God I love this song. This came out Sep/Oct 1979, I was 13 and we'd just merged with our local girl's school so there were some serious hormones in the air as we were all trying to win favour with the girls who seemed to spend the first three terms avoiding us. This song reminds me of that time. Years later I was in a power pop covers band and we used to play this one and it would go down a storm.
Thanks, I did wonder that's all. The guitar that's dubbed in at 01:56 has a real "rockpile" sound to it. It's an astonishing single, one of my favourites ever. Fair play to them all.
Other than the 60s, the 77-82 period was also explosively creative. Danceable power pop bands like The Jags, The Romantics, Paul Collins' Beat and Blondie were successfully competing with the prevailing sluggish radio bands of the day like Foreigner and ELO. They offerred the frat rock rock energy without the mosh pits of punk.
Yeah, baby. I LOVE ELO! Agree on underrated. Longterm, ELO may even be considered the "missing Beatles" of the 70s. My "sluggish" comment really refers to danceable power pop of the day. People jumped out of their seats for Joe Jackson's "I'm The Man" and this Jags stuff, but ELO, maybe not so often.
Thank you so much whoever posted this. I have the vinyl 7" but needed to listen to it now, having been reminded of it by Bulletprood Heart from the new My Chemical Romace CD - Danger Days
I am one into the 5 spaniards that bought the "evening standars" LP. I have heard it one thousand times, and "back of my hand is, to me one of the best songs of that time, very similar to Elvis Costello's "oliver's army"
Thank you so much whoever posted this. I have the vinyl 7" but needed to listen to it now, having been reminded of it by Bulletproof Heart from the new My Chemical Romance CD - Danger Days
I'm pretty sure I've seen that clip here in Australia on "Rage". Now I think about it, in this clip, when the words go "written on the back of my hand" band members were taking turns showing phone numbers on the back of their hands. First time I saw that clip was in Holland though (so that checks out). One of my friends' band used to cover this song.
I still have the vinyl album and these guys really enjoyed the skinny tie and band button movement (anyone remember?), playing with color and style even before Duran Duran co-opted it all.
There were also an endless list of unsung Jam-aqrchetype neo-mod and power pop bands ripping up the local underground during this period with smaller followings. May I suggest checking bands like The Killermeters, The Lambrettas, Purple Hearts, The Crooks, The Circles...stuff still to be "re-discovered"!
I saw these guys at a bar called FOUR ACRES in Marcy, NY. I am guessing it was around 1980 or '81. Loved "It's A Woman's World". Can't find that video here.
I was 19 or so when this song came out. Still think it a great tune. I can listen to it over and over (ask my college roommate). Can't let the ELO thing pass, "sluggish radio band" -- "most underrated band of all time" is my take. Jeff Lynne is a creative genius. If anything, they got much too little radio play.
The Jags formed in London in 1978, and comprised of Nick Watkinson (vocals), John Alder (guitar/backing vocals), Steve Prudence (bass) and Alex Baird (drums). Don't think any of them became more famous than this band?
@blowoutlow The B side is called "Double Vision" and can only be found on either the vinyl 7" or the vinyl ep (12") which was released before the 7''. I suppose eBay is the best bet these days. Good luck.
This was a brilliant single... and I often wonder how much it influenced the Rembrandt's "I'll be there for you" ( Friends theme) the two arrangements seem very similar....
@OhNoItsSluggo Nobody claims that they were mods? All that is said is that they had a sound that was similar the the mod revival/new wave sound of the time. And they certainly do. And a lot of Mods did like them, and still do. One of my favourite eras in music. It's obvious from how they dressed though that they didn't want to be involved in that revival scene. But I can hear the influence of early Who as much as Elvis Costello in some of their music.
There is an original video clip for this song. Has the band playing outdoors somewhere. Can't find it online anywhere. Your mission, if you chose to accept it... (5,4,3,3,2....)
2 albums and a few singles and then gone I think. Supposedly a groupof session musicians who got together and wrote some songs in the style of that time.New Wave powerpop. I'm not 100% sure though? Great band.
