A-Side: When You’re Young
B-Side: Smithers-Jones
Record label: Polydor POSP 69
Producer: Vic Coppersmith-Heaven & The Jam
Released: 17/08/79
Purchased: 1980
The reason The Jam are worthwhile is that they were writing songs like ‘In The City’ and ‘All Around The World’ and ‘Art School’ before they even contemplated a Quadrophenia film and the resultant booty to go with it.
The rejuvenated mod scene sucks because it’s such an obviously record company venture, constructed and designed like a Martini advert, that it’s already becoming the new power pop.
But The Jam stand apart from it all because they’re maturing and expanding; they don’t need to aim straight at ’65 because they’ve got better things to do with their time.
‘When You’re Young’ is everything you ever wanted (and unfortunately everything you ever expected) from a Jam single, which means the thing is simultaneously no great step forward for the band – a safe, but excellent commercial flash – and that it aptly demonstrates The Jam’s penchant for hooks and melodic swoops . . . with a vengeance. As current rock and roll goes, this is quite a good record. But as The Jam stand, they might’ve at least attempted something a trifle more risque. (Record Mirror, 18/08/79)
Paul Weller continues to recreate the perfect heritage, utilizing an almost military, stuttering best to prove he’s the undisputed boss of all this quasi-mod stuff. The quirky use of dub to break down the riff mid-stream is amusing, and serves to tone the listeners reflexes for the steely one-step-at-a-time guitar solo that sneaks in the back and ricochets neatly off the tail of the bass and drums. Classic Jam, what more can I say? (NME, 18/08/79)
The Jam. The name speaks for itself. Sufficient to say that this release is just as good, just as captivating, as all the others. In fact it grabs you quicker then previous singles and holds you for longer afterwards. A very very big hit. (Sounds, 18/08/79)
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