Setting Sons
Encyclopedia
Setting Sons is the fourth studio album
by British band The Jam
. The group's critical and commercial favour, begun with their third album, All Mod Cons
, continued through this album. "The Eton Rifles
" became the group's first top 10 UK hit, peaking at #3.
In contrast to its pop-oriented predecessor, this album features a much harder, tougher production, albeit with the overarching melodicism common throughout The Jam's discography. Arguably, this is the Jam's most thematically ambitious LP. Singer, guitarist, and songwriter Paul Weller originally conceived Setting Sons as a concept album
about three boyhood friends who later reunite as adults after an unspecified war only to discover they have grown up and apart. The concept was never fully developed, and it remains unclear which tracks were originally intended as part of the story, though it is commonly agreed that "Thick As Thieves", "Little Boy Soldiers", "Wasteland", and "Burning Sky" are likely constituents; extant Jam bootlegs feature a version of "Little Boy Soldiers" split into three separate recordings, possible evidence that the song was intended to serve as a recurring motif
, with separate sections appearing between other songs on the album.
The album was musically ambitious as well. "Little Boy Soldiers" consists of several movements, reminiscent of compositions by The Kinks
. "Wasteland" features the unconventional instrument of the recorder
. Even more striking is Bruce Foxton
's "Smithers-Jones
". Widely considered the bassist's finest three minutes of songwriting, the song was originally released as the B-side to the non-LP single "When You're Young
" months before the album's release, and is here redone in an all-strings arrangement, save a bit of electric guitar in the coda
. According to the liner notes of the Direction Reaction Creation
box set, the revamping of "Smithers-Jones" was suggested by drummer Rick Buckler
.
The liner notes also imply that the album was a somewhat rushed effort, which may explain why the original underlying concept was not fully developed, as well as the inclusion of cover songs and prior releases: "Smithers-Jones" had already been released; "Heat Wave
" is a cover
of the Martha and the Vandellas
' Motown
hit. Since "The Eton Rifles
" was released in advance of the LP for promotional purposes, this leaves only seven entirely new original songs on the album.
Nonetheless, the album remains one of The Jam's most critically favoured works alongside All Mod Cons
and Sound Affects
. The only song particularly singled out for negative criticism is the cover of "Heat Wave", which clearly owes more to The Who
's arrangement
than the original. As Allmusic put it, "Setting Sons often reaches brilliance and stands among The Jam's best albums, but the inclusion of a number of throwaways and knockoffs (especially the out-of-place cover of "Heat Wave" which closes the album) mars an otherwise perfect album." (Nonetheless, Allmusic gave the album the full five stars.)
The Polydor Canada LP release of Setting Sons is substantially different from the original UK version, and contains 12 tracks.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by British band The Jam
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
. The group's critical and commercial favour, begun with their third album, All Mod Cons
All Mod Cons
All Mod Cons is a 1978 album by the British band The Jam, their third full-length LP. The title, a British idiom one might find in housing advertisements, is short for "all modern conveniences" and is a pun on the band's association with the mod revival.The album was more commercially successful...
, continued through this album. "The Eton Rifles
The Eton Rifles
"The Eton Rifles" was the only single to be released from the album Setting Sons by The Jam. Recorded at Townhouse studios and released on 3 November 1979, it became the band's first top ten hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at #3...
" became the group's first top 10 UK hit, peaking at #3.
In contrast to its pop-oriented predecessor, this album features a much harder, tougher production, albeit with the overarching melodicism common throughout The Jam's discography. Arguably, this is the Jam's most thematically ambitious LP. Singer, guitarist, and songwriter Paul Weller originally conceived Setting Sons as a concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
about three boyhood friends who later reunite as adults after an unspecified war only to discover they have grown up and apart. The concept was never fully developed, and it remains unclear which tracks were originally intended as part of the story, though it is commonly agreed that "Thick As Thieves", "Little Boy Soldiers", "Wasteland", and "Burning Sky" are likely constituents; extant Jam bootlegs feature a version of "Little Boy Soldiers" split into three separate recordings, possible evidence that the song was intended to serve as a recurring motif
Motif (music)
In music, a motif or motive is a short musical idea, a salient recurring figure, musical fragment or succession of notes that has some special importance in or is characteristic of a composition....
