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From: cpunctn
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  • Taxman and Start! are both great tunes but I'd give start! the edge due to the lame lyrics of Taxman - a rich popstar whining about all the tax he has to pay. perhaps 'what you give is what you get', a sentiment more in tune with the hippy philosophy of giving, is Weller's response to the original crap lyric. Just a thought

  • I 'm brian, and so is my staffy puppy. Well, really, he's called Alexx and his testicles are gone. He likes sticks and long walks in the park.....

  • i actually thourght it was taxman for a second haha, great song anyways

  • 'Taxman' and 'Start' Two great songs by two kick arse bands The Jam and The beatles! they are equal! dont be biased people!

  • Never be embarassed to be a mod :D..... it was a great period in life and so many bands wrote their own music. Not like today's regurgitated rubbish. Very few talented new artists out there.

  • the jam ace 

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  • i love this, only just found out it was a copy ,am gutted , i thought it was just oasis,

  • @howie094 oh dear... I have been trolled. Well played troll... well played...

  • @howie094 It's not a "rip off" its a direct lift. It happens all the time. I know its a naff example but would you say that Madonna Ripped off ABBA with "Hung up"?

  • this band tried SO hard to be the beatles. the guitarist has the mccartney mullet. the singer has the lennon glasses and hairdo, the riff is "taxman"...

  • @Epic0Studios think they were more influenced by the small faces and action but yeah this song is a rip on Taxman

  • @fiendwithoutaface66 does sound like taxman,,still good tho,,i was a mod in the eighties,but never liked the jam,,they were a good band,i lked undertones

  • @dinoblackgrape you obviously aint  or never was a proper mod son, undertones more punk

  • @MyBuzzie i dont like admitting i was a mod,its embarrassing realy

  • @Epic0Studios Wow! Nothing gets past you!

  • The riff is a direct lift - but then it goes into another song- which is ok by me - it really doesnt sound like a rip off. (And lets face it if you're going to rip off a riff this one's a good one to choose). Harrison never tried to sue- cos he knew that. George himself got sued for 'My sweet Lord@ which was EXACTLY the same chords as 'He's so fine' by the Shirelles.

  • @koptaman all groups `borrow` from other groups i mean pete townshend did`nt mind when the clash `borrowed ` the `i cant explain ` riff -cos he`d `borrowed ` it from the kinks !

  • @howie094

    they're not trying to hide the fact that they're playing taxman. look at those john lennon glasses

  • I doubt the beatles really cared... I mean it's not like they were poor musicians who were truly getting ripped off. The Jam was a lesser known band. maybe the beatles thought they were good (I mean listen to all their other stuff.. so awesome and original!) and just let it go

  • @howie094 Well DUH!...the Jam were accused throughout their careers as 'Beatles Clones', finally I think they had enough and decided to take advantage of that moniker...the whole 'Sound Affects' album sounds like it could have come from Abbey Road in the late 60s...I love it...the Beatles quit and others move up, that's the way life works...enjoy...

  • flippin' lovely! love it madly!!!

  • love the guitar riffs and solos - this is good music, not the crap that's out on charts today :)

  • Yeah this is a great song. It seems to have pinched a timeless Beatles riff. Did Sir Paul sue? Did Non-Sirs Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood sue, when Pauler made 107538 Overture into a Changing Man?

    Never saw the headlines about that.

    Now, in 1997, a certain band led by a certain man took a long forgotten violiny bit that a didn't even sound like the Stones, as that particular song was, to start with, as the catchy bit of a song.

    And said man got sued fae here to Siberia! Mr Ashcroft, that is.

  • @howie094 They always said they took the riff from the beatles, they loved it so much, they did decided to do something with it. They done alright.

  • Have you ever heard the term 'homage'? well this is one big fat fuck off one, and does it justice to boot.

  • @howie094 who cares, the beetles were so rich they deserved to be ripped off.

    anyway, it's a better song than taxman.

  • @somonelse666 This song isn't better than Taxman you just like it better. Anyway this and their cover of David Watts are definitetly two of the best songs by The Jam.

  • @howie094 who cares, the beetles were so rich they deserved to be ripped off.

  • @howie094 yes, yes it is a blatant rip off of taxman, what's your point?

  • the song is a tribute

  • wow, blast from the past when i was a mod.

  • A rip-off, but a cool, loving rip-off. If I'm not mistaken, it was George Harrison who wrote 'Taxman'. Ironically, poor ol' George got sued in the early to mid '80s on the grounds that 'My Sweet Lord' was a rip-off of an old Motown or R & B hit. (I can't remember which one at the moment--'My Boyfriend's Back'...?)

  • @jannyrcobs It was 'He's So Fine' ( doo lang doo lang...etc.) Seems ridiculous cos you hear plaguerism left and right nowadays and rarely do they get called on it.

