In the City (The Jam song)

"In the City" was the debut single by English mod revival/punk rock band The Jam from their album of the same title. It was released on 29 April 1977 and reached No. 40 on the UK Singles Chart in May 1977, making it their first Top 40 single and the beginning of their streak of 18 consecutive Top 40 singles.^[1]

While only a minor hit on the charts, the song was the UK's first introduction to The Jam, and was characteristic of Paul Weller's youth anthems—mod-influenced celebrations of British youth—that dominated the band's early output.

Musically, the song is in the vein of the band's first album, a mod/punk number influenced by The Who's early music, but with an energy and attitude updated for the punk era. "In the City" borrowed its title from an obscure Who song of the same name, which was released in 1966 as the B-side of the "I'm a Boy" single (and which can now be found as a bonus track on most CD re-issues of their 1966 album A Quick One). The Sex Pistols' single "Holidays in the Sun", released six months after The Jam's "In The City", took its descending introductory chord pattern from the latter.

Lyrically, the song is a celebration of youth in the big city, and of what Paul Weller called the "young idea", reflecting Weller's optimism for the punk movement. There was also a direct reference to police brutality: "In the city there's a thousand men in uniform/And I hear they now have the right to kill a man".

In May 2002, Polydor Records decided to commemorate the 25th anniversary of The Jam by re-releasing their debut single in its original packaging, in its original 7" vinyl record format and at its original price of 75 pence. The limited pressing sold out immediately, and the song made the Top 40 one more time, peaking at No. 36; higher than it did in its original release and two subsequent reissues.^[1] It became the first single to chart in the UK Top 40 based alone on limited edition 7" sales since the late 1970s. Only one single ("Freakin' Out" by Graham Coxon) has since charted in the UK Top 40 alone on limited edition 7" single sales.

Pitchfork Media ranked the track as being one of the "great debut singles".^[2]

References

1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 277. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
↑ "The Jam: Direction Reaction Creation / Hit Parade | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. 2007-02-09. Retrieved 2016-01-14.

The Jam

Paul Weller Rick Buckler Bruce Foxton Steve Brookes Dave Waller

Studio albums	In the City This Is the Modern World All Mod Cons Setting Sons Sound Affects The Gift

Live albums	Dig the New Breed Live Jam The Jam at the BBC Fire And Skill - The Jam Live

Compilations	Snap! Greatest Hits Extras Collection Direction Reaction Creation The Very Best of The Jam 45 rpm: The Singles, 1977-1979 45 rpm: The Singles, 1980–1982 The Sound of the Jam

Singles	"In the City" "All Around the World" "The Modern World" "News of the World" "David Watts" "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight" "Strange Town" "When You're Young" "The Eton Rifles" "Going Underground" / "Dreams of Children" "Start!" "That's Entertainment" "Funeral Pyre" "Absolute Beginners" "Town Called Malice" / "Precious" "Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero?" "The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had to Swallow)" "Beat Surrender"

Related articles	Discography Fire and Skill: The Songs of the Jam Mod revival Polydor Records The Style Council The Merton Parkas Vic Coppersmith-Heaven

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