@trapadoored Yeah, that description works just fine. I'd have said post punk powerpop or post punk new wave myself if I was pushed for a description. But they were well liked by many of the scenes back then and judging by the amount of comments here, they're well liked still.
welcome to the world where nobody has a clue what they're talking about. We live in a world where people actually encourage Adele and Cheryl Cole. Give me the Jags any day mate
Yes, I do and no, they didn't! The band, and in particular the writers, were fans of Nick Lowe so that could be the reason for any similarities in style.
The Jags' music helped me get through college... I still listen to them, as do my high school age kids!
I just love this band. Massively underrated.
Excellent!I just found my original vinyl copy of this the other day-happy memories of this song.
i saw the Jags about 30 years ago at Asbury Park....FUN
God I love this song. This came out Sep/Oct 1979, I was 13 and we'd just merged with our local girl's school so there were some serious hormones in the air as we were all trying to win favour with the girls who seemed to spend the first three terms avoiding us. This song reminds me of that time. Years later I was in a power pop covers band and we used to play this one and it would go down a storm.
Thanks, I did wonder that's all. The guitar that's dubbed in at 01:56 has a real "rockpile" sound to it. It's an astonishing single, one of my favourites ever. Fair play to them all.
Other than the 60s, the 77-82 period was also explosively creative. Danceable power pop bands like The Jags, The Romantics, Paul Collins' Beat and Blondie were successfully competing with the prevailing sluggish radio bands of the day like Foreigner and ELO. They offerred the frat rock rock energy without the mosh pits of punk.
That must have been at "Hurrah". Glad you liked us Jags. I liked your New York too.
best music memories of my life! dancing pogo w/ a mini skirt sailor suit and leg warmers!
Yeah, baby. I LOVE ELO! Agree on underrated. Longterm, ELO may even be considered the "missing Beatles" of the 70s. My "sluggish" comment really refers to danceable power pop of the day. People jumped out of their seats for Joe Jackson's "I'm The Man" and this Jags stuff, but ELO, maybe not so often.
What a great time that was.
Thank you so much whoever posted this. I have the vinyl 7" but needed to listen to it now, having been reminded of it by Bulletprood Heart from the new My Chemical Romace CD - Danger Days
I am one into the 5 spaniards that bought the "evening standars" LP. I have heard it one thousand times, and "back of my hand is, to me one of the best songs of that time, very similar to Elvis Costello's "oliver's army"
Thank you so much whoever posted this. I have the vinyl 7" but needed to listen to it now, having been reminded of it by Bulletproof Heart from the new My Chemical Romance CD - Danger Days
covered this song, the Tourist and Evening Standards- 1983 - band called The Klick
I'm pretty sure I've seen that clip here in Australia on "Rage". Now I think about it, in this clip, when the words go "written on the back of my hand" band members were taking turns showing phone numbers on the back of their hands. First time I saw that clip was in Holland though (so that checks out). One of my friends' band used to cover this song.
Lovely memories x
bloody hell this was the 1st song i ever bought i think its from 1979! you can find anything on youtube!
Power Pop at its Very Best !!!!
Great song from a great time!
I still have the vinyl album and these guys really enjoyed the skinny tie and band button movement (anyone remember?), playing with color and style even before Duran Duran co-opted it all.
There were also an endless list of unsung Jam-aqrchetype neo-mod and power pop bands ripping up the local underground during this period with smaller followings. May I suggest checking bands like The Killermeters, The Lambrettas, Purple Hearts, The Crooks, The Circles...stuff still to be "re-discovered"!
Excellent !
Thanks for all the words...I was floundering on the second verse...nice one.
I saw these guys at a bar called FOUR ACRES in Marcy, NY. I am guessing it was around 1980 or '81. Loved "It's A Woman's World". Can't find that video here.
great power pop song ,thanks for posting it.
I was 19 or so when this song came out. Still think it a great tune. I can listen to it over and over (ask my college roommate).
Can't let the ELO thing pass, "sluggish radio band" -- "most underrated band of all time" is my take. Jeff Lynne is a creative genius. If anything, they got much too little radio play.