, with separate sections appearing between other songs on the album.
The album was musically ambitious as well. "Little Boy Soldiers" consists of several movements, reminiscent of compositions by The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
. "Wasteland" features the unconventional instrument of the recorder
Recorder
The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
. Even more striking is Bruce Foxton
Bruce Foxton
Bruce Foxton is an English rock and roll musician who is best known as the bass player in punk rock bands The Jam and Stiff Little Fingers.-Biography:...
's "Smithers-Jones
Smithers-Jones
Smithers-Jones is a song written by Bruce Foxton for recording with his fellow bandmates in The Jam.Smithers-Jones differs from the majority of tracks by The Jam in that it was not written by guitarist vocalist Paul Weller. "Smithers-Jones" was originally recorded as a straightforward rock take for...
". Widely considered the bassist's finest three minutes of songwriting, the song was originally released as the B-side to the non-LP single "When You're Young
When You're Young
"When You're Young" was released as a one-off single by The Jam. Released on 25 August 1979, it charted at number 17 in the UK Singles Chart. The B-side, "Smithers-Jones", is widely considered to be Jam bassist Bruce Foxton's finest song-writing moment and also appears - with an orchestral...
" months before the album's release, and is here redone in an all-strings arrangement, save a bit of electric guitar in the coda
Coda (music)
Coda is a term used in music in a number of different senses, primarily to designate a passage that brings a piece to an end. Technically, it is an expanded cadence...
. According to the liner notes of the Direction Reaction Creation
Direction Reaction Creation
Direction Reaction Creation is an anthology released by the British punk rock band, The Jam, in 1997. It includes 117 tracks over 5 discs, including all of the songs from their singles and six studio albums. Songs marked with * indicate a Paul Weller solo recording.The box set reached #8 in the UK...
box set, the revamping of "Smithers-Jones" was suggested by drummer Rick Buckler
Rick Buckler
Rick Buckler , is the former drummer of The Jam, an English rock band that enjoyed considerable success in the United Kingdom from 1977 until disbanding in 1982...
.
The liner notes also imply that the album was a somewhat rushed effort, which may explain why the original underlying concept was not fully developed, as well as the inclusion of cover songs and prior releases: "Smithers-Jones" had already been released; "Heat Wave
(Love is Like a) Heat Wave
" Heat Wave" is a 1963 hit single penned by the Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team and made popular by Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. It was originally released in July 1963, on the Motown subsidiary label Gordy, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Billboard Hot...
" is a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the Martha and the Vandellas
Martha and the Vandellas
Martha and the Vandellas were among the most successful groups of the Motown roster during the period 1963–1967...
' Motown
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
hit. Since "The Eton Rifles
The Eton Rifles
"The Eton Rifles" was the only single to be released from the album Setting Sons by The Jam. Recorded at Townhouse studios and released on 3 November 1979, it became the band's first top ten hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at #3...
" was released in advance of the LP for promotional purposes, this leaves only seven entirely new original songs on the album.
Nonetheless, the album remains one of The Jam's most critically favoured works alongside All Mod Cons
All Mod Cons
All Mod Cons is a 1978 album by the British band The Jam, their third full-length LP. The title, a British idiom one might find in housing advertisements, is short for "all modern conveniences" and is a pun on the band's association with the mod revival.The album was more commercially successful...
and Sound Affects
Sound Affects
Sound Affects is the fifth studio album by British rock band The Jam. The cover art is a pastiche of the artwork used on various Sound Effects records produced by the BBC during the 1970s.-Influences:...
. The only song particularly singled out for negative criticism is the cover of "Heat Wave", which clearly owes more to The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
's arrangement
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
than the original. As Allmusic put it, "Setting Sons often reaches brilliance and stands among The Jam's best albums, but the inclusion of a number of throwaways and knockoffs (especially the out-of-place cover of "Heat Wave" which closes the album) mars an otherwise perfect album." (Nonetheless, Allmusic gave the album the full five stars.)
The Polydor Canada LP release of Setting Sons is substantially different from the original UK version, and contains 12 tracks.