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  • yeah cos it's not like the beatles didn't take things from other people as well or anything. it's not like every musician doesn't do that...

  • I love this song its a direct take off of the fabulous song written by the Beatles called Tax man however the jam has injected their own intelligence into the song making it their own.

  • @howie094 jesus christ your a dumbass, thats the whole point of the song :L

  • Taxmanですね♪

  • @howie094 hence the john lennon glasses (he's in on it)

  • Who the fuck cares about Taxman. Talk about Start! or The Jam at least.

  • A cool take on Taxman. I personally like it, but I'm surprised they were able to release it without getting sued.

  • Taxman! Ahhh both great songs though :D

  • This song was produced as a homage to the Beatles. I'm more a Beatles fan than the Jam, but think that Start is a far better track - don't hound me - just my opinion folks.

  • @chunkyhugo2 cant you just enjoy the song without over analysing 

  • Classic, all that shite the beatles produced should stay back in the 60's borin bastards

  • I learnt this on my bass recently and am really exited to be playing this song with my band.

    IT KIKS ASS!!!

    :)

  • What kind of God gives you Paul Weller and Joe Strummer in the same decade.......

    A Female One

  • There's something slightly eerie about this song. 1980 was a good year for songs of that kind: the best example is probably A Forest by The Cure.

  • Anybody know if George Harrison liked this ? I'd like to think he'd find it a fine homage to his song 'Taxman'. Good on its' own, mind you. But obviously the main riff was stolen. Love the Jam, love the Beatles. So it's 2 tastes that go great together.

  • @eartant Apparently John wrote the bulk of taxman not George, that's one reason they weren't talking at the time of John's death because George didn't credit him properly in his book "I me mine".

  • I prefer this song when it was called Taxman, and sang by the beatles

  • my very first single I bought!!!!

  • @howie094

    It's not a rip-off, you berk, it's a tribute to Taxman, and Weller has always said so. If you knew anything about his songwriting, you'd know he paid tribute with his songs to several artists who here highly influential for him.

  • Paul Weller actually wrote back in the day that he used the bassline as a homage. He very much knew what he was doing, it is a cracka.

  • i never knew david bowie sang with the jam....;-)

  • Yeah its a ripoff of taxman but there not hiding that great stuff this song is as good as taxman if not better fuck it its better

  • This reminds me of the 60's, like, the glasses, the style. It's really good, but I keep thinking this is from the 60's. Really cool.

  • ahh good old jam, they dont make bands like this anymore, these were a classic. This song and Town Called Malice = Pure Genius ! wicked! The Jam has and always will remain a classic and awesome band.

  • They also ripped off a Supremes bassline for A Town Called Malice. That's OK though- they're good songs anyway.

  • Bruce Foxtron - bass player....woz brill///he co wrote da songe with Weller!!

  • Weller readily admits to this being a direct rip of the "Taxman" bass line...and if Paul don't mind, neither should you...

  • I bought it when it first came out.

    Great song!

  • The is the best song in the world!!!!!! Listen to the lyrics!!!

  • At the end I was so waiting for That's Entertainment =)

  • In the song "Start wearing riff is a direct call to" Taxman "by George Harrison.

    This proves how great "echo" made the best band ever -- The Beatles

  • This was so good live! I was lucky enough to have seen Paul at the NME Awards. Paul Weller + The Specials = too good.

  • I think the bassline was meant as a nod to The Beatles rather than a rip-off.

    I am sure a bass player as competent as Foxton could of come up with a line of his own,(listen to all the busy bass lines he put down of his own on other Jam tracks)

    Its just a really good song with a"We are not worthy"bassline,The Jam never hid their appreciation of the 60's.

  • @howie094

    it doesn't matter if we never meet again,

    What we have said will always remain.

    If we get through for two minutes only,

    It will be a start!

  • Happy Birthday Paul 52 Today.....(25th may).....great song.

  • trop bon !!!!!

  • who gives a shit if it's a rip off :l they both just wanna make good music and enjoy themselves so why does it it matter :l In the end music is just about enjoyment and expressing yourself not coming up with good basslines and copyrighting them.

  • Yeah, but OASIS made a WHOLE CAREER of ripping off The Beatles!

  • @me1onhead TRUE DAT!

  • @howie094

    look at it as an homage, beatles did it too, stealing little richards "woooo" and stuff like that

  • fucking lov it , best they ever done

  • Far away from taxman, get your ear cleaned.

  • i know this seems weird but i was listening to the bass intro to "i am the resurrection" by the roses and i'm pretty sure its taxman backwards.

  • @davisgrubin1 well the stone roses were big jam fans they started out as `english rose`

  • They deliberately stole the tune from Taxman. Taxman is a billion times better than this rubbish.

