In May 1977, a young three-piece rock group from Woking in Surrey appeared on Top Of The Pops with an explosive single called “In The City.”
The song fizzed with the energy and sense of purpose and is one of the most incendiary debut singles ever. At the same time The Jam released their exhilarating debut album, also called In The City, and in the very same year it’s follow up This Is The Modern World. To celebrate this 40th anniversary, on October 20, 2017, UMe/Polydor will release 1977, a five-disc box set featuring both albums re-mastered as well as unreleased demos and live recordings.
The Jam became one of the most popular bands to emerge from the English punk rock scene of ’77 and had a phenomenal impact on pop music and wider youth culture. In their short career, they achieved 18 consecutive Top 40 singles in the U.K. (including 4 No. 1s), released six ground-breaking albums and went on to influence a generation with their music, style, politics and inspiration
Disc 1 – In The City (Debut LP from May 1977) (original album remastered)
A raw and powerful album that announced the arrival of The Jam, with their 18 year old lead singer Paul Weller sowing the seeds for what the was in store for the future. The Jam’s music at this time owed a lot to the harmonies of Motown, the energy of Dr Feelgood and early Who but with the anger of the current Punk scene. Although Weller’s band was obviously headed in a different direction, this debut sits alongside the first albums by The Clash and the Sex Pistols as one of the definitive records from the era. The album includes hit single “In The City” (which gave the band their first Top Of The Pops appearance, included on the DVD), live favorite (and suggested single) “Art School” and Paul Weller’s most ambitious early song – “Away From The Numbers.”
Disc 2 – The Polydor Demos: February 1977
The Polydor Demos includes 11 demos made for the first album – 6 of which are previously unreleased
Disc 3 – This Is The Modern World (original album remastered)
This Is The Modern World the follow-up album, released a few months after debut in late 1977, with iconic Gered Mankowitz cover shot.
This hastily released follow-up to In The City has long been the topic of debate among Jam fans. It might not be up there with later classics such as All Mod Cons & Sound Affects but time has been very kind to this album. It clearly paved the way for the refined brilliance of the later albums which possibly wouldn’t have happened without it. Includes the rousing hit single “The Modern World” and some of Weller’s early introspective gems – “Life From A Window” and “I Need You (For Someone),” as well as “The Combine,” a track that pointed markedly towards the next album All Mod Cons.
Disc 4 – Live 1977 + John Peel Sessions
Live 77 include the previously unreleased concert from the ‘Nashville’ – September 10, 1977, featuring material from the first two albums. Also features the two legendary John Peel sessions from 1977.
Disc 5 – DVD
A DVD featuring TV appearances from the likes of Top Of The Pops and So It Goes plus promo videos from 1977. Includes performances of the hit single “All Around The World” (which did not appear on either LP).
Includes stunning 144-page book, featuring new liner notes, period photos and a wealth of cuttings, reviews and memorabilia from 1977.
Five LP-style CD wallets with printed inner bags – In The City will feature the U.S. version of the LP inner sleeve, also using a Martyn Goddard out-take photo. This Is The Modern World will feature an alternative Gered Mankowitz cover image. Also includes five postcards. All housed in a ‘rigid, lift-off lid’ box.
The track list:
Disc 1 – In The City (original album remastered)
Art School
I’ve Changed My Address
Slow Down
I Got By In Time
Away From The Numbers
Batman Theme
In The City
Sounds From The Street
Non-Stop Dancing
Time For Truth
Takin’ My Love
Bricks & Mortar
All Around The World
Carnaby Street
Disc 2 – The Polydor Demos: February 1977
Art School (demo)
In The City (demo)
I Got By In Time (demo)
I’ve Changed My Address (demo)
Time For Truth (demo)
Sounds From The Street (demo)
Non Stop Dancing (demo)
Bricks And Mortar (demo)
Takin’ My Love (demo)
So Sad About Us (demo)
Slowdown (demo)
Disc 3 – This Is The Modern World (original album remastered)
The Modern World
London Traffic
Standards
Life From A Window
The Combine
Don’t Tell Them You’re Sane
In The Street Today
London Girl
I Need You (For Someone)
Here Comes The Weekend
Tonight At Noon
In The Midnight Hour
Disc 4 – Live 1977 + John Peel Sessions
In The City
Art School
I’ve Changed My Address
The Modern World
Recorded 26.4.1977 – Transmitted 2.5.1977
All Around The World
London Girl
Bricks & Mortar
Carnaby Street
Live at the ‘Nashville’ – September 10th 1977 (previously unreleased)
Carnaby Street
The Modern World
Time For Truth
So Sad About Us
London Girl
In the Street Today
All Around The World
London Traffic
Sweet Soul Music
Bricks & Mortar
In The City
Art School
In The Midnight Hour
Sounds From The Street
Slowdown
Disc 5 – DVD
In The City (Polydor promo – May 1977)
Art School (Polydor promo – May 1977)
In The City (Top Of The Pops – Date: 19/05/1977)
All Around The World (Top Of The Pops – Date: 18/08/1977)
All Around The World (‘Marc’ – Granada TV)
The Modern World (Top Of The Pops Top Of The Pops – Date: 03/11/1977)
Bricks and Mortar (‘So It Goes’ – Granada TV Nov. 20th 1977)
Carnaby Street (‘So It Goes’ – Granada TV Nov. 20th 1977)
In The City (‘So It Goes’ – Granada TV Nov. 20th 1977)
Slowdown (‘So It Goes’ – Granada TV Nov. 20th 1977)
All Around The World (‘So It Goes’ – Granada TV Nov. 20th 1977)
