Rick Buckler and Ian Snowball

The Jam: The Start To ’77 (Strangetown)

Last year marked the 40th anniversary of The Jam’s first two albums. Both the critically acclaimed at the time In The City and acknowledged and widely appreciated albeit much later than its initial release This Is The Modern World. The book under review here, The Jam: The Start to ’77 is part one in a series of three books and is a limited edition publication of 1000, as will be the two forthcoming follow-ups. Illustrated by Richard Schaller, this opening parts of the trilogy traces the story of The Jam from shortly before the band formed at Sheerwater County Secondary school. Narrated by The Jam drummer Rick Buckler, it amounts to a stage by stage dissection beginning with Paul Weller and Steve Brookes collaborating as youngsters, making music together at Paul’s Stanley Road home at the time, and lunchtime music room sessions at school. It goes on to cover various incarnations of the early line-ups, including Rick joining in ’73 and Bruce Foxton arriving in ’74. Anecdotes and recollections include first-hand experiences from the very beginning, through going from playing covers in the local youth club and working men’s clubs and pubs, to the advent of punk rock and new wave, with original songs being written and performed. Things then move on to the group breaking on to the London circuit, gigs across the UK, eventually signing with Polydor and The Jam visiting mainland Europe and America for their first shows abroad. Also included are insights into both In The City and This Is The Modern World being released in ’77. Rick’s input is supplemented by a plethora of individual experiences from fans of The Jam, chronologically, bringing personal overviews into the equation. Much has already been published documenting the Woking Wonders, but nevertheless The Start to ’77 is a collectable must-have for diehard fans of one of the best bands of all time, The Jam. For mail order and other details visit www.strangetown.net. Sarge