The Jam - Eton Rifles

The Jam were a peerless British singles band. From the end of the 1970s, they produced a succession of modern pop classics, regularly topping the charts - "Start!", "Going Underground", "Beat Surrender" and "A Town Called Malice". A soundtrack for my youth.

A punk band, but songwriter / lead vocalist Paul Weller didn't hide his 60s influences - The Beatles, The Who, The Small Faces. Style and fashion were as important as the sound, revelling in a mod revival with their sharp suits.

"Eton Rifles" from 1979 is a study in class warfare, in a punk style. Weller wrote it whilst on a rainy holiday in a caravan in Selsey Bill. He recalled a socialist "Right to Work" march, which descended into violence, as they passed the privileged Eton scholars near Slough. 

A bad mistake, as the rugby-playing Etonians wrought carnage ("you didn't take a peep in their artillery room"). Their failure  a metaphor for life too, as he bleats ("What chance have you got against a tie and a crest?").

Weller is an always an astute lyricist - a clever double wordplay on "fag",  slang for a cigarette and a lower year valet in a public school. He also took dig at their rivals The Clash ("Compose a revolutionary symphony"), and I always admired that he managed to incorporate "catalyst" into a pop song.  

For just three members, The Jam always managed to create such a racket, and this is no exception.  The energy and unalloyed excitement stems from prominent drums (always key to the Jam), to the howling guitars. This time Weller also overdubbed an impressive organ solo (he loved the Specials). The chorus "E-ton Rifles! E-ton Rifles!"  a playground or football terrace delight.

In a bizarre twist, and apparently little insight, David Cameron, who was at Eton at that time,  has revealed it is one of his favourites. Weller was aghast.

Perhaps The Jam were too British or parochial to be as internationally renowned as the Clash, but we should celebrate this, and cherish their incomparable vision and passion in remarkable vinyl 7 inches. As relevant now as they were then.

Hear Now - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmWWgGn9plU

Hear Next - "Snap" was one of the earliest albums I bought, and remains an indispensable compilation of their singles.