The Language of Pop #5

Trans-Global Express - The Jam

Ordinary people don't get time to think
Not that it's their fault
'cause you have to hustle and bustle about your work
Just to make sure the food gets bought
Goverments threaten you with recession
Then they threaten you with war
How the other side wants to take away
All the things you ain't got no more
Keep us divided with their greed and hate
Keep you struggling to put the food on your plate.
Imagine if tomorrow the workers went on strike
Not just British Leyland but the whole world
Who would earn their profits?
Who would make their bombs?
You'd see the hands of oppression fumble
And their systems crash to the ground
And you men in uniform will have to learn the lesson too
Not to turn against your own kind
Whenever governments tell you to.

Get the trans-global express moving
And see our marvelous leaders quiver
They know that if it happens
Their lazy days are over
The day the working people join together
We'll all rest much more easy
The responsibility you must bear
When it's your own future in your hands
Maybe a hard one to face up to
But at least you will own yourself!

Paul Weller

Trans‐Global Express lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

13 Songs – 4

 When you’re young – The Jam

The Jam were my band. Ever since they sped on stage at the Winter Gardens in Eastbourne on 9^th June 1977 – they were mine! From ‘In the City’ their first 7” via their debut album of the same name, various singles with the word ‘World’ in the title, their slow growing but ultimately rather good second album (especially the more introspective numbers like ‘Life from a Window’ and ‘Tonight at Noon’) on to their magnum opus ‘All Mod Cons’, ‘Strange Town’ and then ‘When you’re young’ – they were my band… They obviously continued to be my band, all the way to their perfectly timed end. However, their 8^th single has always struck me as being the very moment they went from excellent to truly fucking amazing. Like most of the other tracks on this list this isn’t particularly my stand out track but the combination of the song, the sleeve, the b-side, the time, the place, the paisley shirt, the dub section, the lyrics, the riff, the woah-ho’s, the coda, the video, the version on ‘Something Else’ the black & white Rickenbacker 330 and the various barnstorming live versions all led me to the certain belief that my band were indeed the best band in the land!

I had backed the 6^th favourite and it had stormed home in the final straight leaving the rest trailing. The other horses in the Punk Rock/New Wave Handicap Stakes had lined up like this…

The Sex Pistols – Evens, The Clash 2-1 (Shortened from 3-1), Buzzcocks 4-1, The Stranglers 9-2, The Damned 8-1 (from two’s) and The Jam 10-1, 20-1 bar these. And now The Jam were in the winners enclosure, whilst the others were either splitting up, overdosing, reforming, trying to break America or simply struggling to write anything that the whole band liked! 

Whilst I know art shouldn’t be compared to sport or competition, it invariably is and in the heady days of punk, it was important to back the right outfit. Just ask my mate who plumped for The Merton Parkas instead of The Chords – a tragic miscalculation that he’s still paying for even now!

Anyway, back to the thing that really matters, the song. There is a pace, wit and healthy cynicism that comes beautifully produced by Vic Coppersmith-Heaven and brilliantly delivered by the band. My only frustration is that the dub section doesn’t run on for another two hours! Apart from that unrealistic expectation, what we are left with is…  another blistering single from my band – The Jam! 

Life is timeless, days are long when you're young
You used to fall in love with everyone
Any guitar and any bass drum
Life is a drink and you get drunk when you're young
Life is new and there's things to be done
You can't wait to be grown up
Acceptance into the capital world
You pull on some weed, then you pull on someone when you're young

But you find out life isn't like that
It's so hard to comprehend
Why you set up your dreams to have them smashed in the end

But you don't mind you've got time on your side
And they're never gonna make you stand in line
You're just waiting for the right time

Oh oh
Oh oh

You're fearless and brave, you can't be stopped when you're young
You swear you're never ever gonna work for someone
No corporations for the new age sons
Tears of rage roll down your face
But still you say "it's fun"

And you find out life isn't like that
It's so hard to understand
Why the world is your oyster but your future's a clam

It's got you in its grip before you're born
It's done with the use of a dice and a board
And let you think you're king but you're really a pawn

Oh oh
Oh oh
Oh oh

You're fearless and brave, you can't be stopped when you're young
You used to fall in love with everyone
Any guitar and any bass drum

 

All over the country the lights are going out

in millions of homes and thousands of flats, 

going out, going out, going out..

