Another one that was picked up in Canada.
Absolute Beginners was only ever issued on 7″ in the UK. It was released in October 1981, and got to #4 in the singles chart. The b-side, Tales From The Riverbank, is considered by quite a few fans to be the better song. It’s certainly quite a contrasting effort, being a psychedelic-type of number where the a-side was a joyous and triumphant blast of soul/r’n’b.
I don’t know the exact date when this Canadian version was put into the shops. It contains five tracks – the two sides of the UK single, along with two previous singles and one of the best-loved of the band’s b-sides. All told, it would certainly make for a decent side of an ICA….
mp3: The Jam – Absolute Beginners
mp3: The Jam – Tales From The Riverbank
mp3: The Jam – When You’re Young
mp3: The Jam – Funeral Pyre
mp3: The Jam – Liza Radley
I’ve always loved the photo that was used for the picture sleeve of this single and wondered where it was taken. There’s no info or credits offered up on either the UK or Canadian releases.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
It would’ve made an excellent double A side. Riverbank has probably endured better. Picked up that 12” in New York many years ago. Funeral Pyre is another gem. Liza Radley would be the only track I’m not that bothered with.
Excellent start to the working week !
👏🏻👏🏻
That EP was also released in America, as “The Jam” with a new cover photo. I was all-in at that point and bought it following my import acquisition of “Sound Affects.”
Riverbank definitely superior in my view, a lost Jam classic.
Photo by Derek D’Souza. Lots of pics online from the 1981 ‘Absolute Beginners’ band photo session at Chiswick Park, but none of the one used for the cover.
Riverbank is one of the great Jam songs for me, Weller at his best.
Postpunkmonk – I’ve got that US version, where When You’re Young is replaced by the B-side of Funeral Pyre, the Pete Townshend song Disguises. Quite a handy purchase overall as I never bought the 7″s of either Funeral Pyre or Absolute Beginners despite being a Jam nut at the time. No idea about the cover pic of the terraced houses either, google image search not helping. Best guess is Newcastle upon Tyne which used to have a classic vista like that, probably no longer…
The front photo of the absolute Beginners single was taken by Rick Buckler
Thanks for the additional info. Hugely appreciated.