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CD
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
if you are young and into todays punk bands, then you will like this album. I bought this when it came out, and its still good now. Musically its probably not The Jams best, but it has that immediacy of youth, that Weller had in abundance in his early work. It pays homage to the who, motown, put into a 1977 woking punk scene. You can tell even at this stage that weller was going to have a long and outstanding career. 'In the city' was the opening single for the band, and it got a lot of people to buy the album. If you've heard 'in the city' and like it, then buy it to.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Nostromo
Format:Audio CD
As debut albums go and released at the time it was, it's hard to imagine how this one could be any better. 1977 was a period of conflicting musical styles. The impact of the 60s goliaths The Beatles and The Who could still be felt, there was the arrival of disco and the explosion of punk. This album is a great reflection of these uncertain musical times.
To hear the songs, you immediately think of punk. The angry twang of Weller's Rickenbacker and Foxton's pounding bass coupled with the angst in Weller's voice make the band stand out from the meaningless punk mediocrity that was around at the same time. However, a deeper study will reveal much more complexity. How many punk groups sang about wanting to be away from the numbers, non-stop dancing and had songs with love in the title? No, The Jam were, even here at this early stage, so much more than a punk band. Visually the band in their black suits are a throwback to the early Beatles and Who era. Sounds From The Street was Weller's answer to the American beach craze spearheaded by The Beach Boys, Non-Stop Dancing makes reference to James Brown and the soul music which was to influence Weller so much in his career, Slow Down is a Larry Williams Rythym and Blues cover whilst In The City, a title borrowed from The Who's "A Quick One" album and the Batman Theme which again appears on the same Who album clearly show Weller's mod influences. Running through the album however is the beginning of the social concern and urban realism that feature so heavily in The Jam's output and which became a core part of their overall importance.
This is a raw and powerful sound and lacks the refinement of the band's output from All Mod Cons but The Jam announced their arrival with full power and force with this debut and the multi layerd 18 year old lead singer sows the seeds for what was to come later. Brilliant stuff!!
To hear the songs, you immediately think of punk. The angry twang of Weller's Rickenbacker and Foxton's pounding bass coupled with the angst in Weller's voice make the band stand out from the meaningless punk mediocrity that was around at the same time. However, a deeper study will reveal much more complexity. How many punk groups sang about wanting to be away from the numbers, non-stop dancing and had songs with love in the title? No, The Jam were, even here at this early stage, so much more than a punk band. Visually the band in their black suits are a throwback to the early Beatles and Who era. Sounds From The Street was Weller's answer to the American beach craze spearheaded by The Beach Boys, Non-Stop Dancing makes reference to James Brown and the soul music which was to influence Weller so much in his career, Slow Down is a Larry Williams Rythym and Blues cover whilst In The City, a title borrowed from The Who's "A Quick One" album and the Batman Theme which again appears on the same Who album clearly show Weller's mod influences. Running through the album however is the beginning of the social concern and urban realism that feature so heavily in The Jam's output and which became a core part of their overall importance.
This is a raw and powerful sound and lacks the refinement of the band's output from All Mod Cons but The Jam announced their arrival with full power and force with this debut and the multi layerd 18 year old lead singer sows the seeds for what was to come later. Brilliant stuff!!
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. C. W. Smith
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD
In The City was the Woking boys powerful angst ridden opening shot and was seen by many as the LP that jump started the Mod revival in the UK.
Weller's emotive political lyrics were yet to fully take form but there are flashes of what was to come in the songs 'In The City' and the pithy 'Bricks and Mortar'
The Jam's music at this time owed a lot to the harmonies of Motown, the energy of the early Who and the anger of the current Punk scene.
Along with 'Bricks & Mortar', and 'In The City' the powerfully assured 'Art School' and the venomous 'I've changed my address' are the best tracks although the energetic cover of 'Slow Down' and the poignant 'Away From The Numbers' are also worthy of mention.
This was a stunning debut and a rallying flag for the coming Mod revival.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Quality product
Delivery time was long, though kept informed of this
Quality product in excellent condition. It will join the rest of my original Jam albums from the 70-80's framed on my... Read more
Quality product in excellent condition. It will join the rest of my original Jam albums from the 70-80's framed on my... Read more
Published 3 days ago by Robert D Murray
5.0 out of 5 stars
In the City - The Jam
A great first album full of passion and no doubt influenced by the Who, in fact they do the Batman theme which the Who also covered years before. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. Stephen G. Payne
5.0 out of 5 stars
in the city
the one that launched them, a great first alum. a punk era time capsule from a not really punk band.
Published 4 months ago by Oparlis
4.0 out of 5 stars
The new art school
Perhaps because their second album almost finished The Jam before they'd made a serious mark, 'In The City' tends to be forgotten. Read more
Published on 19 Sep 2009 by D. J. H. Thorn
3.0 out of 5 stars
Slow Down
'In The City', The Jam's pounding, caveman first album should be viewed as a statement of intent, rather than an initial explosion of creativity. Read more
Published on 19 Dec 2008 by Paul Ess.
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE BEST DEBUT ALBUM OF ALL TIME !!
This was the one !!
The album that turned me into a Weller fan for life.
I can vividly remember going to buy it, the day it was released, and it blew me away. Read more
Published on 22 Dec 2003 by COLSEE
5.0 out of 5 stars
Punk at it's best
This is by far the jams most punk and Rocking album they ever made. With the openning song art school you get that real jam really now of. Read more
Published on 22 July 2001
5.0 out of 5 stars
High energy debut album from the mod-punks.
a powerful combination of 60's style mod songs (I've Changed my address, Non stop dancing) bizzare covers (the "Batman" theme) off the cuff punk (Art school, In the city,... Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2001
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