  • Who cares, The Jam is better anyways.

  • who cares if its a ripoff of taxman's bassline. it fuckin rocks

  • i'd say more than being a "ripoff" of Taxman, it's a nod to it; besides, Beatles nicked that riff from some other song (i'll post back when i dig it up).

    what's wrong with being derivative? these are British rockers staying true to their roots.

  • @scottdougherty George Harrison was inspired by the Batman theme when he wrote 'Taxman'

  • @ShelsleySpecial and, of course, the Jam covered the BatMan theme on their first Album  ....

  • nice song sounds like taxma!!!

  • i was on holiday in norfolk when this was about & this was never off the jukebox when me or my brother were around lol

  • @howie094 what's taxman?

  • OMG what would life be like without having grown up with Weller??

  • Way better than the Beatles' Taxman in my opinion. Probably the most 'Mod' record The Jam did as well.

  • this > taxman

  • While The Beatles are my fave band by far I like this song and The Jam as well,it's a homage which i guess is why the fabs didn't bother suing.

    The Jam > The Clash

  • I think, originally, a 'sample' was limited to around two seconds, to capture a drum/cymbal or chord, but more than that was to risk breeching copyright law. Any limit seems long gone, with entire songs being added to, or 'talked over', but the 'Taxman' riff adopted here by The Jam and by the Bangles 'I'm in line' make for two memorable songs, so I can't complain.

    As a huge Beatles fan, sure Taxman is my preferred song, but I love that the influence of the 'Fab 4' is still alive and kicking.

  • I know that it sounds like Taxman, but I still think it's a good song. I prefer these lyrics

  • Another 60s-revival-style song that uses the "Taxman" riff is "I'm In Line" by the Bangles (pre-fame).

  • @colibri1 Yeah....and in Dover Beach the guitar break sounds like Paperback Writer to me, but what the hell I love it anyway.  Good observation about The Bangles.

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  • =TAXMAN.(btw For another Weller rip-off listen to "changing man" and then try @10538 overture" -ELO. Enjoy the original ! )

  • Fantastic!! This reminds me of TOTP back in the day. Wickedly cool song

  • taxman > this.

  • This sounds like 'Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree'.

  • Weller sounds like Bowie here

  • Not a rip-off... 'Sampling'

  • Taxman!!

  • ...even the guitar solo is a riff from taxman...but it's alright...still love the song..:D

  • Think of the coolest songs ever and this is right up there

  • Seconded.

  • Top tune.

  • substance74 I agree but....There was a noticeable fade starting to emerge on The Gift. I think Paul said at the time that he didn't want them to be like the old bands that kept on after it was obvious that they were only a shadow of their former selves.I'm glad I don't have to apologize for any shit albums that might have followed. Their legacy is rock solid.

  • I preferd this song when it was called Taxman and by The Beatles. I mean he hasn't even try and make it sound different he just blatantly ripped it off, that takes balls

  • Unbelievable stuff!!! this song changed my life, I was long haired Led Zep, AC/DC, Stones, Dylan Beatles fan one day, and a Jam, Cure, Joy Division etc fan the next.

  • I guess The Jam are the most obvious reference to what Oasis were or still do...

  • v=Db-18EBZwmE

  • why finish a band as shit hot as this and start that fuckin awful style council deep down he must have regretted that but his solo stuff is very good but the JAM were one of the best bands in the last 30 years.

  • Paul will forever be the MOD GOD.

  • Too True

  • It is the same. Mr Weller did indeed instigate sampling. ;-)

  • fuckin love it

  • its that very similar to the Taxman bassline?

  • Yes...and the guitar riff

  • this song has an awesome bass line

  • Madonna take the 4 openings seconds to her "Material girl"'s rythm, doesn't she?

  • best three piece ever

  • Nirvana? That's bullshit. I respect Ghroll as a drummer, and Cobain as a songwriter but they never were as deep as the Jam were.

  • Just saw 17 Again-- Zac Efron has clearly ripped off Paul Weller's mod look....

  • Second best 3 piece band ever .. *****

  • And THE best is...?

  • The Jimi Hendrix Experiece ..

  • I'd say Cream were a better three piece as all three members put in massive amounts of talent as opposed to the JHE, where it was the mindblowing talent of Jimi + a rhythm section.

  • @palmarjp .. Yeah .. Mabye your right about the overall talent content .. Anyway Its just amazing that 3 people whether it be Cream .. The JHE or the Jam can make such great music ..

  • the singer has had success in multiple bands, a true artist

  • this is just the taxman by the beatles! love the jam but, pure robbery here!

  • Paul Weller even admitted it when they first released it,,, What makes him brilliant is that they didn't give a shit!!!

