"Dig the New Breed" is the final album by the Jam, excluding compilations released after the group's split in December 1982.
It is a collection of live performances recorded between 1977 and 1982.
A last farewell gift from the band in the year Weller spectacularly announced his departure from it, Dig the New Breed is a sometimes rough around the edges live overview of the band's work, from small club dates in 1979 to much larger venues in 1982.
Recording quality throughout is quite excellent -- it's not specified whether the band always recorded its shows with such care and just had a mountain of tapes to work through, but the end results are quite enjoyable.
It's not a perfect album, admittedly, though that's due in large part to the sheer number of memorable songs that don't show up (something that Live Jam rectified 11 years later).
That said, plenty of hands-down winners take a bow. Besides obvious highlights like "Start," "Going Underground," and a superb "That's Entertainment," noteworthy album cuts get well-deserved showcases.
"To Be Someone" and its barbed portrait of fame and its pitfalls, the appropriately fiery "Set the House Ablaze," and the tender yet tense "Ghosts," in particular, sparkle.
If there's one thing clear about Dig the New Breed, though, it's that the worshipful reputation the group still has as a live act almost without parallel was well founded.
Weller's sharp, barked passion shot through with yearning emotion is as strong here as on the Jam's best studio work, and as a unit the three players just shone, tightly wound, explosive, giving the melodies the full-bodied roar they deserved.
The inclusion of horn sections and other musicians later sometimes cause the core band to get a bit lost -- when it's just the three, they're at their clear best. Weller's liner notes are amusing enough as well (and certainly read a heck of a lot better than the Cappucino Kid nonsense that plagued the Style Council's efforts).
Tracklist
1. In the City (100 Club, London, 11 September 1977) - 2:15
2. All Mod Cons (the Rainbow, London, 3 December 1979) - 1:15
3. To Be Someone (Didn't We Have a Nice Time) (the Rainbow, London, 3 December 1979) - 2:14
4. It's Too Bad (the Rainbow, London, 3 December 1979) - 3:11
5. Start! (the Hammersmith Palais, London, 14 December 1981) - 2:27
6. Big Bird (Eddie Floyd) (the Hammersmith Palais, London, 14 December 1981) - 2:51
7. Set the House Ablaze (the Hammersmith Palais, London, 14 December 1981) - 4:43
8. Ghosts (Bingley Hall, Birmingham, England, 21 March 1982) - 2:18
9. Standards (Reading University, 16 February 1979) - 2:29
10. In the Crowd (the Edinburgh Playhouse, 6 April 1982) - 3:06
11. Going Underground (Glasgow Apollo, 8 April 1982) - 3:11
12. Dreams of Children (Glasgow Apollo, 8 April 1982) - 3:27
13. That's Entertainment (Glasgow Apollo, 7 April 1982) (sleeve notes say 8th April but its actually from 7th) - 3:26
14. Private Hell (Glasgow Apollo, 8 April 1982) - 4:22
All songs written by Paul Weller except as indicated.
Companies, etc.
- Record Company – Polydor Ltd. (London)
- Manufactured By – Polydor Ltd.
- Distributed By – Polydor Ltd.
- Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Polydor Ltd. (London)
- Copyright © – Polydor Ltd. (London)
- Copyright © – Polydor Records Ltd.
- Pressed By – PRS Ltd.
- Published By – And Son Music Ltd.
- Published By – Warner Bros. Music Ltd.
- Published By – Morrison Leahy Music Ltd.
- Recorded At – 100 Club
- Recorded At – Rainbow Theatre London
- Recorded At – Hammersmith Palais
- Recorded At – Bingley Hall
- Recorded At – Reading University
- Recorded At – Edinburgh Playhouse
- Recorded At – Apollo Theatre, Glasgow
- Lacquer Cut At – Master Room
Credits
- Design [Sleeve] – Alwyn Clayden
- Liner Notes – Bruce Foxton, Paul Weller, Rick Buckler
- Photography By – Erica Ecenberg, Justin Thomas, Pennie Smith, Walt Davidson
- Producer – Peter Wilson
Notes
Released: 10 December 1982
Recorded: 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982
Genre: Punk rock, mod revival
Producer: Peter Wilson
Label: Polydor
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