 

Songwriter: Paul Weller

When You’re Young lyrics © Stylist Music Ltd.

Football coming home - #1

I have been a fully fledged football fan since 22nd February 1970 around about 2:30pm. The trigger for what became a lifelong affliction was the transmission on ITV of 'The Big Match' featuring QPR v Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter final. The specific incident that then changed my life was the decision of the referee Mr K.Howley to demand that a QPR penalty be retaken. The reason being that Chelsea keeper Peter Bonetti had supposedly moved before the kick was taken and smothered the shot by Rangers skipper Terry Venables. So incensed was I, by this blatant anti-Chelsea bias, I immediately and irrevocably threw my support behind The Mighty Blues. Although to be honest I didn't know they were blue at the time, not least because we were wearing our yellow away shirts but because our family only got a colour tv in 1975!

The reason I mention this is simply because, it was my choice, my decision alone and all these years later the fact that I am a season ticket holder (East Upper), despite living in Sydney, Australia is a direct result of that decision. The fact that I put on 'Three Lions' an hour ago and immediately dissolved into tears is something else all together. I did not choose my country of birth. I am English, despite myself. Therefore, I support the England team, I have to, not necessarily because I want to, just simply because.

I had been aware of the England team prior to my Loftuscene conversion in 1970. Any kid growing up in England knew of the holy trinity of Moore, Hurst & Peters - in fact I'd even flirted with becoming a West Ham fan but it didn't feel quite right. In a perfect storm of falling in love with Chelsea, them subsequently beating 'Dirty Leeds' in the FA Cup Final and the World Cup being played in Mexico that summer, I was being groomed for a lifetime of success and... failure. 

England crashed out against the dreaded West Germans and what's more, one of my Chelsea heroes Peter Bonetti (aka The Cat) was widely blamed (though not by me) for his part in the defeat - although Gerd Muller's shot from about 4 years out also had something to do with it. The heartbreak that particular defeat inflicted is still surprisingly raw. Surely, the reason to like football is because my team would always win. This losing malarkey was not what I signed up for. 

The tale of Chelsea's travails and subsequent redemption will no doubt be covered at another date (the joy of lockdown). This article however, is about my relationship with the England team. After Mexico, things got steadily worse for Sir Alf & his boys. Gunter Netzer demolished our Euro 1972 hopes and Poland had made qualification for the 1974 World Cup a little harder than anticipated. However, all we had to do was beat them at Wembley - easy!

Expectations both at school and home were ridiculously high. Special plans had been made and I could even watch the game: A) live and B) in colour - thanks to the next door neighbour. Anyway, history shows that England only managed to draw 1-1 and that Norman Hunter should have smashed the ball into row Z before Shilton had the chance to dive over Domarski's shot. We were out and not going to the World Cup. The upside was being able to revel in the joy of Holland's total football and that bloody Muller again. Perhaps England were not the team I'd been led to believe...

Surely the appointment of Don Revie from 'Dirty Leeds' would change our fortunes. In hindsight, it was as misguided as appointing Sam Allardyce decades later. Revie's Leeds team were a talented bunch of players, managed by a negative and dubious individual (to say the least). Brian Clough was right: 

"Well, I might as well tell you now. You lot may all be internationals and have won all the domestic honours there are to win under Don Revie. But as far as I'm concerned, the first thing you can do for me is to chuck all your medals and all your caps and all your pots and all your pans into the biggest f***ing dustbin you can find, because you've never won any of them fairly. You've done it all by bloody cheating." 

Brian Clough - To Leeds players on first day of training.

Revie failed to get any decent results (or even bribe any opponents) and he ended up bunking off to the UAE for a sackful of cash (always his ultimate motive). World Cup 1978 was off the cards and by now I was firmly of the opinion that we were bloody useless. I'd find myself going to Stamford Bridge every week and quietly tolerating the rubbish on the windswept and distant pitch from the confines of the hotbed of congeniality and ready wit that was The Shed End. However, the thought of watching England, despite their swanky new fancy pants Admiral kits (courtesy of Don Revie?), was not so appealing. I'd much rather spend my money on going to gigs or on the brand new 7" single 'In the city'from a little known trio from Woking who I subsequently realised were called The Jam.

