The Modern World (Weller)
Recorded on 21 September 1977 at Basing Street Studios, Notting Hill, London
A-side released: 21 October 1977; Polydor 2058 945; reached no 36 in UK chart
Produced by Chris Parry and Vic Coppersmith-Heaven
Album track: ‘This Is The Modern World’ (November 1977)
B-side: Sweet Soul Music (live); Back In My Arms Again (live); Bricks And Mortar (live)
‘The Modern World’ (the single) was written in April 1977, just after the recording sessions for In The City had finished but prior to its release. Other songs were written during the course of those few months:
‘London Girl’, ‘Carnaby Street’ and ‘All Around The World’. It seemed as if, even before their debut album came out, the band were halfway towards a follow-up already. But with his father already having committed to a second album Weller’s creative process ran aground.
And his lack of songs was made worse by the release of ‘All Around The World’ as a mid-year single, which caused Weller to block its inclusion, along with ‘Carnaby Street’, on the new album.
Weller was appalled at the thought of releasing an album ‘in instalments’ and insisted on giving fans value for money.
It was an attitude that remained with the band throughout their career, ensuring that only one or two track’s from each album ever sneaked out as singles or B-sides.
Live Shows
The same attitude extended to their live shows, where entrance fees were kept to a minimum and merchandising was intended as a non-profit making exercise, with items sold virtually at cost price.
For a while, during the summer of 1977, Polydor had considered releasing a live album in an attempt to capitalise on the quality of The Jam’s concert appearances, and a gig at the 100 club on 11 September had been recorded for that purpose.
The idea was scrapped, however, when Weller and Foxton put together enough original songs considered good enough for a second studio album.
When ‘The Modern World’ was released as a single in October, the fact it had a supporting flip side of three live tracks lifted from the 100 Club recording suggested to many that the band were drying up creatively.
As a result the upcoming album was viewed with suspicion, but the A-side itself was pure Jam in its structure and intensity and was well reviewed.
‘The Modern World’ was recorded at a much faster tempo than the live version they were performing and shows Weller, apparently unaffected by the criticism he had received over the band’s mod image, rounding on his detractors and literally sticking two fingers up.
At school Weller had been derided for his ambition and told he would amount to nothing; now his band had been criticised for not being punk (they never tried or claimed to be) and Weller himself had been told they were a one-album act.
The lyric makes it clear that Weller was highly driven and that criticism, especially from those with influence and perceived authority, was never going to affect him. Paul could not have made it clearer than that, although to his dismay he was obliged to replace the ‘two fucks’ he threw at his reviewers with ‘a damn’ for the radio-friendly version.
Musically the song once again looks back to the previous decade and is full of swinging power-chords reminiscent of The Who’s ‘Pictures Of Lily’. But it also includes a snapping drum pattern and bass line that drive the tune forward.
‘The Modern World’ was first heard on the John Peel show on 2 May, three weeks before In The City was released, so it came as a surprise to many when it wasn’t included on the album.
The track remained popular with fans across the world right through to the very end of the band’s career; it was played both on the Beat Surrender tour and on The Jam’s last ever live television appearance (on The Tube in 1982).
Though criticism at the time of its release seemed to be supported by its eventual chart position (much lower than that of the previous single), the song’s longevity speaks for itself.
But the track’s poor chart performance affected Weller’s confidence more than at first appeared.
It would be a full year before he could produce another A-side, when ‘Down In The Tube Station At Midnight’ was released in October 1978. In the meantime, the singer basically passed the reins to Bruce Foxton.
The Modern World was later covered in 1999 by Ben Harper for The Jam tribute Album Fire and Skill – Albert Jack
Albert Jack AUDIOBOOKS available for download here
The Jam: Sounds From the Street