Paul Weller ~ Strange Town (Live at Abbey Road Studios)

[@simeonwootton8708]

The 'B' side to this was 'Butterfly Collector'. The best 40p you could ever spend!

[@pauleyles9536]

Simeon Wootton .I think the Butterfly Collector is a gr8 B.side of this song. And I go around Portsmouth where I live doing my drum kit inpression 2this gr8 track among others.. And I have been lucky Enough to have met my favourite band ie The Human League. And I rate the Jam as my 2nd favourite band. And as 4 Paul Weller. I think that he should get a knighthood 4 his gr8 music. And I wunder if he plays chess in spare time that he get 2himself. from Paul

[@harveysmith100]

I couldn't agree more. Have a look on youtube for Wellar and Noel doing the Butterfly Collector. Great version

[@iandainton2416]

Still got it, but not for 40p, 😂😂

[@davecostello560]

Tube Station and So Sad About Us wasn't bad either!!

[@jonhaslam3699]

Liza Radley is much underrated and underplayed.

[@gary6514]

Together with Rick and Bruce they created a sound and power Weller has never really captured since. When you consider there was only three of them.....they sounded like an orchestra of fury....

[@josephodonnell8649]

True

[@anneliamohara2842]

Yes you’re right ! seen the Jam 1978 Dublin What a Band! Such power for a three piece band !

[@Anglo_Saxon1]

I like the fact he didn't cut out"the same old manifesto, be kind to queers"

[@gjhf11]

Absolutely the best of Weller

[@Fogon59]

Much as I love Weller, this only proves how good Bruce and Rick were.

[@ledonn90]

+micky ogden I always thought their bass player was criminally underrated. He produced so much drive to the sound

[@marcgriffiths7858]

I agree 100 percent,perfect comment

[@MrNeilwmac]

oh dear paul weller

[@kalamikid]

A spot on comment.

[@REJONES2023]

If u know anything about weller he dont give a fuck about the past. He doesnt need buckler or foxton. Even tho he plays past song he makes them his own. People expect the jam when they go to see him but how disappointed they end up. Hes a solo artist now

[@markreadman795]

The jam were a A trio of geniuses, you can not replace genius with generic musicians and ever get that same spark.

[@charlesodonnell123]

Paul Weller is a genius, Rick Buckler and Bruce Foxton are good musicians only. You can't ever call Steve Craddock, Andy Crofts, Steve Pilgrim and the rest of the band 'generic musicians'. What a prat.

[@taekwanlew]

Foxton and more so Buckler were certainly no geniuses. Buckler had a very forgettable style, the fact he never moved on to any other bands proves that point. Foxton was and still is a very good bass player but no more than that. The actual genius moved on and is still creating great and notable music no matter what those still stuck in 1978 think

[@harveysmith100]

Punk was great in terms of bringing back electric guitars and kicking out the commercial disco scene but it never woke up my generation. Then along came The Jam and The Specials. The energy of punk but with a more serious edge and a powerful danger. They wrote about what was wrong in our society and what our generation was going through. To us it was great, but we didn't realise that our generations music was one of the greatest brief few years in British music history. How grateful I am now to have experienced those brief few years.

[@josephodonnell8649]

Weller has been quoted as saying, this is the best pop song he has ever written.

[@Chrisamusic1]

Still my fav Weller lyric. "I'm looking in the mirror but I cant be seen, just a thin clean layer of Mr Sheen looking back at me". Stunning.

[@derek-press]

the world is your oyster but your future's a clam,but yes I love the Mr. Sheen

[@andrewfranzle8243]

i agree friend pretty damn great lyric..cant touch pauls skills.

[@jonbarlow4763]

Shocking...Murdered a classic..

[@marklynch9527]

Jon Barlow 40 years on mate, cut him some slack

[@PatheticoMorbid]

Took me back to my youth, great song written by a very talented song writer. Thank you Paul.

[@user-nr4su3tl3l]

この曲が生まれた事に感謝しますね！😅

[@dougieturnbull7207]

Always loved this song , simply the bomb, then and now.

[@kevinfee6522]

One of the best jam songs

[@nationaltrevor255]

Well, I thought that that was really rather fucking good.. One of Weller's finest songs, for me.

[@JamesRobinson2745]

One of the best Jam tracks IMO, like a lot of others who've commented here. What I find a bit odd tho' is how many of you have moaned it's not the same as when the original Jam line up played it. Well no, course it's not cos that was then & this is a different time with different band members. I get what you're saying those of you that don't rate this version but it still does it for me.

[@andrew2366]

Proper comment!!!

[@Chrisamusic1]

Fantastic song, wonderful lyric.

[@finbarrcorcoran9342]

Play at 1.25 speed for nostalgia....

[@C1098O]

Thats simply fantastic

[@anthonylloyd4248]

Mint! Mr weller you are awsome sir! The jam live on! Forever in tact! 🎸👌✌

[@HarryDeano]

one reason why the jam should never reform!

