"Who cares when imperfection sounds this good." That is the whole point, not just of punk rock, but the best rock, the best of everything. Fair play to you, Steve!
The Jam was played a lot by my older siblings, which in turn, made me a fan of their music. Saturday's Kids stood out for me on this album. Great write up.
I wasn’t aware SS was intended to be a concept album - an interesting Friday morning factoid 🙏
On a personal note Setting Sons was the band at their finest leaving Sound Affects as a commendable runner up in my Jam favourite album league table.
Private Hell and Burning Sky had the greatest lasting impacts on me.
How the dark suburban nightmare subject matter of Private Hell could be conceived let alone written from the perspective of a young Weller still defeats me.
Burning Sky Is political poetry competing comfortably in the same division of Tom Robinson. Very much of its era it's an obvious candidate for the opening game on that Saturday evening’s Match of the Day
I would have gone for a gifted midfielder with a balance of panache and aggression.
Agree on the Heatwave cover... not needed and clearly out of sync with the rest of the album. Overall a great record which will always take me back to that time and seeing The Jam quite a few times at The Rainbow Finsbury Park. Favourite live track was Butterfly collector. It seems a heck of a long time ago.
Loved Setting Sons and All Mod Cons before it. Also the great standalone singles such as All Around the World, News of the World, When You’re Young, Strange Town (best ever B side of Butterfly Collector).
The Jam were the band of my youth. I first saw them in 1977 as a 16-year-old and rushed out to buy out every 45, and album, plus concert tickets for the next five years. “Setting Sons” doesn’t quite scale the heights of “All Mod Cons” or “Sound Affects”, but it has some of Paul’s finest songs, especially “Private Hell”.
Thank you thank you thank you for this. Never seen it. I’m a little younger, and from the States, so hooked in to the band at The Gift and quickly worked my way back, digesting an amazingly prolific 5 year run in one sitting, thereby not having the chance to savor bite by bite and missing much of the nuance. In this clip, I assume they are playing a song but all that registers is their clothes
In an interview, Weller said that he was disappointed with the sound production on Setting Sons. However, in my view, the material and the production sound are perfectly matched – conveying that angst, urgency, and intensity that was the Jam’s authentic trademark. Together with All Mod Cons, it represented Weller’s growing maturity as a songwriter – I still can’t quite get my head around the fact that he wrote this when he was just 21. Not sure about that apron though …..
For me, Steve, it runs a very close second to All Mod Cons, but it is, nevertheless, a terrific record. And the concept is audacious and thrillingly realised, with all three of them at the top of their game.
Great article Steve. The Jam were 'our band' and a large part of our lives 1977 -79 from their 'punk' origins through to the mod revival. As you say Setting Sons was Paul Weller attempting a concept album a la Who that didn't quite come off but was an indicator of his ambitions and ever growing talent. After the intensity and success of All Mod Cons (following Modern World the 'poor second album') and as you say the sheer output of brilliant singles - not all of which were on albums! - SS was, to us, a bit of a disappointment at the time, though with some good songs. In case anyone is wondering the cover of Heatwave was straight from the Jam's live set at the time, and often played in soundchecks - many of which they let fans into. Imagine that now?!! Brilliant times when music was still a youth movement(s).
"Who cares when imperfection sounds this good." That is the whole point, not just of punk rock, but the best rock, the best of everything. Fair play to you, Steve!
Thanks Wayne - we'd all have small and pretty dull record collections if it was about perfection!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pb44aLPpVdE
One of my stronger memories of TOTP.
Never get bored of hearing it!
“Sup up your beer and collect your fags” is one of the great opening lines in pop. It’s a wonder that they never broke through in the States…
The Jam was played a lot by my older siblings, which in turn, made me a fan of their music. Saturday's Kids stood out for me on this album. Great write up.
Thank you!
Bangers all. And very dark. My musical DNA.
