The Mod Generation

The Society of Cool

the jam music punk or mod

i know this could be classed as blasphemous to some, however after listen to some classic soul/ska i popped some jam music on and it struck me that the jam sounded alot more like punk than what would be typically classed as original mod music

so the question possed

the jam - punk or mod????

ps first record i bought was town called malice - so i remain a big fan of all thing weller

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Permalink Reply by Kai Ahland on February 9, 2012 at 9:44

Starting a recording carreer in 1977 of course aided the fact they were influenced by punk. Beside that I always thought the Jam sounded distinctly like the Jam, nothing more, nothing less. Very early on in terms of music I stopped using categories such as mod, punk, etc but simply distinguishing between crap music and cool music. I guess my world would be less exciting without the Buzzcocks or the Undertones, even Never Mind The Bollocks still finds it´s way onto my turntable occasionally.

It´s very difficult to define the term "Mod Music" anyway; I doubt people we all worship like, say, Booker T or Maxine Brown had a clue about the London mod scene in ´64/´65.

So: The Jam was the Jam from In The City to The Gift;

and no matter what you´re up to next, however much vests you´re going to design, - Uncle Paul, I´ll be forever grateful!  

Permalink Reply by Mal on February 9, 2012 at 10:30

good answer kai

as i say it was only a passing thought while driving home in the car

i like the way u cat music (crap - cool) maybe i'll take a leaf out of your book

 

Permalink Reply by Kai Ahland on February 9, 2012 at 15:47

Yeah, Mal, I mean what´s that supposed to be- mod music. Styles from early blue beat, soul R´n´B to garage punk and Jam style ´77 punk all fit under the umbrella of Mod!

Permalink Reply by Chris Cameron on February 9, 2012 at 12:56

To me The Jam were always a New Wave band that took a lot of its influence initially from both the Punk scene and the Mod scene. Their first album covered 60s classics and also leaned on other songs. (In the City) From there on a lot of songs we would associate with the Mod scene (Heatwave, So Sad About Us, David Watts) were covered in addition to Wellers incredible original compositions. In terms of stylistically there can be little doubt that Weller was always a dedicated Mod, and that showed in just about all The Jams album covers as well as his own clothing.

Permalink Reply by Gordon on February 9, 2012 at 13:51

Mal - Go and listen to The Jam's demo's before they signed to Polydor. They where recording stuff as early as 1975. Somewhere along the way Weller became a big fan of Dr Feelgood. Weller based a lot of his guitar playing on Wilko Johnson. The Jam played some of the "In the City" songs for a while before Punk but in a more R'n'B / Best Group style. Go to Youtube and check out songs like "Left Right and Centre", "Soul Dance" and early version's of "Non Stop Dancing" and "Takin' My Love". When Punk came along The Jam just turned the sound UP and played the song's faster, simple as that. Also i can remember at the time The Jam where always regarded as a 'New Wave' band not punk but before the Mod Revival most people would of regarded them as a Punk band. To Weller it was Mod but to Bruce and Rick it was New Wave.   

So The Jam where a New Wave Punk influenced Mod band for a new Mod generation. LOL.      

Permalink Reply by Mal on February 9, 2012 at 14:19

gordan u move up to the best answer so far

i will dig out those tracks

we are the mods!!!

Permalink Reply by John Doherty on February 9, 2012 at 14:30

yeh just the best band in the world, loved by Mods...

They're sound matured along with some of their audience, But as Weller found himself stifled the split was inevitable..

In my opinion even though The Jam are my favourite , The Style Council early on esps were by far More Mod than anything the Jam did, maybe thats a whole different disscussion..But all that french/italian look and jazz vibe going on Mod as feck 

Permalink Reply by Gordon on February 9, 2012 at 16:52

Agreed.  

Permalink Reply by Bobby Charlton on February 9, 2012 at 18:17

Nail on head there; Wilko Johnson's guitar with a big leaf out of Strummer's in terms of narrative and vocal delivery? Just dig out your copy of Mod Cons and see what I mean.

Permalink Reply by Gordon on February 9, 2012 at 16:55

Spot on Chris.

Permalink Reply by hubert davenport on February 10, 2012 at 14:05

you cant argue with chris or gordon

i dont think anything else needs to be added !

Permalink Reply by Small Paul on February 9, 2012 at 18:41

It's post punk IMO and typifies the era. If people want to class the Jam as mod then that's up to them. I feel strange about them because although they sounded good at the time lots of people were into them and that didn't suit me at all. The thing they are not is R&B and Modern Jazz (Brubeck, Mancini etc) which is what the early modernist scene was all about.

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