While I like this song a lot… the absolute gems on this album are “GHOSTS,” “HAPPY TOGETHER,” and “RUNNING ON THE SPOT.” Three top-shelf tunes from these British legends. THANK YOU for your deep dive into The Jam!!! You guys are great!
@ While I got it as a separate EP at the time as it wasn’t on the original vinyl release, it WAS recorded during the same time AND it WAS released on THE GIFT expanded edition… so… no reason to be pedantic about it.
@@johnmavroudis2054 John , don’t gratify this trolling twat by replying to him , he only shows up to be a jerk , got nothing interesting to say and probably sits in his mums basement moisturising and looking for ways to upset genuine music lovers like yourself - he’s a 🔔end and needs a good dose of ignoring imho .. 👌 👍🏴
@johnmavroudis2054 I doubt it was recorded at the same time at all. The Gift was recorded late '81,early '82. It doesn't sound anything like any of The Gift,and was released later in 1982 as a stand-alone single (which I brought at the time). It's only been added to the expanded & deluxe versions in recent years. Nothing "pedantic" in being correct as opposed to being wrong (you).
@@johnmavroudis2054 looks like my comment about ignoring this clown got hooked John , too many swear words presumably - he’s a troll with an insufferable high opinion of himself and needs to belittle or correct other folk to feel good about his sad life , I recommend just ignoring the twat till he gets bored and goes elsewhere to seek validation 👌 👍🏴
The first (though not the last) single to feature not only a female singer but anyone from outside of the band on backing vocals. Jennie Matthias from the all female band 'The Belle Stars' provides the vocal.
The Jam was my favourite band for a while in the 70s and 80s. I saw them live a couple of times. I even got invited back stage with about 20 other kids after their show in 82. Unfortunately a few months later they broke up. I'd like to suggest Set The House Ablaze or Scrape Away from the Sound Affects album. Take care.
This song was pretty much the transition of weller from the jam to the style council sound, as someone else said, you should check out Happy together and Running on the spot, both fantastic tunes!
A great change in musical style for, The Jam, this was shortly before Paul left and would set up 'The Style Council', you can hear the Black Music influences in that band, something which was very popular in the U.K. in the '60s and early '70s.
@@normandavidtidiman9918your a bit if a tool ain’t ya ? Every single time you show up it’s to talk down to folk or try to show them up .. what’s gone wrong in your life you’re so phookin objectional ? - being sarcastic is fine if it’s done with style and/or humour , not just to big your self up ! What a W⚓️.. 👀 👍🏴
Cannot get into "The Jam", I don't know why. But I will keep listening to C & C's reactions to try my luck. The Lyrics were good though. I like songs with a bit of a story to them.
Thanks for doing this great reaction video, this is the first time I have ever seen a reaction to The Bitterest Pill it’s one of my favourite songs. I believe Paul Weller wrote it ironically to mock the New Romantic bands but it sounds great and the lyrics are some of the best poetry that I have ever read. Your The Jam reactions are my favourite and it’s great to see you react to a song that has been pretty much lost in time as it doesn’t appear on any of The Jam albums other than the compilation album Snap that I grew up with and neither Paul Weller or From the Jam (Bruce Foxtons band) play it live.
I agree it's a fantastic song, and it's one of my Jam faves too ! .. I've got it on their "Beat Surrender" 1982 EP, which is very good .. Like you, I also have it on "Snap", which is a great compilation album for anyone wanting to check out the Jam.
The riff on "Changing Man" is a direct rip off of the one on ELO's "10538 Overture". I'm surprised that Jeff Lynne didn't sue Paul Weller over that one.
Saw the Jam in 1981 , its Wellers finest work , everything after was pretty average Foxton is a great guy no ego unlike weller, and played in Stiff Little Fingers for some years , before forming From the Jam , who are really good live
@@MrSaltford and that’s fair enough , for YOU all of that’s true - for ME it’s dreadful , music is terribly subjective and we’re both correct 👌 👍🏴
Brilliant stuff ! .. From their excellent 1982 "Beat Surrender" EP, this song went to No.2 in the UK .. It's probably my favourite song from The Jam's later recordings .. I checked up, and the female backing vocalist was Jennie Matthias, lead singer of all-girl group The Belle Stars, who had a big UK hit in 1983 with the catchy "Sign Of The Times"
@@MrSaltford Wiki says that it made Number 2 for 2 weeks, unable to pass "Eye of The Tiger" or "Pass The Dutchie", but the follow up "Beat Surrender" single apparently made No.1 .. Maybe that's the one you're thinking of ?