What is the point of music? - Part 1

Stagewear

I remember when I suppose I was about 10 and beginning to take note of the music and the charts. This burgeoning interest was fuelled in part by an awakening driven by two things: Top of the Pops & Girls. Girls liked music, I liked girls; ergo I like music. Simple. 

Things were complicated by the fact that the chart stars of the day were androgynous and confusing chaps(?) like Marc Bolan & David Bowie. Even grown up bovver boys Slade dressed a bit bloody weird. Anyway, girls liked musicians more than they liked footballers. So, whilst not turning my back on 'the beautiful game', I needed to become a musician. No problem. 

All you need is a tennis racket, some cardboard, sellotape, marker pen and some string. Within an hour I had knocked up a 'Fender Slazengercaster' - it was mint! Of course, it didn't make a sound, at least nothing like Bolan's riff to 20th Century Boy. More of a dull pfft - but hey I'm only interested in miming, like they do on 'Top of the Pops'. 

Guitar - done!

What to wear next? And this is where the wheels started to come off. I enlisted my mum in this tricky transformation from 10 year-old sporty schoolboy to POPSTAR. Unfortunately, I chose to style myself on the front man out of 'Wizzard', Roy Wood. Even now I cringe at the ham-fisted attempts to make myself look like Mr Wood - who much later I came to realise was a very talented musician (especially in The Move). A combination of make-up, back combing, assorted dressing gowns and other odd bits and pieces and the look was complete. I took one look in the upstairs full length mirror and was horrified! 

What is the point of music?

I flung the Slazengercaster down, scraped the make-up off and put my Chelsea kit back on. If dressing up like a right berk was what being a popstar was all about, then count me out. I think it took a full three and a half years for me to even listen to music again....

And then The Jam came to town!

Day in the life...

View from the roof garden

 -- A glass of champagne nestles 

into the V of the right hand. 

The burnt out sun 

slides into the night.

We can see the

Post Office Tower

revolving through

the traffic's haze.

--- Kaleidoscope.

The lost

sound 

of 1977

rushes

through 

the 

wires.

She looks at him

and he looks down

at the askew

world below.

"No way down from here,

at least not as I can see..."

 

A perfect day in the perfect pub - #3

"The Place I love is a million miles away..."

Lunchtime at the cricket, lunchtime in the perfect pub and a distant dream time on the jukebox. The Jam's 'The Place I love'* is playing. One of my favourite Weller songs, it always reminds of George Orwell's 'Coming up for Air'. 

In which, the main character George Bowling decides to revisit the places of his childhood, in particular he plans to revisit a specific pond with a large fish in that he had tried to capture over 30 years ago. When Bowling returns, he finds the whole place unrecognisable. He eventually locates the old pub where he is due to stay but finds it much changed. His old family home has become a tea-shop. Only the church and the vicar appear unchanged. 

The saddest part is when Bowling sees his ex-girlfriend. She has been so ravaged by time that she is almost unrecognisable and utterly devoid of the qualities he once adored. She in turn, fails to recognise him at all.

Thankfully, 'The Place I love' lingers in utopian days of sanctuary despite the fact that: 

"... the place I love is overgrown now
with beautiful moss and colourful flowers
and goldfish that swim in a pool, there's a small brick wall
with neon lighting, controlled by lightning"

As my mind reaches out for the opening salvo of Rick Buckler's drums on A-bomb in Wardour Street that never arrives, a fish finger sandwich drenched in Heinz Salad Cream, Vinegar and Tabasco does. The barman knows to leave bottles of all three condiments on the table too. The thick cut chips were brought here directly from Mount Olympus and melt on contact with my tongue. A second pint of Guinness has also appeared in a blur of efficiency and gratitude. 

The good news from the cricket is that Jimmy Anderson has already bagged three early Aussie wickets. Meanwhile, Internazionale are interested in buying a decent goalkeeper from Genoa and an amateur British cyclist has been tipped as an outside hope for this year's tour. 

