THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

155-MC5-Kick Out the Jams.

1969-It has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 0.18. What they are actually saying is, if a song is perfect at 2 minutes, then don’t ruin it by playing it for 10.

MC5 were formed in Lincoln Park, Detroit, Michigan, United States, in 1963, in total there have been 25 members come and go, with the band being currently still active. The classic line up comprised Wayne Kramer, (guitars and vocals) Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith, (1948-1994) (bass and vocals) Rob Tyner, (1944-1991) (bass) Michael Davis, (1943-2012) (bass) and Dennis Thompson (drums.) The ‘MC’ stands for motor city, and there were five original members. The MC5 have issued two studio Albums, in 1970, and 1971, and there have been six live Albums issued between 1969-2006, and 11 official compilations, they have also released seven singles between 1966-1970. Although never achieving chart success, both of the bands two studio Albums, and their first live recording ‘Kick Out the Jams’ are all considered important in the development of Rock Music. The MC5 were considered to be part of the American ‘counterculture Movement’ of the 1960’s, and together with their anti-establishment lyrics, and the music they were making from their mix of ‘Hard Rock,’ Garage Rock,’ and ‘Blues Rock,’ made them forerunners and innovators of ‘Punk Rock,’ which was still many yeas away in 1969.

The songwriting credits for ‘Kick Out the Jams’ are given to all five band members at that time, but most of the work on this song was done by lead singer Rob Tyner. ‘Kick Out the Jams’ appears as track 2 on MC5’s debut Album of the same name, and was recorded live on October 30th, and October 31st, in Detroit, at the ‘Grande Ballroom,’ although having achieved little commercial success, the band at that time had built up a large cult following.

Because of the groups political views many thought that ‘Kick Out the Jams’ was a slogan for 1960’s revolution and liberation, but in 1970 guitarist Wayne Kramer explained the real meaning.’We first used the phrase when we were the house band at a ballroom in Detroit, and we played there every week with another band from the area. We got in the habit, being the sort of punks we are, of screaming at them to get off the stage, to kick out the jams, meaning stop jamming. We were saying it all the time and it became a sort of esoteric phrase. Now, I think people can get what they like out of it; that’s one of the good things about rock and roll.’

Nowadays it seems that every other song you hear has swear words in it, but back in 1969 the line ‘Kick out the Jams motherf..fers’ was shocking to many, and led to some record shops, and other outlets refusing to sell the Album. This led to a standoff between the bands record label ‘Elektra,’ and the retailers, with the MC5 eventually being dropped by the label after the retailers threatened to not sell any of the labels other artists, which included The Doors, and Judy Collins. The MC5 refused to back down, and made matters worse by taking out a full page advertisement ridiculing ‘Hudson’s’ department store for refusing to sell the Album. MC5 were dropped by Elecktra and went on to sign with Atlantic Records where they released their two studio Albums. An uncensored version of Kick Out the Jams was issued with Rob Tyner now singing ‘Kick out the jams, brothers and sisters.’

‘The wailin’ guitars girl, the crash of the drums, make you want to keep-a-rockin’, till the morning comes. Let me be who I am, and let me kick out the jams, yes, kick out the jams, I done kicked em out.’