THE JAM - LIFE FROM A WINDOW

Video: THE JAM - LIFE FROM A WINDOW
On this date in 1977, THE JAM released their second studio album THIS IS THE MODERN WORLD by THE JAM, (November 18th, 1977).
“This is the modern world!" The Jam exclaimed, not in celebration, but as an observation of harsh realities and 70's stagnation.
While non-album single ‘All Around The World’ extended this sociological perspective to a global viewpoint ("And I'd look down upon the map/The teachers who said I'd be nothing"), album track LIFE FROM A WINDOW romanticised this desire for observation until it became introspection:
"Life from a window, I'm just taking the view/Life from a window, observing everything around you/Staring at a grey sky, try to paint it blue - teenage blue".
Even the protest songs like LONDON TRAFFIC & STANDARDS appealed to the heart with a desperate sincerity.
A simple line like "It's all so sickening and we're so satisfied" without any hint of artificiality attacked the laid-back disease infecting the brains of the day’s deadbeat young lives.
And the music strengthened the urgency of the message: handclaps, harmonies and great production - the works!
HERE COMES THE WEEKEND was especially arousing. When The Jam triumphantly shouted "Long live the weekend, the weekend is dead," the boys and girls of the land wanted to thrusts their fists through the ceiling.
Much maligned upon release, many of the tracks have matured with age so much that while arguably not quite scaling the heights of The Jam's next three records, they are certainly representative of Weller’s assured and maturing keen-eyed writing.
From the album, the dazzling melancholic sweep of LIFE FROM A WINDOW.

[@KnightOfCups1999]

Just wonderful, Paul's clear, sharp lyrics...and visions of an England we've lost..bittersweet

[@StevieRevbo]

lost what when?

[@haberstr]

Very well done.

[@stuartlawsonbeattie1411]

Nice, vintage and Class, cheers Paul, nice one.

[@petergallagher7573]

Teenage blue.

[@goagoa2607]

What a tune.

[@mukkaspec3333]

The first time an acoustic guitar was introduced . And boy did it work....

[@jonbarlow4763]

But later income the brass...Killed everything.

[@Spectrescup]

@@jonbarlow4763 his motown obsession ruined the band.Split up just in time.

[@StevieRevbo]

Paul never lived in a council house did he?

[@DownGrand1967]

A dystopian bleak outlook for the free-range tax slaves.