40 Years of Punk & New Wave 1977: In The City - The Jam (Debut Single)

In The City / Takin My Love

Polydor 

Produced by Vic Smith and Chris Parry

Released April 1977

UK Chart #40*

A-Side: In The City

*When reissued in 2002 it charted at #36

B-Side: Takin' My Love

Both songs written by Paul Weller would appear on the Debut Album In The City that would be released in May 1977.

**************

"In The City"
(Paul Weller)
In the city there's a thousand things I want to say to you
But whenever I approach you, you make me look a fool
I wanna say, I wanna tell you
About the young ideas
But you turn them into fears
In the city there's a thousand faces all shining bright
And those golden faces are under 25
They wanna say, they gonna tell ya
About the young idea
You better listen now you've said your bit-a

And I know what you're thinking
You're sick of that kind of crap
But you'd better listen man
Because the kids know where it's at

In the city there's a thousand men in uniforms
And I've heard they now have the right to kill a man
We wanna say, we gonna tell ya
About the young idea
And if it don't work, at least we still tried

In the city, in the city
In the city there's a thousand things I want to say to you 

NME REVIEW 23rd April 1977

"First release from the New Wave's finest band, The Jam, and the title cut from their soon-to-be-released album. 'In The City' is the most convincing British penned teenage anthem I've heard in a Very Long Time - perhaps since the halycon days of the '60s. The songs shows The Jam to have been influenced by The Who, and the Townshendesque power chords wrenches from his Rickenbacker back up the impression. But that's like saying The Beatles were never influenced by Motown -everyone has to start somewhere - and The Who never played with the same urgency as this. A huge hit and a record those narrow minded reactionaries who control our radio will have to play." SC

The Jam were making a great name for themselves on the live circuit with their frenetic renditions of Atlantic and Motown Soul as well as songs of their own and whilst not technically a Punk band they did find themselves a part of scene whether they liked it or not! Of course compared to The Clash and The Pistols they were the "smart" boys of the New Wave with their matching suits and ties!

Paul Weller was a gifted young soul who seemed to perfectly pinpoint what exactly was going on in the hearts and minds of youngsters with his Youth Anthems.

With Rick Buckler on Drums and Bruce Foxton on Bass they would be a force to be reckoned with.

Whilst maybe not their best song of their rather large catalogue it was a great taster of what was to come from the Woking Wonders.

Despite only making it to #40 on the Charts The Jam did get to go on Top of The Pops.

In May 2002, Polydor Records decided to commemorate the 25th anniversary of The Jam by re-releasing their debut single in its original packaging, in its original 7" vinyl record format and at its original price of 75 pence. The limited pressing sold out immediately, and the song made the Top 40 one more time, peaking at #36; higher than it did in its original release and two subsequent reissues. It became the first single to chart in the UK Top 40 based alone on limited edition 7" sales since the late 1970s.

Bonus

The Jam Live in 1977

The 100 Club 11th September 1977.

In The City/Bricks and Mortar - Electic Circus, Manchester August 1977.

Slowdown - Electric Circus, Manchester August 1977 .

Takin' My Love - Electric Circus, Manchester August 1977 .

CBGB, New York 15th October 1977.