release date: Mar. 12, 1982
format: vinyl (2383 636) / 2 cd (Deluxe) (2012 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,08]
producer: Peter Wilson
label: Polydor Records - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: A) 1. "Happy Together" (4 / 5) - 2. "Ghosts" (4 / 5) - 3. "Precious" (4 / 5) - 4. "Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero?" (4 / 5) - 5. "Trans-Global Express" - - B) 1. "Running on the Spot" (4 / 5) (live) - 2. "Circus" - 3. "The Planner's Dream Goes Wrong" (4 / 5) - 5. "Town Called Malice" (4 / 5)
6th and final studio album by The Jam released on Polydor and produced by Peter Wilson. The album shows a new style of more soul-oriented music with horn sections, jazz pop, and acoustic guitar. It's still mod revival and new wave but with tons of soul.
The album was a mere disappointment when it was released. The Jam was associated with fast, punk rock-driven 3-chords music and an easy but strong chorus, and then this!? An album with neo-soul r&b funk and blue-eyed pop soul!?
"Town Called Malice" was the hit single of the album topping the singles chart list in the UK, and also "Running on the Spot" was a major success. Despite being the first and only album by the band to reach number #1 on the UK albums chart list, The Gift wasn't reviewed as their strongest. In retrospect, I think, the album is much stronger, and I rate it almost on par with the predecessor Sound Affects (1981).