[@task134]

i keep forgetting how magical the songs were and i for one love weller as without him no songs as he wrote 95% of them so no matter love them all

[@Vortigan07]

It's like the song has been lobotomised, it still opens its eyes, still moves and still breathes just as before...but all the personality and soul has gone.

[@mauricioamaro5698]

What a great song. Ride on Weller

[@georgealty]

Spot on. Wonderful to hear it.

[@paulgoodchild9536]

Greatest song ever!

[@DrakeyDistiller]

Bloody fabulous. Cryin. 🥲

[@hugo2216]

THE JAM FOREVER

[@marksweeney2151]

Awesome version of one of so many classic Jam songs. Maybe the power of original just not there but this is an absolute fantastic rendition.

[@thommytaranto]

Weller's having so much fun here!

[@stevechandler4607]

Play this at 1.25 speed and it sounds much more like how it did in the Jam..

[@bengunns9500]

what a great record, used to get drunk to these songs mid 70s

[@paulalancornelius8671]

Love it.

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

my favourite Jam song. This suits his band sound better than the other Jam songs.

[@boxingjerapah]

great days ... ah the memories !

[@riccardoviventi6060]

The Jam played the original and the best sounding version

[@snacklofter]

Love it! Thanks

[@vanessafreeman]

First single I bought - fortunately, still have it!

[@gabmod65]

Legend..end off👍

[@paulthrelfall5766]

1.25 playback speed is brilliant… more like it..

[@JurassicPlank]

Bought this when it came out!

[@stephenhendrie320]

B side class as well brilliant band

[@leftynotliberal]

So good!

[@stevemcniel5513]

still a good version.

[@drstevie]

FAB

[@tonebonetones]

Owwwwwww. Never wise to do a Jam song without the rest of that amazing power trio. I wonder if Weller realizes, brilliant as he was at writing the songs, just how good the other two were at creating that sheer 'punch' the Jam had back in the day before Ed Sheeran, and snowflake shit took over music? I always get the impression, he resents that hard musical fact.

[@user-si3qt9ss6r]

Voice doesn't come out. Everyman gets old.

[@michaeldherbage9948]

Needed to speed this up a bit as it kinda drags. But good to see the old boy still showing some righteous indignity in that performance.

[@leewilliams207]

Class

[@user-xr5ww9vj9c]

I’ve got the single on picture sleeve with Paul and bruces autograph signed I think at Leicester university.

[@chrisbayross4419]

Weller...'to be someone'....which you were.....

[@michafolan6389]

I wish they would get too get her to the best band ever

[@TractorBeam]

Are they playing this at old geezer pace? Asking as a huge fan.

[@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx]

It is a lot slower. Notably, From the Jam play it at the original tempo.

[@Prellium]

The Jam released 16 singles and 8 of them weren't on any album.

[@granto6738]

Yes very true

[@bigmicky71]

RUBBISH without Bruce Foxton on bass. Weller wrote brilliant songs but Bruce gave them life with his brilliant bass lines

[@andrew2366]

Agreed mate Foxton was awesome as a 15yr old I thought he was way cooler anyhow!!

[@alanarmer8069]

👍👍🎸🎸👍👍🎸🎸👍👍

[@pradaman307]

FROM THE JAM do a far better version of this song live!!

[@andrew2366]

Bollocks

[@revol148]

@pradaman307....it surely can't be any worse than this car crash of a rendition !

[@stuartharrison165]

They just copy from 40 yrs ago, Weller's added a little soul.

[@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx]

@@stuartharrison165 ... or he and his session band are slowing down in their old age.

[@sfm1967]

watch bingley hall 82 thats the bench mark- paul bruce rick and john rip

[@markfinazzi7226]

I was there!!! 😁 One Stoke,one Leeds,three Bingleys,( Stafford and B'ham) in 82.Of course it's not the same But it's still Weller.😁

[@Slarti2]

Lovely stuff. Tempo slightly too slow though..

[@dieterbruls4091]

All these reactions like buying this song, my first record and best 40p spent... you can’t get that feeling on boring Spotify can you? 😉

[@simonhobbs3826]

sounds like a pub band

[@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx]

Quite a bit slower than the original and the live renditions by From the Jam.

[@guitarkat99]

Not bad, but played a tad bit too slow. Not as urgent sounding as when the Jam played it. Still a great song, though.

[@tylerdurden4368]

wanted to commend exactly the same...with that amazing sound and a little bit faster they´d ve blown away the audience

[@RiccardoSchiroli]

Great lyrics, I would add

[@chrisst8922]

I wonder why it was slow, at points it speeds up, it's sung perfectly well, the solos and shouts etc are there. I remember hearing that he doesn't like to practise (with the band) too much, either it's there or it's not. Mystifying, he seemed happy to do it, even pleased.

[@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx]

@@chrisst8922 Yes. I noticed it was much slower than the original studio and live versions so I used a tap-tempo site to check - and yes, the band is all over the place, tempo-wise. Not tight at all.

[@dompeyote2872]

I will take the Jam's FASTER original thank you

[@ut99aimbot]

KILLED IT THE WANKER.....

