Favorite "Town" Songs #5 - "Town Called Malice"

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"If we ain't getting through to you, you obviously ain't listening." I am counting down my favorite songs with "Town," "City," "State," and "Country" in the title, this being the "Town" portion of today's discussion. We are at #5: "Town Called Malice" by The Jam. What with their energy and biting social commentary, The Jam sometimes get labeled as a punk band. However, the British group, led by vocalist/guitarist Paul Weller, formed in 1972, and we are at the forefront of the English Mod revival. These guys weren't wearing ripped t-shirts with subversive slogans. No, the members of The Jam dressed sharp! The Jam lasted long enough to record six studio albums before Weller split to form The Style Council (you might remember their 1984 hit, "My Ever Changing Moods.) "Town Called Malice" was a massive success, the first single from The Jam's 1982 (and final) album, The Gift. Just how successful? In the UK, "Town Called Malice" DEBUTED at #1, where it stayed for three weeks (it also reached Top 20 status in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, and was the only Jam single to appear on any of Billboard's US charts, hitting both the Mainstream Rock and Dance Club Songs charts.) Meanwhile, back in the UK, a 12-inch single of the song was also released. During those three weeks atop the British chart, The Stranglers had a pretty damn good tune, "Golden Brown," stalled at #2, prompting EMI Records to lodge a complaint claiming that Jam fans were purposely buying up both releases of "Town Called Malice," therefore keeping The Stranglers from their rightful spot at #1. Which probably means that Jam fans were either more devoted to their band, or maybe just had more disposable income. Or maybe, just maybe, "Town Called Malice" is such a great song that it deserved a lengthy stay at #1! (Info verified by Wikipedia)