Direction Reaction Creation cover

Direction Reaction Creation

The Jam · 1997

352 min · 117 tracks · new wave · punk · mod revival

A vibrant collection of mod-infused punk anthems bursting with youthful energy and sharp social commentary.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • youthful energy and spontaneity
  • short bursts of excitement
  • sharp social commentary insights
  • wave-like pacing for engagement
  • dynamic collection for varied moods

Maybe skip if you want

  • prefer longer, cohesive albums
  • seek slow, introspective tracks

Where this album fits

Career context
Released in 1997, 'Direction Reaction Creation' is a comprehensive box set celebrating The Jam’s legacy as the band had disbanded a decade earlier. This retrospective captures their evolution from raw punk roots to sophisticated pop sensibilities, showcasing their most impactful tracks alongside rarities and live performances. It serves as both a tribute to their influence on British music and an exploration of their artistic journey.
Stylistic neighbors
The Clash· The Specials· Buzzcocks

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 In the City 2:20
  • 2 Takin’ My Love 2:15
  • 3 Art School 2:01
  • 4 I’ve Changed My Address 3:31
  • 5 Slow Down 2:39
  • 6 I Got By in Time 2:07
  • 7 Away From the Numbers 4:03
  • 8 Batman Theme 1:31
  • 9 Sounds From the Street 3:14
  • 10 Non‐Stop Dancing 2:28
  • 11 Time for Truth 3:10
  • 12 Bricks and Mortar 2:37
  • 13 All Around the World 2:24
  • 14 Carnaby Street 2:23
  • 15 The Modern World 2:31
  • 16 London Traffic 1:50
  • 17 Standards 2:30
  • 18 Life From a Window 2:54
  • 19 The Combine 2:21
  • 20 Don’t Tell Them You’re Sane 3:42
  • 21 In the Street Today 1:32
  • 22 London Girl 2:42
  • 23 I Need You (For Someone) 2:42
  • 24 Here Comes the Weekend 3:31
  • 25 Tonight at Noon 3:02
  • 26 In the Midnight Hour 1:53

Disc 2

  • 1 News of the World 3:29
  • 2 Aunties and Uncles (Impulsive Youths) 2:33
  • 3 Innocent Man 4:18
  • 4 David Watts 2:56
  • 5 ‘A’ Bomb in Wardour Street 2:38
  • 6 Down in the Tube Station at Midnight 4:44
  • 7 So Sad About Us 2:38
  • 8 The Night 1:47
  • 9 All Mod Cons 1:19
  • 10 To Be Someone (Didn’t We Have a Nice Time) 2:30
  • 11 Mr. Clean 3:29
  • 12 English Rose 2:51
  • 13 In the Crowd 5:40
  • 14 Billy Hunt 3:01
  • 15 It’s Too Bad 2:37
  • 16 Fly 3:20
  • 17 The Place I Love 2:54
  • 18 Strange Town 3:48
  • 19 The Butterfly Collector 3:09
  • 20 When You’re Young 3:14
  • 21 Smithers‐Jones 3:01
  • 22 The Eton Rifles 3:59
  • 23 See‐Saw 2:35

Disc 3

  • 1 Girl on the Phone 2:57
  • 2 Thick as Thieves 3:40
  • 3 Private Hell 3:51
  • 4 Little Boy Soldiers 3:33
  • 5 Wasteland 2:52
  • 6 Burning Sky 3:32
  • 7 Smithers‐Jones 3:00
  • 8 Saturday’s Kids 2:53
  • 9 Heat Wave 2:23
  • 10 Going Underground 2:56
  • 11 The Dreams of Children 3:08
  • 12 Start! 2:31
  • 13 Liza Radley 2:32
  • 14 Pretty Green 2:37
  • 15 Monday 2:59
  • 16 But I’m Different Now 1:51
  • 17 Set the House Ablaze 5:01
  • 18 That’s Entertainment 3:33
  • 19 Dream Time 3:54
  • 20 Man in the Corner Shop 3:13
  • 21 Music for the Last Couple 3:43
  • 22 Boy About Town 1:59
  • 23 Scrape Away 4:00

Disc 4

  • 1 Funeral Pyre 3:30
  • 2 Disguises 3:17
  • 3 Absolute Beginners 2:50
  • 4 Tales From the Riverbank 3:34
  • 5 Town Called Malice 2:55
  • 6 Precious (12″ version) 5:54
  • 7 Happy Together 2:50
  • 8 Ghosts 2:11
  • 9 Just Who Is the 5 O’Clock Hero? 2:15
  • 10 Trans‐Global Express 3:59
  • 11 Running on the Spot 3:06
  • 12 Circus 2:11
  • 13 The Planner’s Dream Goes Wrong 2:19
  • 14 Carnation 3:28
  • 15 The Gift 3:07
  • 16 The Great Depression 2:51
  • 17 The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had to Swallow) 3:34
  • 18 Pity Poor Alfie / Fever 4:40
  • 19 Beat Surrender 3:26
  • 20 Shopping 3:22
  • 21 Move On Up 3:53
  • 22 Stoned out of My Mind 3:20
  • 23 War 2:43

Disc 5

  • 1 In the City 2:23
  • 2 Time for Truth 3:17
  • 3 Sounds From the Street 3:19
  • 4 So Sad About Us 2:41
  • 5 Worlds Apart 1:55
  • 6 Billy Hunt (alternate version) 2:59
  • 7 It’s Too Bad 2:27
  • 8 To Be Someone 2:26
  • 9 David Watts 2:45
  • 10 Best of Both Worlds 2:03
  • 11 That’s Entertainment 3:23
  • 12 Rain 2:57
  • 13 Dream Time 1:51
  • 14 Dead End Street 3:15
  • 15 Stand by Me 3:03
  • 16 Every Little Bit Hurts 3:17
  • 17 Tales From the Riverbank (alternate version) 3:26
  • 18 Walking in Heaven’s Sunshine 2:04
  • 19 Precious 2:31
  • 20 Pity Poor Alfie (Swing version) 4:13
  • 21 The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had to Swallow) (first version) 3:17
  • 22 A Solid Bond in Your Heart 3:24

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata