The Jam

Criminally overlooked here in the U.S., but huge in the U.K., the Jam rocked the late '70s and early '80s to their very foundations. They dressed sharp like mods, played loud and angry like their punk contemporaries (the Sex Pistols, the Clash, Buzzcocks) and — thanks to the Kinks-inspired poetic talents of frontman Paul Weller — reflected the sense of social unease and class injustice that was prevalent in Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's Britain. "All that rugby puts hairs on your chest/what chance have you got against a tie and a crest?" sings Weller on breakthrough hit "The Eton Rifles" (1979) . . . and the frustration was heartfelt. A couple of standout non-album singles from 1981 light up the Jam's Next Steps.

In 1981, the Jam delivered a brace of outstanding tracks that never appeared on any of their studio albums, although both would be included on the excellent greatest hits compilation, Snap!, released in '83 (a year after the band's break-up) — first there's "Funeral Pyre" (remixed version included here), a fierce offering on which drummer Rick Buckler gives his kit a proper workout; then came "Absolute Beginners," named after the cult novel by Colin McInnes, distinguished by its sharp stabs of sweet R&B brass, and driven (like so much of the band's work) by frontman Weller's intoxicating mix of passion and despair. The band delivers touches of funk and soul, in Deep Cuts.

Although lumped in with the punks, the Jam were also tagged as mod revivalists during their early days (they favored tailored suits over tartan and safety pins), but by the time 1978's All Mod Cons arrived, it was clear that Paul Weller was taking his songwriting skills in bold directions. Over the next four years, the band would open up to a host of disparate sounds: check out Bruce Foxton's funked-up bass on "Pretty Green" from Sound Affects, along with the smooth, soulful melody of "Carnation" and the uniquely haunting combination of influences that produced "Ghosts" — the latter two tracks were highlights on final studio album, The Gift (1982).

In 1982, after five glorious years, the Jam went out on a high, taking final single "Beat Surrender" to #1 on the U.K. singles charts, and The Gift to the top album spot. Paul Weller said he didn't want to "end up old and embarrassing like so many other bands," and with our Jam Essentials we toast the courage of his convictions. By striking a balance between aggression (Weller precision-spat his lyrics, as sparks flew from his Rickenbacker) and sensitivity (those words were astute and reminiscent at times of the great English poet Philip Larkin), and by bowing out before either of those edges were dulled, the Jam secured their reputation as one of the great British bands. Why they didn't make more of an impact on this side of the pond remains a mystery — Sound Affects was the band's highest charting album in the U.S., topping out at #72 — but these monumental Jam Essentials go a long way to setting the record straight.