    Could you imagine it now!!! Do you see all these bands trying to sue one another because riffs sound similar to one another,,,, Its getting crazy!!!

  • Yeah, if they sued every band for ripping off a guitar riff, Green Day would be in the poorhouse !

  • Yeah - he said he wrote it because he was trying to get back to his roots, and was actually going through his record collection, stopped on Revolver, was inspired by "Taxman", and wrote his own kinda version...

    What's great about Weller too, is that he brings Mod to a whole new level...the original mods, the revival mods...they just weren't as cool as Paul Weller.

  • The Jam completely changed my life and I'm a Yank. :-) Most underrated band in America ever.

  • biggest compliment they probably ever had re; the yank bit - nice one.

  • Clássico!!!

  • *pogo's around the house*

  • cannot respect that enuuf. ... joins in.

  • love it that bass line is timeless

  • Though Weller lifted it from The Beatles "Taxman"-still...a great tune!

  • quite possibly the the most well used "lift" ever. classic

  • I used to be a modette and this song was great to listen to then! The lyrics in The Jam's songs were just brilliant too! :-)

  • Used to be? A Mod is always a Mod.

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  • absolute class,takes me back wen i was growing up!

  • This is Britpop before Britpop :-) !!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Great song

    Anyone have the download? D:

  • most of 2009's music just makes wanna puke, i never uesd like the jam but compare them to today acts I put The Jam up there with Beatle Queen & ABBA est.

  • What a song the jam are class

  • Love this - my favourite Jam song!!!!! :)

  • tht bassline sounds more or less the same as the taxmkan by the beatles

    im gonna look like atwat if it is ment too

  • it is the same bassline btw

  • I love the way that Weller really looks like Lennon in the video too - what a twat, haha.

  • embran. musical loosers? wat have you done for anyone of late?

  • easily kick the arse out of everyone going back to the pistols

  • If they The Jam came out today they still would be massive. my dad got me listening tothe jam when i was a kid he has got good taste for a jambo

  • I agree; if the Jam were to come out today they would be massive. There is no band today that can generate such a cult following

  • the good old days ,, wow what a pity weller couldnt ger over his massive ego, and mabey the fans could get to see a bit of a revivial

  • I love The Jam and if this is an homage to The Beatles I'm fine with that but Taxman still rules! Though Start is a classic for sure.

    And yes The Clash were a pop band just not as talented as Paul Weller and co!

  • It baffles me why everyone's suddenly a critic when listening to great music. It happens on almost every channel, and it really just takes away from the whole point of the vid. Kindly stop acting like nobs and just listen.

  • i agree and what i can't understand is why somebody would click on a video that they dont like and leave a bad comment

    if you dont like it why click on it

  • There's just no accounting for idiocy, apparently. I would've responded almost a year ago, but I just got access to my own account (instead of hijacking my BF's lol). I mean I can't believe the song is playing and people are discussing mod vs. not mod, et al. It's almost funny. Have a good weekend.

  • Turn off the pictures and forget about the bulshit trends -mods ,spiffs, glams and other fuckwits, just listen to the music and you might see that Weller & Jam were the best in their league

  • ha ha, you drunk? Granted, their management exploited both them and the music industy for all it was worth and to a certain degree commercialised them, but the lads themselves (maybe with Joe Strummer the exception) were in it for the anarchy. How can you call a band commercial when their records at number 1 and it's banned from being played? I'll have whatever your smokin mate ;)

  • The Clash are one of the best bands of all time. Joe Strummer was never, however, an anarchist, though he was a radical leftist. Combat Rock is a commericial album. i still hear Should I Stay or Should I go and Rock the Casbah ALL the time. When's the last time you've heard Crass played in the public sphere?

    To quote Crass, "They said that we were trash... well the name's Crass not Clash. They can stuff their punk credentials; it's them that take the cash."

  • isn't it better to pay homage to Taxman than to push American Idol BS? I personally would like more bands to copy the classics than Mariah Carey.

  • I Know right?!

    i catch so much shit for bein' a mod, "people call me "unoriginal" and say i should be more modern or soem shit.

    but my point is. why the fuck would i wanna be anything or today?

    culture today is this bullshit of emo kids, indie hipster trash and rapper gangster wannabe's. so THAT's why i'm a fuckin' mod. i try to bring a touch of class and true greatness back to the shit ya know?

  • travel the world and you'll forget you ever knew those people in the first place.

    when I heard this music (it was a couple of years old by then). nobody else in my high school ever heard of it- my point is - who cares what other people think when it comes to things like music?

  • kids back then were listening to garbage like Journey, Stones, Loverboy rather than Ramones, Jam, Depeche Mode, Elvis Costello, Cars, etc.

    The mainstream never changes......

  • i know right?

    but don't bring the stones into this haha

    i adore them lol