This was the first time we started to understand why Paul Weller split up the jam and The Style Council was just around the corner, Its so far from the normal jam and weller stuff that they never did it live on their final tour because of the production and strings, They did try it in the sound checks but never in the live gigs
There was a fabulous The Jam full story : retrospective on Sky arts yesterday and this was played , what’s the chances ? Big departure from their early stuff but still very good 👍🏴
We're back in synch again, Jay .. As you said, this is a big departure from their earlier music, which overall is far more compelling than the stuff they did towards the end, but like you, this song stands up very well for me... Great heartache lyrics and vocals, and the music builds to a pouring out of emotional intensity .. Gets me in the feels.
@@monaromark1021 funny you should use his name Mark , I was watching a vid from ‘Robot Chicken’ comedy animation show today with all of their best bits from Darth Vader 😄.. dunno if you’ve heard of it but I find it hysterical 👍🏴
Can I ask for Tales from the Riverbank from The Jam please ? It contains an absolutely colossal key change into the chorus that stopped me in my tracks the 1st time I ever heard it C n C , much softer and melodic than their work which I loved from In the city their first album . Is that DC Lee in the background ? 🤔. IMHO this was the song that heralded the start of the process to end with Paul Weller announcing he was leaving 👍🏴
I was listening to Tales From The Riverbank the day before this video dropped! Another good choice, the B-side to Absolute Beginners if I'm not mistaken.
This is definitely not a happy song - it's a beautiful but haunting song of rejection, heartbreak and dispair: "Twisted and broken dawn, no days with sunlight. The dying spark, you left your mark on me. The promise of your kiss, but with someone else. For the bitterest pill is mine to swallow..."
Although, as usual...a good song from The Jam (did this appear on the U.S. 'Gift' album?...for me personally, their weakest of their sixteen singles. Very Style Council sounding.
@neilmcdonald9164 You obviously haven't heard their next (& last) single 'Beat Surrender' featuring Tracie Young (soon to sign with Paul Weller's label & sing on The Style Councils first single 'Speak Like A Child') on co-vocal then? 🙄
Weller was constantly criticised for not having a sense of humour, which was wrong anyway so he comes up with this and the humour in it still goes over the heads of those morons. It's a great song with beautiful, intelligent lyrics even if written in an ironic way ( making fun of himself) and his vocals are wonderful....A good 👍 reaction video.
I was late to the party with The Jam as I am younger than most Jam fans but in my opinion from listening to the album Snap the later more soulful stuff was better than the early punk stuff.
Was/still am a big Jam fan but this song just never worked for me. Between the sentiment and those strings, it jarred me. It was too far away from the angry young men that first grabbed me.
The Jam were consistently great, except possibly this one. The Style Council had some great early singles, a superb introductory mini-album, a very good debut album, a good second album and thereafter were a pile of pretentious over-political horse-dung. And solo, Paul Weller was just a bang average Steve Winwood tribute act.
Always thought provoking lyrics from the mighty Jam.
Should try ‘man in the corner shop’ (amongst others)
While I like this song a lot… the absolute gems on this album are “GHOSTS,” “HAPPY TOGETHER,” and “RUNNING ON THE SPOT.” Three top-shelf tunes from these British legends. THANK YOU for your deep dive into The Jam!!! You guys are great!
The Bitterest Pill wasn't on any album (bar "Greatest Hits" complications),let alone 'The Gift'.
@ While I got it as a separate EP at the time as it wasn’t on the original vinyl release, it WAS recorded during the same time AND it WAS released on THE GIFT expanded edition… so… no reason to be pedantic about it.
@@johnmavroudis2054 John , don’t gratify this trolling twat by replying to him , he only shows up to be a jerk , got nothing interesting to say and probably sits in his mums basement moisturising and looking for ways to upset genuine music lovers like yourself - he’s a 🔔end and needs a good dose of ignoring imho .. 👌
👍🏴
@johnmavroudis2054 I doubt it was recorded at the same time at all. The Gift was recorded late '81,early '82. It doesn't sound anything like any of The Gift,and was released later in 1982 as a stand-alone single (which I brought at the time). It's only been added to the expanded & deluxe versions in recent years. Nothing "pedantic" in being correct as opposed to being wrong (you).
@@johnmavroudis2054 looks like my comment about ignoring this clown got hooked John , too many swear words presumably - he’s a troll with an insufferable high opinion of himself and needs to belittle or correct other folk to feel good about his sad life , I recommend just ignoring the twat till he gets bored and goes elsewhere to seek validation 👌
👍🏴
The first (though not the last) single to feature not only a female singer but anyone from outside of the band on backing vocals. Jennie Matthias from the all female band 'The Belle Stars' provides the vocal.