Here’s how it was made https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/classic-tracks-jam-eton-rifles
Always preferred sound effects tbh
Both great!
I wasn’t aware SS was intended to be a concept album - an interesting Friday morning factoid 🙏
On a personal note Setting Sons was the band at their finest leaving Sound Affects as a commendable runner up in my Jam favourite album league table.
Private Hell and Burning Sky had the greatest lasting impacts on me.
How the dark suburban nightmare subject matter of Private Hell could be conceived let alone written from the perspective of a young Weller still defeats me.
Burning Sky Is political poetry competing comfortably in the same division of Tom Robinson. Very much of its era it's an obvious candidate for the opening game on that Saturday evening’s Match of the Day
I would have gone for a gifted midfielder with a balance of panache and aggression.
Great review btw Steve lad - KUTGW 👍
Cheers mate - to quote one of their other albums, it's the gift that keeps on giving. And agree on Private Hell, just brilliant.
Great read, Steve. So bizarre to think of Eton Rifles being an anthem in the corridors of Eton!
Thanks! I know, think the message was loud and clear!
Agree on the Heatwave cover... not needed and clearly out of sync with the rest of the album. Overall a great record which will always take me back to that time and seeing The Jam quite a few times at The Rainbow Finsbury Park. Favourite live track was Butterfly collector. It seems a heck of a long time ago.
Loved Setting Sons and All Mod Cons before it. Also the great standalone singles such as All Around the World, News of the World, When You’re Young, Strange Town (best ever B side of Butterfly Collector).
The Jam were the band of my youth. I first saw them in 1977 as a 16-year-old and rushed out to buy out every 45, and album, plus concert tickets for the next five years. “Setting Sons” doesn’t quite scale the heights of “All Mod Cons” or “Sound Affects”, but it has some of Paul’s finest songs, especially “Private Hell”.
Thank you thank you thank you for this. Never seen it. I’m a little younger, and from the States, so hooked in to the band at The Gift and quickly worked my way back, digesting an amazingly prolific 5 year run in one sitting, thereby not having the chance to savor bite by bite and missing much of the nuance. In this clip, I assume they are playing a song but all that registers is their clothes
In an interview, Weller said that he was disappointed with the sound production on Setting Sons. However, in my view, the material and the production sound are perfectly matched – conveying that angst, urgency, and intensity that was the Jam’s authentic trademark. Together with All Mod Cons, it represented Weller’s growing maturity as a songwriter – I still can’t quite get my head around the fact that he wrote this when he was just 21. Not sure about that apron though …..
I wanted to ask you Steve re opinion of Sons vs. All Mod Cons. I had them both on one cassette tape, so I sometimes struggle to differentiate
I prefer Sons but also really like AMC!
Apologies Steve - I didn’t think the first Setting Sons response had been sent!
Setting Sons is a masterpiece, but its flaws (including the ones you pointed out) bring it a notch below All Mod Cons.
Of course it's just my opinion! 😉
For me, Steve, it runs a very close second to All Mod Cons, but it is, nevertheless, a terrific record. And the concept is audacious and thrillingly realised, with all three of them at the top of their game.
But, All Mod Cons…ha-ha!
Fab album - perfectly captures the angst of late 1970s Britain. Weller arguably at his most eloquent and urgent. Bought it the moment it was released.
Great article Steve. The Jam were 'our band' and a large part of our lives 1977 -79 from their 'punk' origins through to the mod revival. As you say Setting Sons was Paul Weller attempting a concept album a la Who that didn't quite come off but was an indicator of his ambitions and ever growing talent. After the intensity and success of All Mod Cons (following Modern World the 'poor second album') and as you say the sheer output of brilliant singles - not all of which were on albums! - SS was, to us, a bit of a disappointment at the time, though with some good songs. In case anyone is wondering the cover of Heatwave was straight from the Jam's live set at the time, and often played in soundchecks - many of which they let fans into. Imagine that now?!! Brilliant times when music was still a youth movement(s).