The Jam were an English rock band formed in 1972 in Woking, Surrey. They released 18 consecutive top 40 singles in the United Kingdom, from their debut in 1977 to their break-up in December 1982, including four number one hits. As of 2007, "That's Entertainment" and "Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero?" remain the best-selling import singles of all time in the UK. They released one live album and six studio albums, the last of which, The Gift, reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. When the group disbanded in 1982, their first 15 singles were re-released and all placed within the top 100.

"Down in the Tube Station at Midnight" is a single by the Jam, and was the second single from their third album, All Mod Cons. Released in October 1978, it reached No. 15 on the UK Singles Chart. The single was backed by a cover version of the Who's song "So Sad About Us", and the song "The Night", written by Bruce Foxton.