All this and it is only ten past one! 

*I know that 'The Place I love' was never released on 7" 

but this is a perfect day in a perfect pub....

The Eton Rifles

They are coming for you...

About the Young Idea

I was delighted to be back, albeit briefly, in London and even more delighted to be able to pop into Somerset House to see the 'About the young idea exhibition' which chartered the rise, fall, rise and ultimate end of The Jam.

From the first glimpse of the stage set (Bingley Hall) to the dazzling array of Rickenbackers, posters, stage clothes etc I was transported back to the days that three blokes from Woking defined a way, a look, an attitude for a generation.

Life is timeless, days are long when you're young. Used to fall in love with everyone, any guitar and any bass drum...

Poll Results - Bands you'd like to reform

1. The Smiths
2. The Jam
3. The Clash (?)
4. Haircut 100
5. The Style Council
6. Oasis

Strings of Desire - #2

Rickenbacker 330

Despite not being able to play it when I bought it, this is the first proper guitar I ever owned. The classic Rickenbacker 330, made famous by Messrs Weller, Marr, Townsend et al.

If you want a trebly jangly feedback enducing experience, then look no further. especially when twinned with the VOX AC30.

Ladies & Gentlemen, I give you the perfect Zap! Wham! Kerpow! Mod guitar!!!

1,2,3,4...

The 13 best albums of all time - #1

All Mod Cons - The Jam

From the scratch that heralds the 1,2,3,4 count of the title track to the fade out of the Central Line tube bound for Ealing Broadway, every track of 'All Mod Cons' echoes down the years with the refreshing arrogance of youth mixed with the tender frailty and exuberance of first love.

The explosive attack of The Jam's debut album 'In the city' had been swiftly followed up by their second LP 'This is the modern world', which whilst featuring a couple of standout track (The Modern World & Here comes the weekend) had left the majority of crirtics and punters alike wondering if Paul Weller (Lead singer/guitarist & prime songwriter) had what it took to break out of the already tightening constraints of punk orthodoxy.

All Mod Cons not only proved that Weller did have the nous, skill and vision to change direction but that by doing so he could take the late 70's UK music scene by the scruff of the neck and galvanise a whole generation of followers to embrace a musical tradition that went back to the sixties sounds of The Who, Kinks & Small Faces. Whilst at the same time toughening them up for the hardships of Thatcherism and the 80's that were just around the corner.

1. All Mod Cons
The opening track sets the tone perfectly for what comes next. Clipped, purposeful and knowing. A short attack on time wasters and their ilk. No sooner has the clear Rickenbacker cut through than the track's ending feedback segues neatly into...

2. To be someone
What intially seems like a straightforward attack on the hoary old rock gods living on past glories, the boring old rocker of yore now content to piss it all up the wall in the comforting company of cronies and groupies. Actually turns out to be (with the benefit of hindsight)a more compassionate reflection on the transient nature of fame.

3. Mr Clean
Another full frontal attack, this time on a typical 'suit'. Weller's snarling put down of the nine to fiver implies quite clearly that a life of 'getting pissed at the annual office do" is nothing to be proud of.

4. David Watts
A bouncy cover of Ray Davies' Kinks classic. David Watts is the captain of the team, head boy and all round lucky git. The shared Weller/Foxton vocals work well, one of the few examples where a cover version most probably improves on the original.

5. English Rose
Originally regarded as a 'hidden track' by Weller. A soft acoustic ballad that showed a tender side that allowed young punks & mods everywhere to admit that perhaps there was more to girls than just pushing in front of them in bus queues.

6. In the crowd
'In the crowd' was most probably the biggest musical step forward that The Jam had taken to date. An intricate sub-psychedelic track that portrayed the protagonist as an outsider and harked back to their debut album's stand out track 'Away from the numbers'.

Side 2
1. Billy Hunt
Weller's daydreaming anti-Watts gets side two off to a blistering start.

2. It's too bad
Another jaunty song of failing love, carried along on Foxton's poppy bass run.

3. Fly
A second outing for Weller's 12 string acoustic and another hymn to the intoxicating beauty of first love.

4. The place I love
Whether it was about Woking, England or a mythical Albion 'The place I love' is a positively joyous track and another example of Weller aiming to distance himself from the punk elite and "not within a yard of their trendy do's".

