| "Start!" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single byThe Jam | ||||
| from the albumSound Affects | ||||
| B-side | "Liza Radley" | |||
| Released | 11 August 1980[1] | |||
| Genre | Rock[2] | |||
| Length | 2:16 | |||
| Label | Polydor (UK) | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Paul Weller | |||
| Producer(s) | Vic Coppersmith-Heaven and The Jam | |||
| The Jam singles chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
 Start!, back of single cover | ||||
"Start!" is the eleventh UK single release bythe Jam and their second number-one, following "Going Underground"/"Dreams of Children".[3] Upon its release on 15 August 1980, it debuted at number three, and two weeks later reached number one for one week.[4] Written byPaul Weller and produced byVic Coppersmith-Heaven and the Jam, "Start!" was the lead single from the band's fifth albumSound Affects. The single'sB-side is "Liza Radley".
"Start!" is based on both the main guitarriff and bass riff ofthe Beatles' 1966 song "Taxman" from the albumRevolver, written byGeorge Harrison.[5] "To be Someone" and "Liza Radley" also utilise the "Taxman" bassline as does "Dreams of Children", B-side to "Going Underground", played then as a lead guitar riff.[6][7] Bassist Bruce Foxton commented on the similarity:
We were listening a lot tothe Beatles'Revolver album. It wasn't intentional, but 'Taxman' subconsciously went in and when we came up with the idea for 'Start!' that's what went in. It isn’t exactly the same thankfully, otherwise I'm surePaul McCartney would have thought about suing us![8]
The album version of the song runs at 2:30 and features trumpets in the final section.
"Start!" became a major chart hit for the Jam, reaching number one in the UK. Foxton noted that the commercial success of the single added pressure for the band, explaining, "That was the Number One that knockedDavid Bowie off the top of the charts. Then I thought, ‘Wow, we really have arrived!’ Once you get a Number One it’s a bit likeSpinal Tap with their amps going up to 11. Once you get to Number One, where do you go? That created a lot more pressure."
Beastie Boys covered the song on their 1999 single, "Alive".[9]
808 State sampled the song on their 1993 single, "10 X 10".
Manfred Mann's Earth Band covered the song on their 1987 album "Masque" under the title "What You Give Is What You Get (Start)".
