album is broken up by the slower "Away from the Numbers" that has Paul Weller strangely moving away from the potentially superficial "young idea" movement and instead separated himself from the herd. With their debut such a success, The Jam would find themselves back in the studio for their sophomore effort with 1977 yet to conclude.

Here is the discography surrounding The Jam's debut album:

In the City (1977 single)
In the City





If you have any idea for where the tour should go next, please give a shout.

Pass the Headphones!!

The Who - My Generation (1965)

Jimmy Page is renowned for his career with The Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin, but he spent several years mastering his craft as a session musician. Producer Shel Talmy favored Page's skills and used him often on his productions. Page played on The Kinks debut album and was even rumored to have authored the guitar solo on "You Really Got Me", which he denies and credits to Dave Davies. The Who's early recordings were also produced by Shel Talmy, and their debut single "I Can't Explain" also featured Page.

John Entwistle and Pete Townshend's first roles as musicians had them as members of a Dixieland jazz band called The Confederates on which Entwistle played the French Horn and Townshend played the banjo. With a chance street encounter between Entwistle and Roger Daltrey, the two were recruited into Daltrey's rhythm and blues band The Detours. The early line-up had Daltrey on lead guitar, Townshend on rhythm guitar, Entwistle on bass, Doug Sandom on drums, and Colin Dawson as vocalist. With the departure of Dawson, Daltrey took over on vocals, leaving Townshend as the sole guitarist. Although The Detours were considered a talented band, they couldn't quite earn a recording contract for need of original material and a better drummer. The band dropped the elder Sandom from The Detours and picked up the younger, manic Keith Moon.

In 1964, The Detours changed their name to The Who and then briefly to The High Numbers on the recommendation of their new manager Peter Meaden. Under Meaden, The High Numbers were tailored to appeal to England's mod subculture that held an affinity for Italian motor scooters, tailored suits, pop music (beat, ska, soul, R&B), and dancing clubs. The band's first single "Zoot Suit" failed to chart, so the group reverted back to The Who, and Meaden relinquished managing control to Kit Lambert and Christ Stamp. Despite all of these changes, The Who maintained a strong local following but needed a little something more to gain national attention. They found a gimmick when Pete Townshend, in a bout of frustration, destroyed his guitar at the Railway Tavern. The next night saw an increased audience expecting more destruction. From then on, Townshend and Moon regularly performed what they call auto-destructive art.

The Who's first single as The Who was the Kinks-inspired tune "I Can't Explain" that peaked at eighth on the UK charts early in 1965. This was followed up with "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere". Their third single "My Generation" peaked at second in the UK and provided a wave of success going into the release of their debut album, the commercially named My Generation. The album met with critical acclaim and commercial popularity reaching fifth on the charts. A handful of other singles were released throughout 1966 to varied success. They found continued chart success with the original singles "Substitute" and "I'm a Boy".

The album is a good source document to The Who's early "Hardcore R&B" days. It's made up mostly of original material by Pete Townshend and is rounded off with three cover songs (two James Brown, one Bo Diddley). Although most of the songs stay in the British Rhythm and Blues and Beat tradition, a number of songs stand out. In particular, "My Generation" and "The Kids Are Alright" are definitive Who power pop and would become the album's most iconic tracks. The beat-inspired "It's Not True" and the romping instrumental "The Ox" are other noteworthy tracks. The 1966 single "I'm a Boy", a song not on the album, holds some importance as it is a remnant of Townshend's first attempt at a rock opera, an idea he'd keep working on in the years to come.

Here is the discography surrounding The Who's debut album:

Zoot Suit (1964 single as The High Numbers)
I Can't Explain (1965 single)
Anytime, Anyhow, Anywhere (1965 single)
My Generation (1965 single)
My Generation
Substitute (1966 single)
A Legal Matter (1966 single)
The Kids Are Alright (1966 single)
I'm a Boy (1966 single)





If you have any ideas for the tour should go next, please give a shout. I'm open to all suggestions.

Pass the Headphones!!