The Jam: Going Underground

For today's Saturday Musical Selection, I again pay homage to the 2012 Olympics. During the opening ceremonies, snippets of many familiar English rock songs were played. Tunes from artists such as The Who, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, the Clash and even the Sex Pistols (God Save the Queen!) were part of the medley. So was The Jam. Who?

Like the Clash and the Sex Pistols, The Jam was a product of the punk rock revolution of 1977. But they never caught on in America, which is a real shame, although they were popular in the New York City area. More so than any of the punkers, The Jam based its sound on early Who singles. After The Jam ran its course, its leader, Paul Weller, formed Style Council, which had a slightly larger following here. He later pursued a solo career.

Watch and listen to the promotional video of its biggest British hit, "Going Underground," which wasn't a big seller here, but at least millions of Americans got to hear a bit of it for the first time last Friday.