The Gift (The Jam album)
Encyclopedia
The Gift is the sixth and final studio album by British
band The Jam
. Released on 12 March 1982, it reached #1 on the British charts. Clocking in at 32:17 minutes, the album received a mixed reception from critics and fans.
The original release of the album was on 12" vinyl, and initial copies came with a paper bag stating "The Jam... A Gift". These copies are increasingly difficult to find, especially in good condition. Other issues included the regular vinyl issue, the Japanese vinyl issue (with a bonus lyric book), the CD issue, the re-mastered issue, and a recently issued Japanese version in a mini-LP style sleeve.
The album moved away from the simple three-chord music of In the City and This Is The Modern World
, and the more melodic All Mod Cons
, Setting Sons
and Sound Affects
, to demonstrate Weller's love of northern soul
. Funk bass lines and wah-wah guitar effects were often used throughout the album, along with jazz
influences such as brass sections and saxophone
solos (most notably on the track "Precious
"). Only two songs on the album exceed three and a half minutes.
The biggest hit of the album was "Town Called Malice
". The song's lyrics are an accurate reflection of English life at the time, and deal with small-town issues such as alcoholism
, the struggle to make a living, unemployment
and lack of facilities in small towns.
"Just Who Is The 5 O'Clock Hero?
", which was released as a 7" vinyl single in the Netherlands
only, represents the efforts put in by 9-to-5 working men and women of Britain, who keep society running (and as such, are unsung heroes). Unlike the earlier song "Mr. Clean" from All Mod Cons, Weller does not mock the character, but rather praises him/her. However, the character from "Mr. Clean" represents a completely different strata of society, the executive/upper management types who would typically hound and otherwise make the character from "Just Who Is The 5 O'Clock Hero?"'s life difficult.
Weller's experimentation of several different musical styles previously unexplored by The Jam on this album led to increasing disagreement with the other band members, Bruce Foxton
and Rick Buckler
, who were disillusioned with the move away from a traditional pub rock
or punk rock
style. The band broke up after touring the album (even after its massive success, rising to #1 on the British charts) on the 'Trans-Global Express Tour'.
After the album's release, Paul Weller went on to form The Style Council
. The song "Carnation" was later covered by Liam Gallagher
of Oasis
and Steve Cradock
of Ocean Colour Scene
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
band The Jam
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
. Released on 12 March 1982, it reached #1 on the British charts. Clocking in at 32:17 minutes, the album received a mixed reception from critics and fans.
The original release of the album was on 12" vinyl, and initial copies came with a paper bag stating "The Jam... A Gift". These copies are increasingly difficult to find, especially in good condition. Other issues included the regular vinyl issue, the Japanese vinyl issue (with a bonus lyric book), the CD issue, the re-mastered issue, and a recently issued Japanese version in a mini-LP style sleeve.
The album moved away from the simple three-chord music of In the City and This Is The Modern World
This Is The Modern World
This Is the Modern World is the second studio album by British band The Jam, released in November 1977, less than seven months after their debut....
, and the more melodic All Mod Cons
All Mod Cons
All Mod Cons is a 1978 album by the British band The Jam, their third full-length LP. The title, a British idiom one might find in housing advertisements, is short for "all modern conveniences" and is a pun on the band's association with the mod revival.The album was more commercially successful...
, Setting Sons
Setting Sons
Setting Sons is the fourth studio album by British band The Jam. The group's critical and commercial favour, begun with their third album, All Mod Cons, continued through this album...
and Sound Affects
Sound Affects
Sound Affects is the fifth studio album by British rock band The Jam. The cover art is a pastiche of the artwork used on various Sound Effects records produced by the BBC during the 1970s.-Influences:...
, to demonstrate Weller's love of northern soul
Northern soul
Northern soul is a music and dance movement that emerged from the British mod scene, initially in northern England in the late 1960s. Northern soul mainly consists of a particular style of black American soul music based on the heavy beat and fast tempo of the mid-1960s Tamla Motown sound...
. Funk bass lines and wah-wah guitar effects were often used throughout the album, along with jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
influences such as brass sections and saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
solos (most notably on the track "Precious
Precious (The Jam song)
"Precious" was a song composed by Paul Weller and performed by the British band The Jam.It appears on The Jam's 1982 album The Gift and also as a double A-Side single along with "Town Called Malice". It reached number one in the British music charts...
"). Only two songs on the album exceed three and a half minutes.