5. A-Bomb in Wardour Street
DOCTOR MARTENS A-P-O-C-A-L-Y-P-S-E!!

6. Down in the tube station at midnight
According to Tony Blackburn it was a tawdry celebration of violence. According to everyone else it was The Jam's finest hour!

All Mod Cons was quite simply the sound of swinging London and suburban Surrey being pepped up with an amphetamine surge that knocked all contenders into a safety pin covered cocked hat. With one album they went from middle of the pack to the front of the line and they stayed there (with a couple of wobbles) until Weller pulled the pin in 82 and headed off to a Cappuccino flavoured future!

Punk Rock Tear Ups

Going round to a friends armed with a clutch of 7" singles and blasting them out the window, down the street, through the station, beyond the pub, over Marine Parade, over the beach and out there to the wild blue yonder!!!

Top 5 Tear Up Tunes
1. We are all Prostitutes - The Pop Group
2. Complete Control - The Clash
3. In the City - The Jam
4. Smash it Up - The Damned
5. City Hobgoblins - The 'Mighty' Fall

Carnaby Street

Not what it used to be

The Small Faces no longer run up exorbitant debts in Lord John's. The Jam no longer play opposite the Marlborough and you can no longer shop in the Carnaby Cavern for the finest red & black polka dot shirts this side of Regent Street.

The only thing left to marvel at are the massive snowmen that should have melted months ago.

50 gigs...

The rules. List the first 50 acts that come into your head. An act you saw at a festival and opening acts count, but only if you can't think of 50 other artists. Oh, and you must include the first gig you ever saw...

