track

Kick Out The Jams (Original Uncensored Version 1968)

2009Released
3:03

Did You Know?

Interesting facts and trivia about Kick Out The Jams (Original Uncensored Version 1968). By Songfacts®.

The signature song of the MC5, "Kick Out The Jams" was also their rallying cry and credo. The phrase was often taken to mean "overcome obstacles," but it wasn't written as a song of perseverance. In a Songfacts interview with guitarist Wayne Kramer, he explained: "We were using the expression for a long time, because we would be critical of other bands that came to Detroit that the MC5 would open for. They'd come into town with this big reputation, and then they'd get up on stage and they weren't very good. So, we used to harass them. We'd yell at them, 'Kick out the jams or get off the stage, motherf--ker!' Finally, one day we said, 'I like that expression. We should use that as the title of a song.'"

This song is notorious for the line, "Kick out the jams, motherf--kers," shouted by lead singer Rob Tyner before the music kicks in. This line appears on the uncensored version of the album; a clean version where it is replaced with, "Kick out the jams, brothers and sisters," was used on the single and later made available on censored versions of the album.

Along with the rest of the album, this was recorded live at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit on October 30 and 31 (Mischief Night and Halloween), 1968. By this time, the MC5 had gained a fervent live following in the Detroit area, but had not released any material. By the time the album was issued a few months later in early 1969, they had stirred up lots of controversy for their revolutionary stunts and associations: they sometimes brought unloaded rifles on stage, and their manager, John Sinclair, founded the White Panther party, devoted to upending political and cultural norms. The song peaked on the Hot 100 on April 5, 1969; In July, Sinclair was given a 10-year prison sentence for possession of two marijuana cigarettes. He became a cause célèbre, as many rockers voiced support for him. In 1971, John Lennon lionized him in the song "John Sinclair."

Song Analysis

Key, BPM (tempo) and time signature of Kick Out The Jams (Original Uncensored Version 1968).
C♯Key
MajorMode
4/4Time Signature
143BPM

Album

The album Kick Out The Jams (Original Uncensored Version 1968) is released on.

Released By

The record label that has released Kick Out The Jams (Original Uncensored Version 1968).
Silverphonic Records
(C) 2009 Goldenlane Records

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