Town Called Malice

Infobox Single
Name = Town Called Malice


Artist = The Jam
from Album = The Gift
B-side = Precious
Released = 1982-01-29
Format = 7" vinyl
Recorded =
Genre = Mod Revival
Length = 2:52
Label = Polydor (UK)
Writer = Paul Weller
Producer = Pete Wilson, The Jam ["Producers for Town Called Malice" [http://www.theofficialcharts.com/zoom.php?id=495] ]
Chart position = #1 (UK Singles Chart)
Last single = "Absolute Beginners"
(1981)
This single = "Town Called Malice"
(1982)
Next single = "Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero?"
(1982)

"Town Called Malice" is a song recorded by The Jam from the album "The Gift". It reached number one in the UK singles chart. ["Town Called Malice/Precious reached no. 1 in UK [http://www.thejam.org.uk/jams15.html] ]

ong profile

It was a double A-side single release featuring "Precious" as the flip side. The song has a very similar introduction and bassline to "You Can't Hurry Love" by The Supremes. A 12" version was also available with a live version of "Town Called Malice" backed by an extended version of "Precious".

Released as the first single from the album on 29 January 1982, it entered the chart at number one on the British music charts, staying at the top for three weeks, ["Three weeks at number one in UK" [http://www.theofficialcharts.com/zoom.php?id=495] ] , and preventing "Golden Brown" by The Stranglers from reaching number one. EMI, the Stranglers record company, objected to the sales of both formats of "Town Called Malice" being aggregated, arguing that Jam fans were buying both versions and thus preventing their band from reaching the top of the charts.

In common with all of the Jam's singles, the record failed to chart in the United States. It was the band's third #1 single in the UK. Paul Weller has said that it was written about his hometown Woking as a result of his teenage experiences there.

A music video of the song was filmed and was in moderate rotation on MTV in 1982 and 1983. The song was featured prominently in the 2005 film "The Matador" and also appeared in the film "Billy Elliot". ["Film: Billy Elliott features "Town Called Malice" [http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/309] ] It is also on the soundtrack to FIFA Football 2004.

In September 2007 McFly recorded a cover version of this song as part of , and a cover by Kids In Glass Houses was included on the CD release their 2008 single "Saturday".

Notes

External links

* [http://www.thejam.org.uk/jamlyr3.html#JAM3.22 Lyrics to "Town Called Malice"]
* [http://www.thejam.org.uk/tab-town-called-malice.html guitar tabs to "Town Called Malice"]
* [http://www.thejam.org.uk/jamlyr2.html#JAM2.35 Lyrics to "Precious"]