The book tells recounts of fans being let into sound-checks in the middle of the afternoon when many of them should have been at school. It describes the feelings and emotions many fans went through when at their gigs, when buying their LP's and generally just living life with the Jam. I love how you get a real sense of what this band were, they weren't just a band, they didn't just write songs, they spoke volumes about society and social happenings at that time. They tell you tales of politics, love, loss and living in a strange town. This band for me are at the center of everything I know and am, and this book definitely gives you that impression from all the people who have contributed. I love the way the book is laid out and presented, colour pages full of life and imagery alongside the thoughts, feelings and tales of the many contributors. It takes you though a lot of the gigs the band played including their legendary nights at the Rainbow. I enjoy how this book sums the jam up as a movement rather than just a band which is a very important point to make. It describes the impact John Weller had on the band and how he was their driving force and Paul's inspiration. It shows you the three Woking Wonders in a different light and describes their climb from a small unknown band when the line-up was different, to the three we know as the Jam today who became one of, if not the biggest band in the whole country. This book for me is a must have for any Jam fans collection and I can't stress enough the amount of knowledge and information I've gained through reading it that I didn't know previously. Don't just listen to their tunes read into them with this book and find out for yourselves!
My first taster of the jam was as a young child on holiday in Spain, 'Tales from the Riverbank' played quietly on a CD player in the background which my Dad had brought with him. I must of been six at the time and was digging it back then! Then at age eleven I was bought an Ipod Nano for Christmas my Dad had to test it out before giving it to me on Christmas day so imported 'Absolute Beginners' onto it for me to test if it worked. I listened to this song for around two hours on that day and then found the best of and immediately imported that. That was where it all began properly for me...
'Thick as Thieves Personal Situations with the Jam' is where its at in terms of a book to compliment and tell the tale of the best band that there ever was! The book is now even available in a digital edition on the Itunes store as an iBook. This edition includes some tasty extras that are not available in the paper edition and believe me they're worth it! They include, new chapters including rare fan club material and many new images. The book is interspersed with audio-visual content, including music, interviews with the authors, fans and more! There is also post launch updates and reflections inlacing new material from Steve Brookes, Nicky Weller and Grant Fleming. Hey when it's described by a certain Mr Paul Weller as, "The best book on the Jam and its audience I've ever seen." you know its worth a punt! Stu and Ian have done a superb job and this book is a literary triumph! Get on it!