[@Vortigan07]

Eugghh! Well I suppose it's inevitable given the passage of time etc but this is a big no! I'll be sticking with Bingley Hall '82!

[@Davidnumber23]

simply not the same.

[@richardelson8583]

Always better to go back to the original band footage. Prefer PW and his band do the solo stuff. This sounds laborious and turgid.

[@1989NickyD]

So Weller can't perform live with the same intensity he did 30-35 years ago. What's the big deal? Just as an example, can any of you run as fast as you did back then?

[@justmadeit2]

Good point. And especially singers, they seem to be at their peak most of them under the age of 40.

[@tonebonetones]

Ahhhh, but unless you are deaf, it is quite clear this doesn't quite cut the mustard.......putting it mildly Go listen to ANY Jam live version of this same song on KZbin of this song and blink in wonder as you realize the enormity of your error.

[@shaunmcgee4204]

1989NickiD If you put Rick and Bruce up there on the stage with him, I’d put money on them setting the house ablaze. Like all the great groups, The Jam had a communal signature and a chemistry that isn’t easily reproduced. That’s why The Jam meant (and still mean) so much to people. I’ve seen many bands since I used to push my way to the front at Jam gigs, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody that produced what they did on a stage. Even the sound checks were volatile and incendiary.

[@1989NickyD]

@@tonebonetones I know exactly what The Jam were like live, I lived through it all. All I'm saying is, Weller's not 21 anymore. Even if the band reformed, they couldn't recreate what they did back in the day.

[@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx]

@@1989NickyD From the Jam play with quite some ferocity.

[@JuanCarruyo]

reggae strange town. dis sux.

[@revol148]

50 years of heavy smoking have wrecked his vocal chords - he really is struggling here

[@beetleything4u]

Ehm good BUT lacking the fire he once had & craddock is turning it into a ska tune!

[@paddrivers]

Its lost the " urgency "

[@oreally8605]

Played 50% slower

[@MrSaltford]

weller should stop trying to polish the old jam songs if he is going to use them on tour just strip them back to what the jam jam did and just play lead and use the bass and drums when you listen to this video is nothing like strange town that they played live weller is GOD but somebody has to stand up and tall him the truth and god is not always right and no matter how old you are you still need to listen to the people

[@mikecummings3149]

1.25..

[@davidorocks62]

I really wanted this to be great....but instead it's really lame.

[@Fogon59]

Miles too slow.

[@infinitocachirulo7408]

HORRIBLE! I rather listen to the original promo video. Paul broke up The Jam, Bruce and Rick wanted to continue but Weller wanted to be the next Elvis, LOL!

[@pauladams1915]

Lacks the energy of original. Just as well the Jam won't reform, Weller wouldn't last 30 minutes

[@revol148]

I'm sticking to Jam covers bands rather than this dirge from a man who's wrecked his vocal chords on cigs !

[@charlesodonnell123]

It is his song and it isn't being performed by two bitter ex-colleagues. Still, Weller is laughing all the way to the bank when his PRS check comes in.

[@revol148]

@@charlesodonnell123 it IS his song although performed live far better by his (apparently bitter) ex colleagues.

[@jonburrows2883]

Wtf is Craddock doing! Abysmal

[@jeffmaher9704]

I thought the original says slash.not scratch your nose. .BBC bollocks.... other than than that..he ain't 25..voice range

[@the_clone_ranger7730]

Painfully slow and laboured

[@shaunblake13]

This is not the same Paul and never say that's its old folk , weller you don't sound the same you sound crap you are lost without the original jam

[@matthewgriffin9320]

Too slow

[@colinwhiteland859]

far too slow and what the fuck is up with wellers voice ?

[@stormytempest6521]

No real power !

[@leesanders1407]

Great song ...terrible version

[@fizzix54]

Hate Craddock with a passion

[@derekfisher939]

😂

[@derekfisher939]

Ye he's a bit of a prick alright

[@SAMcWaters]

Bloody awful. Go look at the vintage footage, even the American Bandstand mime is better. It's 1970's Elvis versus 1950's Elvis. I wish Weller had kept his pledge to bury The Jam for good when they split. It's truly appalling. Look at all those old farts dancing to it. Women will probably toss their knickers next. Besides you can't play it on a gd Gibson, gotta be a Rickenbacker.

[@philallan6685]

+Scott McWaters He always played a Gibson - check out the Rockpalast gig on Sky Arts or elsewhere. Les Paul Junior if I'm not mistaken. He's nearly 60 and any original Jam fans are pushing 50 at best. Like the person you love, they age but you still remember them in the first flush of fire and desire. He's earned the right to do the cocktail lounge version. Rather him do it than a tribute band or From The Jam ffs.

[@michaeltandy7690]

he played a rickenbacker when I saw them

[@darrenmeads2534]

You mean Gibson SG!

[@bazookajoe6760]

awful

[@ianmoran997]

It’s like a bad cover version 🤷‍♂️

[@user-nd5fz5jd9o]

Shite