The Jam were an English band during the 1970s and early 1980s, which formed in 1972 at Sheerwater Secondary School in Woking and eventually comprised of Paul Weller on guitar and vocals, bassist Bruce Foxton (occasionally on vocals) and drummer Rick Buckler. Smithers-Jones, written by Bruce, was the B-side of When You're Young which was released on 17 August 1979 and charted at #17. It was re-worked with an all-strings arrangement at the suggestion of Rick, for inclusion in the band's fourth album Setting Sons, released that November. It has been considered to be Foxton's finest songwriting contribution to The Jam, with the lyrical inspiration drawing from Foxton's own father who had decided to retire upon being made redundant.