Evening standards...The Story of The Jags....Show # 247

Forming in the Yorkshire, England in 1978, The Jags consisted of Nick Watkinson (vocals), Steve Prudence (bass), John Alder (guitar), and Alex Baird on drums. In 1979, the powerpop group signed to Island records. They released a four track EP in 1979. In September of 79, they released a single "Back Of My Hand". It hit top forty in the UK (#17, where it stayed for ten weeks), but after the release of this single they would not have another hit. The bands first full length album Evening Standards, was released in 1980. The single to support that album was the song "Woman's World". It went to #75 on the UK singles charts. The ten track album was overlooked by critics, they tended to focus on Watkinson's vocal style rather that the musical material. While, Watkinson did have a voice similar to Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe, the album had some good powerpop tracks on it.

Following the release of Evening Standards, The Jags released No Tie Like A Present in 1981. The album showed the band making a change in musical direction, but it was overlooked. The album contained a cover of a Tremolos song and the singles "I Never Was A Beachboy" and "The Sound Of G-O-O-D-B-Y-E". In 1982, The Jags broke up. "Back Of My Hand" was featured on numerous compilations in the 90's. The Jags wrote catchy songs and were a short lived powerpop band from the UK new wave era.

Play List:

1. Undertones - Here Comes The Summer
2. Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Blockheads
3. Rock and Roll Bitches - Broad Daylight
4. Young Canadians - Well, Well, Well
5. Subhumans - Urban Gorillas
6. Dishrags - I Don't Love You
7. Lowlife - Leaders
8. The Jags - Back of My Hand
9. Nervebreakers - My Girlfriend Is A Rock
10. The Passengers - Two Lovers
11. The Diodes - Polaroid
12. Wavves - Gun In The Sun
13. Plunt - Bowling
14. Teenage Head - Picture My Face
15. The Horrors - I Can't Control Myself
16. The Misfits - TV Casualty
17. Magazine - Shot By Both Sides
18. Buzzcocks - Lipstick
19. The Stimulators - Loud Fast Rules
20. The Spys - Last Generation
21. Ramones - Bumming Along
22. Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers - One Track Mind
23. Iggy Pop - I'm Bored
24. The Scabs - Don't Just Sit There
25. Nick Lowe - Shake That Rat
26. Generation X - Trying For Kicks
27. The Clash - Complete Control

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on May, 5th 2009.

Jag Vids:

Back Of My Hand (TOTP)
Party Games (Music Video)
Tune In To Heaven (OGWT)
Evening Standards (OGWT)