To celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Jam’s final studio album which signaled the classic band’s unexpected split Universal have announced a super-deluxe box set of ‘The Gift’ to hit shops on November 19th 2012.
Strangely this was the band’s only No 1 album and marked the departure from the classic Jam sound to a sound that took in frontman Paul Weller‘s love of Northern Soul, acting in the process as a rough blueprint for the sonic template of The Style Council.’The Gift’ includes the classic No 1 ‘Town Called Malice’ plus other highlights ‘Running On The Spot’ and ‘Carnation’ all still featured in Weller’s live sets today.
Of the album Weller had this to say:“I was very proud of it – I thought it was another advance on what we’d done before”. With the split of The Jam all but comfirmed, Weller strove to bring as close to perfection as was humanly possible. Many questioned his reasons when he had chosen to end the band himself. but with hindsight it is apparent that Weller wanted the bands final album to be the one that cemented their legacy.
The super-deluxe edition is also due to contain a cd of the band’s Wembley Arena show from their 1982 farewell tour. Displaying the band’s vitriol and passion right to the end. It will also feature a DVD complilation of live cuts and promo videos.
The Super Deluxe Edition features the following:
1. Disc 1 – original album re-mastered + 10 singles/b-sides from the period, up to the split.
2. Disc 2 – bonus tracks – 15 demos & alternate tracks, 13 previously unreleased, re-mastered
3. Disc 3 – Live at Wembley December 1982
23 tracks, complete concert from the last ever Jam tour (previously unreleased), re-mastered
4. Disc 4 – DVD compilation featuring:
Promo clips (Town Called Malice / Precious / The Bitterest Pill)
Trans-Global Unity Express tour – live tracks from Birmingham show:
1. Town Called Malice
2. Carnation
3. Precious
4. Ghosts
5. Move On Up
6. Private Hell
7. Pretty Green
8. “Trans-Global Express”
9. The Gift
o Danish TV special (DR) The band play the Gift album live in small studio with audience (previously unseen officially)
o Top Of The Pops – 1982 – Town Called Malice / Precious
The set will also be available as a 2 disc edition.
