Artist:  The Jam

Title:  Sound Affects

Date:  1980

Label:  Polydor (UK)   POLD 5035

Photos Front Cover:  Martyn Goddard, Andrew Rosen

Inside Sleeve Colour:  Andrew Douglas

All other Pics:  Pennie Smith

Notes:  The Jam simply exploded with this one. Everything just seemed right about it. There was thoughtful lyricism, tight instrumentals and that 80's punk/power pop charisma all working in concert. Working class ethos from the lads of Woking presented for the young man on the street (see the inside sleeve for a bit of mod fashion sense). Always able to make that Rickenbacker sound work in his favor Weller's writing was maturing rapidly at this point. "That's Entertainment", covered by the like of Morrissey no less, casual observations from a window at night is turned into a story we've seen or been a part of at one time or another. The cover is a take off of a series of sound effect records produced by the BBC. Click here for an example. All in all a classic record that still plays well today.

Line Up:

Paul Weller: guitars and vocals
Bruce Foxton: bass and vocals
Rick Buckler: drums and percussion

Track Listing

Side 1

Pretty Green
Monday
But I'm Different Now
Set the House Ablaze
Start!
That's Entertainment

Side 2

Dream Time
Man in the Corner Shop
Music for the Last Couple
Boy About Town
Scrape Away