The Jam was my favourite band for a while in the 70s and 80s. I saw them live a couple of times. I even got invited back stage with about 20 other kids after their show in 82. Unfortunately a few months later they broke up. I'd like to suggest Set The House Ablaze or Scrape Away from the Sound Affects album. Take care.
Keep The Jam reviews coming. The best band in the f**king World as John Weller introduced them.
top stuff
Got this in my collection, a forgotten gem.
This song was pretty much the transition of weller from the jam to the style council sound, as someone else said, you should check out Happy together and Running on the spot, both fantastic tunes!
Guys you make everything so fantastic..
Vastly underrated song, Jennie Mathias of The Belle Stars did the female vocals, Ghosts is also a top track from this album 😊
I can never hear the intro of this song without being reminded of Bagpuss the UK children's programme of yesteryear.....anyone else, or it just me ?
Now you mention it...
Just brilliant, absolutely sublime 😍
A great change in musical style for, The Jam, this was shortly before Paul left and would set up 'The Style Council', you can hear the Black Music influences in that band, something which was very popular in the U.K. in the '60s and early '70s.
"Black music influences"? What you like every act before them from Elvis to the Beatles? 🙄
@@normandavidtidiman9918your a bit if a tool ain’t ya ? Every single time you show up it’s to talk down to folk or try to show them up .. what’s gone wrong in your life you’re so phookin objectional ? - being sarcastic is fine if it’s done with style and/or humour , not just to big your self up ! What a W⚓️.. 👀
👍🏴
Cannot get into "The Jam", I don't know why.
But I will keep listening to C & C's reactions to try my luck.
The Lyrics were good though. I like songs with a bit of a story to them.
Thanks for doing this great reaction video, this is the first time I have ever seen a reaction to The Bitterest Pill it’s one of my favourite songs. I believe Paul Weller wrote it ironically to mock the New Romantic bands but it sounds great and the lyrics are some of the best poetry that I have ever read.
Your The Jam reactions are my favourite and it’s great to see you react to a song that has been pretty much lost in time as it doesn’t appear on any of The Jam albums other than the compilation album Snap that I grew up with and neither Paul Weller or From the Jam (Bruce Foxtons band) play it live.
I agree it's a fantastic song, and it's one of my Jam faves too ! .. I've got it on their "Beat Surrender" 1982 EP, which is very good .. Like you, I also have it on "Snap", which is a great compilation album for anyone wanting to check out the Jam.
Love The Jam .Also love Paul Weller's "The Changing Man"
The riff on "Changing Man" is a direct rip off of the one on ELO's "10538 Overture". I'm surprised that Jeff Lynne didn't sue Paul Weller over that one.
Saw the Jam in 1981 , its Wellers finest work , everything after was pretty average Foxton is a great guy no ego unlike weller, and played in Stiff Little Fingers for some years , before forming From the Jam , who are really good live
Nice to hear someone reacting to this one, ‘beat surrender’ is another good late one from them
Heading towards Mr Weller's Cardigan Phase.
@@SPKdesign1 exactly that ! Along with that dreadful ‘Precious ‘ 😖
👍🏴
@@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering
Precious is a classic and a nod to disco and club music at the time, Weller Had Soul in his blood
@@MrSaltford and that’s fair enough , for YOU all of that’s true - for ME it’s dreadful , music is terribly subjective and we’re both correct 👌
👍🏴
🌸
Brilliant stuff ! .. From their excellent 1982 "Beat Surrender" EP, this song went to No.2 in the UK .. It's probably my favourite song from The Jam's later recordings .. I checked up, and the female backing vocalist was Jennie Matthias, lead singer of all-girl group The Belle Stars, who had a big UK hit in 1983 with the catchy "Sign Of The Times"
it went straight to number 1
@@MrSaltford Wiki says that it made Number 2 for 2 weeks, unable to pass "Eye of The Tiger" or "Pass The Dutchie", but the follow up "Beat Surrender" single apparently made No.1 .. Maybe that's the one you're thinking of ?
@@wayne_twentyfive Correct. I lived the moment.
I am sorry got it totally wrong and you was right. i was thinking of beat surrender
@@MrSaltford Easily done my friend. Wasn't being nasty. Have a nice evening.
Must have a lot of English viewers if the Jam have your most viewed video on your channel. This one is a quality song, they’ve got many
This was the first time we started to understand why Paul Weller split up the jam and The Style Council was just around the corner, Its so far from the normal jam and weller stuff that they never did it live on their final tour because of the production and strings, They did try it in the sound checks but never in the live gigs
No bitter pill here .. the first to like 👍 view 📺 & comment 🎤.
I was a Tad slow tonight.
SPK # 2 .. A bitter pill 💊
@@davidellis5141 I see what you Did.