The biggest hit of the album was "Town Called Malice
Town Called Malice
"Town Called Malice" is a song recorded by The Jam from the album The Gift. It reached number one in the UK singles chart.-Song profile:It was a double A-side single release featuring "Precious" as the flip side...
". The song's lyrics are an accurate reflection of English life at the time, and deal with small-town issues such as alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
, the struggle to make a living, unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
and lack of facilities in small towns.
"Just Who Is The 5 O'Clock Hero?
Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero?
"Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero?" is a song and single released by The Jam on 3 July 1982, it features on their sixth studio album The Gift. Contrary to popular misconception the single was not released as a single in Britain but was a Dutch import...
", which was released as a 7" vinyl single in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
only, represents the efforts put in by 9-to-5 working men and women of Britain, who keep society running (and as such, are unsung heroes). Unlike the earlier song "Mr. Clean" from All Mod Cons, Weller does not mock the character, but rather praises him/her. However, the character from "Mr. Clean" represents a completely different strata of society, the executive/upper management types who would typically hound and otherwise make the character from "Just Who Is The 5 O'Clock Hero?"'s life difficult.
Weller's experimentation of several different musical styles previously unexplored by The Jam on this album led to increasing disagreement with the other band members, Bruce Foxton
Bruce Foxton
Bruce Foxton is an English rock and roll musician who is best known as the bass player in punk rock bands The Jam and Stiff Little Fingers.-Biography:...
and Rick Buckler
Rick Buckler
Rick Buckler , is the former drummer of The Jam, an English rock band that enjoyed considerable success in the United Kingdom from 1977 until disbanding in 1982...
, who were disillusioned with the move away from a traditional pub rock
Pub rock (UK)
Pub rock was a rock music genre that developed in the mid 1970s in the United Kingdom. A back-to-basics movement, pub rock was a reaction against progressive and glam rock. Although short-lived, pub rock was notable for rejecting stadium venues and for returning live rock to the small pubs and...
or punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
style. The band broke up after touring the album (even after its massive success, rising to #1 on the British charts) on the 'Trans-Global Express Tour'.
After the album's release, Paul Weller went on to form The Style Council
The Style Council
The Style Council were an English band, formed in 1983 by the ex-The Jam singer and guitarist Paul Weller, with keyboardist Mick Talbot. The permanent line-up grew to include drummer Steve White and Weller's then-wife, vocalist Dee C. Lee. Other artists such as Tracie Young and Tracey Thorn also...
. The song "Carnation" was later covered by Liam Gallagher
Liam Gallagher
William John Paul "Liam" Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, the former frontman of the English rock band Oasis and currently of the band Beady Eye. Gallagher's erratic behaviour, distinctive singing style, and abrasive attitude have been the subject of commentary in the press...
of Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
and Steve Cradock
Steve Cradock
Steve Cradock is an English guitarist, most notable for playing in the rock group Ocean Colour Scene. Cradock is also the second guitarist in Paul Weller's band, having appeared on all of Weller's solo records following Weller's self titled debut album.He is a distinctive guitarist, who has a...
of Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene are an English Britpop band formed in Moseley, Birmingham in 1989. They have had five Top 10 albums and six Top 10 singles to date.-Early days :...
.
Track listing
All songs by Paul Weller except where otherwise noted:- "Happy Together" – 2:51
- "Ghosts" – 2:11
- "PreciousPrecious (The Jam song)"Precious" was a song composed by Paul Weller and performed by the British band The Jam.It appears on The Jam's 1982 album The Gift and also as a double A-Side single along with "Town Called Malice". It reached number one in the British music charts...
" – 4:13 - "Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero?Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero?"Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero?" is a song and single released by The Jam on 3 July 1982, it features on their sixth studio album The Gift. Contrary to popular misconception the single was not released as a single in Britain but was a Dutch import...
" – 2:15 - "Trans-Global Express" – 3:59
- "Running on the Spot" – 3:06
- "Circus" (Bruce FoxtonBruce FoxtonBruce Foxton is an English rock and roll musician who is best known as the bass player in punk rock bands The Jam and Stiff Little Fingers.-Biography:...
) – 2:11 - "The Planner's Dream Goes Wrong" – 2:19
- "Carnation" – 3:28
- "Town Called MaliceTown Called Malice"Town Called Malice" is a song recorded by The Jam from the album The Gift. It reached number one in the UK singles chart.-Song profile:It was a double A-side single release featuring "Precious" as the flip side...
" – 2:55 - "The Gift" – 3:08