The Jags "Back Of My Hand"
The Jags were a U.K. power pop quartet who were part of the late-‘70’s, early-‘80’s new wave scene. They were criticized for sounding much like Elvis Costello – because they did – but their debut single was a gem.
That 1979 single, “Back Of My Hand”, is as catchy as any power pop song you’ll ever hear. Resembling a fast-tempo Costello new wave song with softer edges more reminiscent of Buddy Holly, it has immediately engaging verses sung at a breathless pace, and a bridge that is nearly as infectious as the chorus, building up to the unforgettable hook: “I’ve got your number written on the back of my hand”. That song is one of the great earworms of the new wave era. The U.S. version of the single (Island IS 49202) contained a B-side called “Single Vision”, another Costello sound-alike that is almost as likable, though less hooky. The U.K. 7-inch (Island WIP 6501) contained a better B-side titled “Double Vision”, another fast-moving pleasantry which resembled Nick Lowe’s early new wave solo work. A 12-inch EP version was also released in the U.K. (Island 12S WIP 6501), which contained both of those B-side tracks, plus another: the ska-influenced “What Can I Do?”. In any form, this single made a great first impression.
The Jags' 1980 debut album Evening Standards was a mostly agreeable attempt to make a complete album’s worth of that EP’s fast-paced Holly-by-way-of-Costello power pop. All of the songs were co-written by lead singer Nick Watkinson and lead guitarist John Alder. “Back Of My Hand” and “Single Vision” (the latter with an added album-closing coda) are included, and are the high points. Although the album is consistently likable, none of the other nine tracks are as memorable as those two; the two that come the closest are “Woman’s World” and “She’s So Considerate” (the latter of which is even more obviously Costello-like than most of the others). If the album does not fully fulfill the earlier EP’s promise, it also doesn’t disappoint. Touches of rockabilly (“Last Picture Show”) and ska (“The Tourist”) help prevent the album from falling into a too-predictable pattern. (Note: The U.K. “Woman’s World” single (Island WIP 6531) featured a non-LP B-side called “Dumb Blonde”, which was better than many of the album’s tracks).
The cleverly titled 1981 follow-up No Tie Like A Present was the final Jags album. At this point, the band had become a quintet, with a different bass player and an added keyboardist. American producer Alex Sadkin added a bit more muscle to the Jags’ British-accented power pop, making them sound more like the Clash than like Costello this time around. After the album opens with a rousing, fast-paced rendition of Cat Stevens’ “Here Comes My Baby”, most of the other songs have less speedy and more controlled vocal deliveries than before. “I Never Was A Beachboy” refers to tough guys, not to an American rock band, although the instrumental “Silver Birds” contains noticeable elements of American surf-rock. Like the band’s two previous releases, this album also pays a visit to ska territory (“Small Change”, “Fearing A Tornado”). As derivative as they may have been, the Jags’ small body of work holds up well, and is worth discovering for lovers of new wave and power pop from the period.
In 1999, a Jags compilation CD titled The Best Of The Jags was released in the U.K., containing all of the tracks from Evening Standards and No Tie Like A Present. The only thing that kept it from being a “Complete Recordings” CD was the absence of any of the non-album B-sides.
The Jags “Back Of My Hand” EP (Island 12SWIP 6501) 1979
Track Listing:
1. Back Of My Hand
2. Double Vision
3. Single Vision
4. What Can I Do?
The Jags “Evening Standards” (Island ILPS 9603) 1980
Track Listing:
1. Evening Standards
2. Party Games
3. Tune Into Heaven
4. Last Picture Show
5. The Tourist
6. Desert Island Discs
7. Woman’s World
8. Back Of My Hand
9. She’s So Considerate
10. Little Boy Lost
11. Single Vision/BWM
The Jags “No Tie Like A Present” (Island ILPS 9655) 1981
Track Listing:
1. Here Comes My Baby
2. I Never Was A Beachboy
3. Another Town, Another Place
4. The Train And The Plane
5. Silver Birds
6. The Sound Of G-O-O-D-B-Y-E
7. Small Change
8. Mind Reader
9. Little Lloyd Wright
10. Fearing A Tornado
The Jags “The Best Of The Jags” (Spectrum 554 860-2) 1999
Track Listing:
1. Evening Standards
2. Party Games
3. Tune Into Heaven
4. Last Picture Show
5. The Tourist
6. Desert Island Discs
7. Woman’s World
8. Back Of My Hand
9. She’s So Considerate
10. Little Boy Lost
11. Single Vision/BWM
12. Here Comes My Baby
13. I Never Was A Beachboy
14. Another Town, Another Place
15. The Train And The Plane
16. Silver Birds
17. The Sound Of G-O-O-D-B-Y-E
18. Small Change
19. Mind Reader
20. Little Lloyd Wright
21. Fearing A Tornado
That 1979 single, “Back Of My Hand”, is as catchy as any power pop song you’ll ever hear. Resembling a fast-tempo Costello new wave song with softer edges more reminiscent of Buddy Holly, it has immediately engaging verses sung at a breathless pace, and a bridge that is nearly as infectious as the chorus, building up to the unforgettable hook: “I’ve got your number written on the back of my hand”. That song is one of the great earworms of the new wave era. The U.S. version of the single (Island IS 49202) contained a B-side called “Single Vision”, another Costello sound-alike that is almost as likable, though less hooky. The U.K. 7-inch (Island WIP 6501) contained a better B-side titled “Double Vision”, another fast-moving pleasantry which resembled Nick Lowe’s early new wave solo work. A 12-inch EP version was also released in the U.K. (Island 12S WIP 6501), which contained both of those B-side tracks, plus another: the ska-influenced “What Can I Do?”. In any form, this single made a great first impression.