Jennie from The Belle 🔔 Stars 🌟 on backing vocals ✨️
@@davidellis5141 👌 yup your right , I’m wrong on this one
👍🏴
DC came later with Style Council
@ gotcha .. did sound like her though 🤷♂️.. that’ll be the dementia talking though 😬
👍🏴
@@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering Speaking o Dementia, can you send mi that Tenner you owe mi?
@ I did .. ! 😄
👍🏴
There was a fabulous The Jam full story : retrospective on Sky arts yesterday and this was played , what’s the chances ? Big departure from their early stuff but still very good
👍🏴
It was.
We're back in synch again, Jay .. As you said, this is a big departure from their earlier music, which overall is far more compelling than the stuff they did towards the end, but like you, this song stands up very well for me... Great heartache lyrics and vocals, and the music builds to a pouring out of emotional intensity .. Gets me in the feels.
@ welcome back Wayne 😀.. to the slightly fuzzy side of the force ✊
👍🏴
Yer, watch out for Darth Vader Jay! Ha, ha, ha.
@@monaromark1021 funny you should use his name Mark , I was watching a vid from ‘Robot Chicken’ comedy animation show today with all of their best bits from Darth Vader 😄.. dunno if you’ve heard of it but I find it hysterical
👍🏴
In retrospect, Weller has a cheek winging about being jilted by a girl when he's being married half a dozen times or so, lol 😆
The backing vocals are provided by Jennie Matthias, lead singer of The Belle Stars
Can I ask for Tales from the Riverbank from The Jam please ? It contains an absolutely colossal key change into the chorus that stopped me in my tracks the 1st time I ever heard it C n C , much softer and melodic than their work which I loved from In the city their first album .
Is that DC Lee in the background ? 🤔.
IMHO this was the song that heralded the start of the process to end with Paul Weller announcing he was leaving
👍🏴
I was listening to Tales From The Riverbank the day before this video dropped! Another good choice, the B-side to Absolute Beginners if I'm not mistaken.
@ tis indeed ! Beautiful track ✊
👍🏴
This is definitely not a happy song - it's a beautiful but haunting song of rejection, heartbreak and dispair: "Twisted and broken dawn, no days with sunlight. The dying spark, you left your mark on me. The promise of your kiss, but with someone else. For the bitterest pill is mine to swallow..."
Love what you do try some Susie Quatro😅
Although, as usual...a good song from The Jam (did this appear on the U.S. 'Gift' album?...for me personally, their weakest of their sixteen singles. Very Style Council sounding.
The female vocal is by jenny mckeown from 1980's female band the belle stars.
Only single to feature prominent vocals by a non band members🎩
@neilmcdonald9164 You obviously haven't heard their next (& last) single 'Beat Surrender' featuring Tracie Young (soon to sign with Paul Weller's label & sing on The Style Councils first single 'Speak Like A Child') on co-vocal then? 🙄
@@normandavidtidiman9918 also on their version of war that came out featured vocals by female trio afrodiziac.
I can imagine, Sir Jay, doing a Highland fling to this.
That’ll be the dementia Sir Col 😅
👍🏴
@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering 🤣🤣🤣🏴🇬🇧🏴☠️
@@colrhodes377 😆✊
👍🏴
Weller was constantly criticised for not having a sense of humour, which was wrong anyway so he comes up with this and the humour in it still goes over the heads of those morons. It's a great song with beautiful, intelligent lyrics even if written in an ironic way ( making fun of himself) and his vocals are wonderful....A good 👍 reaction video.
I love The Jam but this song just tells me that they broke up at the right time. It’s so far diminished from their glory years.
I was late to the party with The Jam as I am younger than most Jam fans but in my opinion from listening to the album Snap the later more soulful stuff was better than the early punk stuff.
I can hear the quality in it, but this phase of Weller's career completely lost me. Cardigans and loafers are the the epitome of evil.
Was/still am a big Jam fan but this song just never worked for me. Between the sentiment and those strings, it jarred me. It was too far away from the angry young men that first grabbed me.
This is just before he formed The Style Council, a group who never made a decent record, in my opinion.
The style council were the best part of wellers career, in my opinion.
I like The Style Council Ever had it blue
@@johncarr2806 The 12" version of Long Hot Summer ☀️ is classic. Has Motown sound to it.
The Jam were consistently great, except possibly this one. The Style Council had some great early singles, a superb introductory mini-album, a very good debut album, a good second album and thereafter were a pile of pretentious over-political horse-dung. And solo, Paul Weller was just a bang average Steve Winwood tribute act.
@@davidellis5141 That must be why I don't like it, or them, I hate Motown.
Sorry family don't like it at all