In 1980, British rock band The Jam released a song that would go on to become one of the most career-defining tracks in their discography.
“That’s Entertainment” features on the band’s fifth studio album, Sound Affects, which was released in Nov. 1980. While the song was never officially released as a single in the U.K. or the U.S., the beloved track still managed to reach No. 21 on the Official Singles Chart after fans had imported thousands of non-U.K. pressings from Germany. This accomplishment made it one of the best-selling imported singles in U.K. chart history.
Covered by many renowned artists, includingMorrissey and Billy Bragg, the track has influenced the music industry for decades. In 2004, it was voted No. 303 on Rolling Stone‘s famed “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list. “The lads hit hardest with this acoustic lament, with Weller brooding over the heartaches of everyday working-class life,” the publication wrote.
Although some songs take a while to perfect, front man Paul Weller proved that this isn’t always the case — penning the hit in just an impressively short amount of time.
“I wrote it in ten mins flat, whilst under the influence, I’d had a few but some songs just write themselves,” the musician told Absolute Radio, per Far Out. “It was easy to write, I drew on everything around me.”
The acoustic track was a departure from The Jam’s signature punk-mod sound. Bassist Bruce Foxton recalled the moment when Weller played him the song for the first time.
“[Paul] pretty much had it as you hear it,” he told Total Guitar in 2011. “He sat down and played it on acoustic guitar. My first impression was that it was a great storyline. I loved the lyric, like I do most of Paul’s lyrics.”
While The Jam disbanded in 1982, Foxton carries on the band’s legacy with From The Jam, where he often performs some of his former band’s best tunes. Of course, this includes “That’s Entertainment,” which has been played hundreds of times across recent U.K. and international tours.
Related: Legendary ’70s Rock Band Performs Classic Song for First Time in 47 Years
This story was originally published by Parade on Jun 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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