20 From '77(1) The Jam CBGBs New York 16th October 1977 (Two Sets)

In 1977, the flow of touring punk bands favoured movement to the east with US bands arriving in the UK with earlier and greater regularity that western-bound UK bands heading to America. The Damned in keeping with nearly everything else in punk were first to make the journey in April, exporting the British take on punk rock. Their punk contemporaries were to follow significantly later. The Stranglers' visit planned for late '77 didn't come off and they along with the Pistols did not make the crossing until early in 1978. In doing so both bands fueled the anti-punk sentiment when they did tour). It is interesting then that one of the earliest bands to attempt the feat of winning over American audiences was The Jam, the most quintessentially English band of the lot.

Whilst indisputably a bonafide  first wave punk band, The Jam were outsiders on the scene. Interlopers from the Surrey suburbs they were also considered to be too conservative, both with a small and large 'C' to gain easy acceptance among the London punk elite. Paul Weller's open appreciation of '60's R&B labelled him early on as a revivalist (a toxic label in a new music scene whose declared mission was to destroy everything that came before it). In this respect it is funny that the early Pistols set featured as many Small Faces and Who covers as did The Jam's set.

The Jam also had a different genesis from the Pistols, Banshees and The Clash. Like The Stranglers, The Jam were a semi-professional band that significantly pre-dated the punk scene (by at least four years in the case of The Jam!). They served a time honoured musical apprenticeship, playing social functions, weddings and perhaps most importantly the Working Man's Club circuit that was still highly popular in the 1970's. If the punters called out for 'Tie A Yellow Ribbon' or 'Living Next Door to Alice' that is exactly what they were given in the main. Thus in contrast to many of the other first wave bands, by the time that The Jam first descended in to the fetid basement of the Roxy Club they had loads of gigs under their belt. The transition was quite straight forward. Weller witnessed an early Sex Pistols gig and like many other musicians and would be musicians he saw the future and nailed The Jam's colours to the punk mast. A tweak to the attitude of the band a bit of taking in of the suit trousers and ties was all it took and hay presto!..... authentic 1977 punk.

So fair play to The Jam as being in the vanguard of British bands to venture into CBGBs, the spiritual home of American punk. The set is a good mix of the first two albums. The second album, 'This is the Modern World' was set for its UK release the month following this New York appearance.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-hNUm3sazXA

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-Xk1Hk6IJcZ

Early show

01. I've Changed My Address
02. Carnaby Street
03. The Modern World
04. Time For Truth
05. London Girl
06. All Around The World
07. Sounds From The Street
08. London Traffic
09. Bricks And Mortar
10. In The City
11. Takin' My Love
12. In The Midnight Hour

Late show

01. I've Changed My Address
02. Carnaby Street
03. The Modern World
04. Time For Truth
05. The Combine
06. All Around The World
07. Sounds From The Street
08. London Traffic
09. Bricks And Mortar
10. In The City
11. Takin' My Love
12. Batman Theme