I don't think it was intentional. That's just the way he (John Alder) played guitar. Glad you like it and many thanks for the nice comments.
love it
Perfect Pop. 10/10
great!
I LOVE this song its a real feel good tune I think its awesome! Thanks for bringing me here dad! x
I like their version of 'Here Comes My Baby'.
Still sounds fresh!
Buenísimo!!!! GooD Good!!
Who among us can say credibly state own a sealed copy of "No Tie Like a Present". Me, that's who.
The Jags formed in London in 1978, and comprised of Nick Watkinson (vocals), John Alder (guitar/backing vocals), Steve Prudence (bass) and Alex Baird (drums). Don't think any of them became more famous than this band?
speakin as a lefty, yer man's tele makes me happy in my downstairs
tune's not bad neither :P
When pop songs were good.
@blowoutlow The B side is called "Double Vision" and can only be found on either the vinyl 7" or the vinyl ep (12") which was released before the 7''. I suppose eBay is the best bet these days. Good luck.
cool guitar solo
I had the original pink bubble vinyl.
Great song...wish I could suss all the words out though
This was a brilliant single... and I often wonder how much it influenced the Rembrandt's "I'll be there for you" ( Friends theme) the two arrangements seem very similar....
Yes I do.
Glad you like Back Of My Hand
@OhNoItsSluggo Nobody claims that they were mods? All that is said is that they had a sound that was similar the the mod revival/new wave sound of the time. And they certainly do. And a lot of Mods did like them, and still do. One of my favourite eras in music. It's obvious from how they dressed though that they didn't want to be involved in that revival scene. But I can hear the influence of early Who as much as Elvis Costello in some of their music.
Elvis isn't dead, he's just grown old and calls himself Declan
There is an original video clip for this song. Has the band playing outdoors somewhere. Can't find it online anywhere. Your mission, if you chose to accept it...
(5,4,3,3,2....)
sounds like awesome power-pop too me
BTW, I still have both albums on vinyl.
haha...you're god-like...!
In fairness, they certainly don't look like a mod band, but they did have a mod revivial/new wave sound, and mods liked them
Skinny ties!!!!!!!!!!
Go to Amazon and buy the greatest hits CD.
@walesfan1 So true
Always thought this sounded like Elvis, perhaps he should record it.
Eh? That's twenty eight years after it was released. Must have been a very long queue at the shop!
Does anyone know what the members of the Jags are up to these days?
Back Of My Hand one of my all time favourites.
Lead singer is a trans female called Nicole
Does any know whether messrs Nick Lowe/Dave Edmonds or Billy Bremner had a hand in any of this..?
good catchy song. whatever happened to the Jags?
have the single.like the vapors had one hit then went.whattever happened to em??
2 albums and a few singles and then gone I think. Supposedly a groupof session musicians who got together and wrote some songs in the style of that time.New Wave powerpop. I'm not 100% sure though? Great band.
@trapadoored Yeah, that description works just fine. I'd have said post punk powerpop or post punk new wave myself if I was pushed for a description. But they were well liked by many of the scenes back then and judging by the amount of comments here, they're well liked still.
what is the singers name and did any of the band members become famous i remember this song but was never sober enough to take much notice.
One critic dubbed `em `the Des O`Conner of the new wave`
welcome to the world where nobody has a clue what they're talking about. We live in a world where people actually encourage Adele and Cheryl Cole. Give me the Jags any day mate
great song,gimps tho
great tune,geeks tho.
Songs aren't living =)
@Modder
I classify them as a pop punk/power pop band.
Um...I think they wanted to know...lol
what do you mean 'the look' sorry?
Not mods.
Yes, I do and no, they didn't! The band, and in particular the writers, were fans of Nick Lowe so that could be the reason for any similarities in style.
my free album has a jags cover on it . search for HOT ROD LINKUN GIMME YOUR AUTOGRAPH for a link
Elvis Costello
larry barber Stupid comment!
not really my parent at all tbh i'll pm u technically he is i guess
that is horrible. What planet did there people come from?
which 1 is base hes my dad bands pretty crap tbh rofl