Entertainment For Lively Minds
The Style Council
Sheev started the day with some 80's nostalgia and I am going to carry on the theme. Sorting through some old cd's today I came across "Introducing The Style Council". From the picture of Weller and Talbot on the front cover through the 7 tracks it is a gloriously uplifting 80's treat. It's a tribute to the wonder that is Weller and his versatility. I would argue that his career in terms of volume and quality of work stands him alongside anyone. When he created The Style Council I was dressing in a raincoat and checked shirt being very serious and gloomy but secretly I was still buying Style Council singles and dreaming of Tracie Young and D C Lee. Following The Jam, The Style Council could have ended his career but his ability to know what his audience wants and adapt produced some soulful, luscious songs with tongue slightly in cheek that suited the early 80's perfectly. Listening to this song from "Introducing The Style Council" sums up everything that was great about this particular Weller creation. It'll be in your head all day tomorrow.
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Oddly enough,
this morning I did an iTunes playlist of the 'Micks' tracks from the Style Council. Mick's Up, Mick's Blessings, Mick's Company, etc
With you totally
on Headstart for Happiness, Dave.
For a miserable sod, Weller has released some truly life affirming songs in his time, hasn't he?
Beat Surrender (best 'bowing out' single ever)
Speak Like a Child (best 'statement of intent' debut single ever)
Solid Bond in Your Heart
but this is surely the toppermost of the poppermost:
My favourite track ...
but which is the superior version??
Very tough, but IMO, the (extended) up-tempo version edges it.
When they were good, they were terrific.
But when they were bad - they were fearful: Life In A Top Peoples Health Farm anyone? Me neither
It's the
more melancholy piano version for me. Just seems to fit the words better. Both great though:-)
I liked This
Very nice version
that I haven't heard before. The original is on "Introducing"
"The match that started my fire", wonderful.
Funnily enough
I've never heard Weller sing it. I'll be checking it out though.
One of the best
Got to love Youtube
First dance at our wedding
was to 'You're the best thing'. For that alone, I will always have a soft spot for the Style Council.
'Headstart for Happiness' is indeed a particular favourite though.
I'll go further and say that some of the tracks on 'Modernism - a new decade' are also rather good too.
If this is the house album
I am still to hear it. I loved their version of Promised Land and even liked this...
Edit: I'm standing by this as being pretty damn funky. Stick in Whitey on proper drums and it would have been a classic.
Sure Is Sure
This was to be the lead single from the House album Polydor wouldn’t put out.
Just sounds like another classic Council single to me. The rest of the album’s a bit boring though.
There’s always this great clamour for Paul Weller to reform The Jam. I think that would be rubbish.
I’d love him to do a new Style Council album though: just a bunch of soul/funk/jazzy commercial pop songs with Mick, Whitey and Dee. I also think it would do really well.
Anyway here’s the final Style Council single-that-never-was, Sure Is Sure
Nothing dates like the future
If I'd heard that at the time I would have loved it. The song is great and the vocals give it that spiritual feeling but I've a Roland DR5 that makes most of those noises and I haven't used that in years.
Couldn't agree more about the Jam. I was too young to see them so the Style Council were my band with Weller hitting the nail on the head when it came to his own vision of Modernism. I've still got some Lacoste somewhere...
Side issue, I'm sticking a fiver on an Acid Jazz revival next year.
Naaaah, it'll all be doo-wop next year.
Both wrong
it'll be the NWONWOBHM
Get the Style Council box set if you can
The house album is there. It's...ok...and I say that as somebody who embraced dance music heavily.
Meanwhile Introducing...remains my favourite Style Council album. Apart from the ropey mix of Money Go-Round. Why not just put the original full length version from the 12" on it? Which is now nowhere to be found anywhere else.
Grr.
I loved the Our Favourite Shop album
The concept the politics the songs everything
Confessions of a pop group
was the first purchase of mine in new fangled CD format, I think TSC are much maligned but I still listen to them and don't own a single Weller solo CD
Another Favourite
The Whole Point Of No Return