Side one
- "Girl On The Phone"
- "Thick As Thieves"
- "Private Hell"
- "Little Boy Soldiers"
- "Wasteland"
Side two
- "Burning Sky"
- "Smithers-JonesSmithers-JonesSmithers-Jones is a song written by Bruce Foxton for recording with his fellow bandmates in The Jam.Smithers-Jones differs from the majority of tracks by The Jam in that it was not written by guitarist vocalist Paul Weller. "Smithers-Jones" was originally recorded as a straightforward rock take for...
" (Bruce FoxtonBruce FoxtonBruce Foxton is an English rock and roll musician who is best known as the bass player in punk rock bands The Jam and Stiff Little Fingers.-Biography:...
) - "Saturday's Kids"
- "The Eton RiflesThe Eton Rifles"The Eton Rifles" was the only single to be released from the album Setting Sons by The Jam. Recorded at Townhouse studios and released on 3 November 1979, it became the band's first top ten hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at #3...
" - "Heat Wave(Love is Like a) Heat Wave" Heat Wave" is a 1963 hit single penned by the Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team and made popular by Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. It was originally released in July 1963, on the Motown subsidiary label Gordy, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Billboard Hot...
" (Holland-Dozier-HollandHolland-Dozier-HollandHolland–Dozier–Holland is a songwriting and production team made up of Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian Holland and Edward Holland, Jr. They are considered to be one of the greatest songwriting teams in popular music...
)
Side one
- "Strange Town"
- "Saturday's Kids"
- "Little Boy Soldiers"
- "The Eton RiflesThe Eton Rifles"The Eton Rifles" was the only single to be released from the album Setting Sons by The Jam. Recorded at Townhouse studios and released on 3 November 1979, it became the band's first top ten hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at #3...
" - "Girl On The Phone"
- "Heat Wave" (Holland-Dozier-Holland)
Side two
- "Smithers-JonesSmithers-JonesSmithers-Jones is a song written by Bruce Foxton for recording with his fellow bandmates in The Jam.Smithers-Jones differs from the majority of tracks by The Jam in that it was not written by guitarist vocalist Paul Weller. "Smithers-Jones" was originally recorded as a straightforward rock take for...
" (Bruce Foxton) - "Private Hell"
- "The Butterfly Collector"
- "Burning Sky"
- "Thick As Thieves"
- "Wasteland"
2001 re-release track listing
- "Girl on the Phone"
- "Thick As Thieves"
- "Private Hell"
- "Little Boy Soldiers"
- "Wasteland"
- "Burning Sky"
- "Smithers-JonesSmithers-JonesSmithers-Jones is a song written by Bruce Foxton for recording with his fellow bandmates in The Jam.Smithers-Jones differs from the majority of tracks by The Jam in that it was not written by guitarist vocalist Paul Weller. "Smithers-Jones" was originally recorded as a straightforward rock take for...
" (Bruce Foxton) - "Saturday's Kids"
- "The Eton RiflesThe Eton Rifles"The Eton Rifles" was the only single to be released from the album Setting Sons by The Jam. Recorded at Townhouse studios and released on 3 November 1979, it became the band's first top ten hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at #3...
" - "Heat Wave" (Holland-Dozier-Holland)
- "Strange Town"
- "When You're YoungWhen You're Young"When You're Young" was released as a one-off single by The Jam. Released on 25 August 1979, it charted at number 17 in the UK Singles Chart. The B-side, "Smithers-Jones", is widely considered to be Jam bassist Bruce Foxton's finest song-writing moment and also appears - with an orchestral...
" - "Smithers-JonesSmithers-JonesSmithers-Jones is a song written by Bruce Foxton for recording with his fellow bandmates in The Jam.Smithers-Jones differs from the majority of tracks by The Jam in that it was not written by guitarist vocalist Paul Weller. "Smithers-Jones" was originally recorded as a straightforward rock take for...
(single version)" (Bruce Foxton) - "See-Saw"
- "Going UndergroundGoing Underground"Going Underground" is the first British number-one chart single by The Jam, released in March 1980. It went straight in at number one, a rare feat at the time, and spent three weeks at the top...
" - "The Dreams of Children"
- "So Sad About Us" (Pete TownshendPete TownshendPeter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
) - "Hey Mister"
- "Start"