The Jags' 1980 debut album Evening Standards was a mostly agreeable attempt to make a complete album’s worth of that EP’s fast-paced Holly-by-way-of-Costello power pop. All of the songs were co-written by lead singer Nick Watkinson and lead guitarist John Alder. “Back Of My Hand” and “Single Vision” (the latter with an added album-closing coda) are included, and are the high points. Although the album is consistently likable, none of the other nine tracks are as memorable as those two; the two that come the closest are “Woman’s World” and “She’s So Considerate” (the latter of which is even more obviously Costello-like than most of the others). If the album does not fully fulfill the earlier EP’s promise, it also doesn’t disappoint. Touches of rockabilly (“Last Picture Show”) and ska (“The Tourist”) help prevent the album from falling into a too-predictable pattern. (Note: The U.K. “Woman’s World” single (Island WIP 6531) featured a non-LP B-side called “Dumb Blonde”, which was better than many of the album’s tracks).
The cleverly titled 1981 follow-up No Tie Like A Present was the final Jags album. At this point, the band had become a quintet, with a different bass player and an added keyboardist. American producer Alex Sadkin added a bit more muscle to the Jags’ British-accented power pop, making them sound more like the Clash than like Costello this time around. After the album opens with a rousing, fast-paced rendition of Cat Stevens’ “Here Comes My Baby”, most of the other songs have less speedy and more controlled vocal deliveries than before. “I Never Was A Beachboy” refers to tough guys, not to an American rock band, although the instrumental “Silver Birds” contains noticeable elements of American surf-rock. Like the band’s two previous releases, this album also pays a visit to ska territory (“Small Change”, “Fearing A Tornado”). As derivative as they may have been, the Jags’ small body of work holds up well, and is worth discovering for lovers of new wave and power pop from the period.
In 1999, a Jags compilation CD titled The Best Of The Jags was released in the U.K., containing all of the tracks from Evening Standards and No Tie Like A Present. The only thing that kept it from being a “Complete Recordings” CD was the absence of any of the non-album B-sides.
The Jags “Back Of My Hand” EP (Island 12SWIP 6501) 1979
Track Listing:
1. Back Of My Hand
2. Double Vision
3. Single Vision
4. What Can I Do?
The Jags “Evening Standards” (Island ILPS 9603) 1980
Track Listing:
1. Evening Standards
2. Party Games
3. Tune Into Heaven
4. Last Picture Show
5. The Tourist
6. Desert Island Discs
7. Woman’s World
8. Back Of My Hand
9. She’s So Considerate
10. Little Boy Lost
11. Single Vision/BWM
The Jags “No Tie Like A Present” (Island ILPS 9655) 1981
Track Listing:
1. Here Comes My Baby
2. I Never Was A Beachboy
3. Another Town, Another Place
4. The Train And The Plane
5. Silver Birds
6. The Sound Of G-O-O-D-B-Y-E
7. Small Change
8. Mind Reader
9. Little Lloyd Wright
10. Fearing A Tornado
The Jags “The Best Of The Jags” (Spectrum 554 860-2) 1999
Track Listing:
1. Evening Standards
2. Party Games
3. Tune Into Heaven
4. Last Picture Show
5. The Tourist
6. Desert Island Discs
7. Woman’s World
8. Back Of My Hand
9. She’s So Considerate
10. Little Boy Lost
11. Single Vision/BWM
12. Here Comes My Baby
13. I Never Was A Beachboy
14. Another Town, Another Place
15. The Train And The Plane
16. Silver Birds
17. The Sound Of G-O-O-D-B-Y-E
18. Small Change
19. Mind Reader
20. Little Lloyd Wright
21. Fearing A Tornado
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