"All Mod Cons" is the third studio album by the British band the Jam, released in 1978. The title is a pun on the phrase "all modern conveniences," often found in housing advertisements, and reflects the band's ties to the mod revival. The album cover features a visual joke with the band in a bare room, and it reached No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart.
The album was reissued in the US in 1979, replacing "Billy Hunt" with "The Butterfly Collector." Following their second album, This Is the Modern World, the Jam toured the US with Blue Öyster Cult, but they struggled to connect with audiences and did not chart in the US. Under pressure from their label, songwriter Paul Weller faced writer's block and ultimately had to re-record a new set of songs after the initial tracks were deemed sub-standard.
Musically, All Mod Cons incorporates British Invasion pop influences, highlighted by the cover of The Kinks' "David Watts." The single "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight," which Weller initially rejected, became a significant hit after producer Vic Coppersmith revived it. The song's narrative follows a young man who is attacked in a tube station, reflecting social tensions of the time.
Weller's lyrics address class issues, drawing from his experiences in Woking. The track "To Be Someone (Didn't We Have a Nice Time)" critiques those who exploit success for personal gain. All Mod Cons was more commercially successful than its predecessor and was reissued on CD in 2006, featuring b-sides, outtakes, and a documentary directed by Don Letts.