1. The Jam – Winter gardens Eastbourne 1977. About 50 people there. Have subsequently met about 1000 who said they were.
2. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Brighton Conference Centre. Overwhelming smell of… something herbal.
3. Nick Cave & Bad Seeds – Brixton Academy 2004. The preacher man was in town and the girl next to me tried to kiss me.
4. A Certain Ratio – 2nd Womad. The birth of the Barmy Army ACR army and trying to instigate the ‘Dashing White Sergeant’ as a new dance move.
5. Slim Gaillard – The Wag Club, my best man ended up on stage singing the encore with him.
6. Weekend – The Escape Club, Brighton. Alison Statton very shy and Simon Booth’s big orange Gretsch.
7. New Order – The Basement, Brighton. One of their earliest gigs. Lots of very long coats and even longer stares.
8. Orange Juice – Victoria. Edwyn Collins in lovely checked shirt absolutely mangled ‘In a nutshell’.
9. The Fall – 2nd Womad. MES on stage at lunchtime, stopped ‘Gut of the Quantifier’ three times to berate the drummer.
10. Toumani Diabate – Sydney Opera House 2009. I didn’t know he had had polio as a kid until I saw his bright green walking stick. I also didn’t know music could be so sublime.
11. 23 Skiddoo – 1st Womad. In the Balinese/Gamelan tent playing an impromptu gig, moving away from the funk.
12. The Clash – Hastings Pier 1978. The opening rush of the band to the front of the stage for ‘Safe European Homes’ made the whole audience take a step back.
13. Siouxsie & the Banshees – Hastings Pier 1977. Pre-split, searing guitar, scary lady!
14. Gang of Four – Barbican 2006. A vibrant run through of ‘Entertainment’ although sounded a lot like the Red Hot Chilli Peppers at one stage (oh the irony!)
15. Madness – Luna Park, Sydney 2009 One step Beyond… cue 3,000 poms about to go mental
16. The Who – Wembley Stadium 1979. Look at those old blokes on stage. F’in hippies.
17. The Birthday Party – The Richmond, Brighton. I don’t think that band like us!
18. John Cooper Clarke, The Basement, Sydney 2007. Kept his poetry in a Tesco carrier bag.
19. Beggar – The Archery, Eastbourne. A welsh mod band. They went round all the various pubs in Eastbourne to drum up support. We all then walked to The Archery, raucous set and 6 pints of Harveys equalled a very good night.
20. Teardrop Explodes – Jenkinsons, Brighton. Met Julian Cope in toilets, eyes like saucepan lids and flight jacket on, the true Copey experience.
21. Scritti Politti – The Tate Gallery Garden 2006. Stage front, having lugged cricket gear up from Brighton and blagged way into VIP area. Nicked one of Green’s plectrums.
22. Arctic Monkeys – Hordern Pavillion, Sydney 2009. Worryingly rockist tendencies beginning to emerge from Sheffield’s finest.
23. The Beat - 1st Womad. A brilliant sunshine music gig. Having previously spent the day playing football with Dave Wakeling, Ranking Roger and the Drummers from Burundi (Tip: When playing the D from B, keep it on the deck!).
24. Paul Weller – BBC Theatre at Broadcasting House. Gary Crowley in the audience. Paulo Hewitt too (ahh, those were the days)
25. The Hip Troop – Diplocks, Eastbourne 1983. A punk version of Boyhood sent the punters home happy.
26. Echo & the Bunnymen – Top Rank, Brighton 1982. Drummer Pete DeFreitas was at front of stage left. Only time I’ve ever seen that.
27. Sade – Heaven 1984. The trendiest gig ever, also one of the worst musically.
28. Animal Nightlife – Cinema, Brixton 80’s. Likewise trendy mo-fo’s everywhere, music better though Andy Polaris (real name?) couldn’t sing for a toffee!
29. Trouble Funk – Leadmill, Sheffield 80’s. Went up from South Coast with Tom and the South East Krew dropped the bomb!
30. Marcus Valle – Sydney Opera House 2008. Sweet Samba sounds. MV dressed in true beach bum style.
31. Gary Glitter – De la Warr Gardens, Bexhill 1973. Only saw him play three songs then had to get train home.
32. Supergrass – Paris 2004. Went by myself, drank loads, chatted to a girl from Normandy, very pleasant evening.
33. The Prisoners – Town & Country Club 2002. A reunion gig for the Medways modsters. Much fun had by all.
34. Aztec Camera – The Escape Club, Brighton early 80’s. ‘The Boy Wonders’ dedicated to ‘The Eastbourne Boys’.
35. The Pop Group – CND March, Trafalgar Square 1980. Jerusalem echoing out around the Square and cans upon cans of Tiger Beer.
36. Madonna – Wembley, early 90’s. An absolute nightmare.
37. Rod Stewart - Wembley, early 90’s. Even worse.
38. Prince – Earls Court, early 90’s. Arrived late, left early, marriage very nearly didn’t happen.
39. Rip, Rig & Panic - Sussex University 1984. Man those cats were crazy, all very loose limbed. Mark Springer was magnificent.
40. The Specials – Top Rank, Brighton 1980. A real sense of menace filled the venue, amazing gig, pleased to get out alive!
41. The Slits – The Celtic Club, Sydney 2008. Ari Up prancing around in multi-coloured lycra. All very sad and disappointing.
42. Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Royal Festival Hall, London 2005. A reunion gig, still in fine voice but decidedly camp mini theatrics mid-set recalled dubious dress appearance at Reading.
43. Pet Shop Boys – V Festival, Sydney 2008. Chris Lowe ‘singing’ Paninaro and a big heffelump of an Aussie woman breaking my big toe.
44. Teenbeats – Hastings Pier 1979. Sleeping underneath Hastings Pier after gig.
45. Graham Coxon – HMV, Oxford Street 2006. Found a copy of ‘Democrazy’ the Damon Albarn rare solo album in the racks. Coxon looked cool.
46. Geno Washington – Colne Community Centre, Lancashire 2004. The most pitiful sight possible. Geno and a heavy metal guitarist covering his classics.
47. Bob Dylan – Sydney Entertainment Centre 2008. Despite only being able to see Dylan’s back hunched over keyboards for the whole of the gig. He was actually quite good.
48. Roddy Frame – University College, London 2006. So pissed I couldn’t even sit up straight, very embarrassing.
49. The Freds – Manly Aquarium 2009. The fish racing round the tanks first clockwise and then on some silent signal, anti-clockwise.
50. The Smiths – Sussex University 1984. Gladioli everywhere, Johnny Marr officially the coolest man on earth. Nearly missed last train.