A-Side: The Modern World
B-Side: Sweet Soul Music | Back In My Arms Again | Bricks And Mortar (Part)

Record label: Polydor 2058 945
Producer: Vic Smith and Chris Parry

Released: 21/10/77
Purchased: 19/09/81

A big disappointment, which is ironic as they (unwittingly) contributed much to the new single by The Sex Pistols. The Paul Weller tune just doesn’t boast much of a tune. (Melody Maker, 29/10/77)

After last week’s duff singles from the Sex Pistols and the Damned, it was to be hoped that the Jam would help to regain the credibility of the new-wave front-runners. Well, at least they haven’t cannibalised one of the Pistols’ old songs, the way the Pistols did with their “In The City”.

But there’s not a lot to recommend this song. Of course, they’ve not lost any of their furious instrumental attack, but there’s a limit to how long they can go on exploiting the Who’s first album.

The melody is thin to put it politely, and the vocals are still dire. They sound like a couple of punch-drunk boxers splayed out on the canvas. This may have been the modern world last year, but we’ve all gobbed a lot of phlegm since then. (some of us have, anyway). (NME, 22/10/77)

Third single up and it’s disappointing. More of a formula re-run than a dynamic new pressing from a rock band about to devour the world. Then again they’ve come a long way in a hurry and not everything can be gold dust. The ‘live’ B-side recorded at London’s 100 Club is also a bit thin. Perhaps they need a creative break . . . as it were. (Record Mirror, 29/10/77)