Jam Compact Snap! CD

COMPACT SNAP!, a collection of the Jam's singles, is an abridged version of the 2-LP set SNAP!, released on Polydor in 1983. The LPs included eight additional songs: "Away From The Numbers", "Billy Hunt", "English Rose", "Mr. Clean", "The Butterfly Collector", "Thick As Thieves", "Man In The Corner Shop" and "Tales From The Riverbank."

Includes an excerpt from Paolo Hewitt's biography of the Jam, "A Beat Concerto."

The Jam started out as a punk band and ended up as a soul band, one of the more eclectic and rewarding journeys found in the rock pantheon this side of The Clash. However, because certain elements remained constant--Paul Weller's stunning lyrics, the energetic rhythm section, the healthy, try-anything attitude--the quality never diminished, it only transformed. COMPACT SNAP! travels the distance from the desperate punk of "In The City" to the equally desperate soul of "Beat Surrender," touching on most of the great moments along the way.

The physical violence depicted in early songs like "Down In The Tube Station At Midnight" eventually gave way to an emotional violence in late-period songs like "The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had To Swallow)." Weller described the youth of his day almost as skillfully as his hero Pete Townshend had done for the mod generation ten years earlier.

The Jam never caught on in America, forcing Weller to break up the band and form The Style Council, his straight R&B project. It is a shame this strong unit was lost, especially considering that by the time they broke up, the three members had barely hit their mid-twenties and had so much left to say. But as with groups like The Police and The Pixies, perhaps it was for the best. This way, the music is trapped in time, a chunk of great tunes representing the greatest Motown band punk ever witnessed.

Import exclusive compilation featuring 21 tracks. The Jam were the most popular band to emerge from the initial wave of British punk rock in 1977; along with the Sex Pistols, the Clash, and the Buzzcocks, the Jam had the most impact on pop music. While they could barely get noticed in America, the trio became genuine superstars in Britain, with an impressive string of Top Ten singles in the late '70s and early '80s. Highlights include 'A Bomb In Wardour Street', 'Absolute Beginners', 'All Around The World', 'Beat Surrender', 'David Watts', 'Down In The Tube Station At Midnight', 'Dreams Of Children', 'Funeral Pyre', 'Going Underground'. This compact disc has been re-compiled from the double-album and cassette 'Snap' and omits eight tracks to make it suitable for a single disc. Universal.

The Jam: Paul Weller (vocals, guitar); Bruce Foxton (vocals, bass); Rick Buckler (drums).

Composer: Paul Weller.

Personnel: Paul Weller (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Bruce Foxton (vocals); Rick Buckler (drums).

Liner Note Author: Paolo Hewitt.Uncut (p.124) - 5 stars out of 5 -- "Not just one of the most succinct best-ofs ever, but still the one Jam artefact everyone really should have."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.114) - 5 stars out of 5 - "SNAP! Represented the definitive Jam record. Few songwriting talents have flowered so swiftly as Paul Weller's..."