Introducing the Style Council – The Style Council (1983). But, when taken in the context of his career, unfortunately this album gets ranked low.ġ4. Most artists would die for a great album like this. Weller is in tune with real American music.ġ5. The R&B is turned up and the rock is turned down just to prove that Mr. Put this one up next to the debuts of The Clash, Sex Pistols and The Damned as the Mount Rushmore of British Punk Debut Albums.ġ6. This is The Jam’s debut album, and it was the world’s introduction to the songwriting of Paul Weller. It will be difficult to comment on all of them.ġ7. From this point onward, I will be splitting hairs to separate my love of the rest of his albums. This is Weller’s solo debut, which shows his full range of influences from the R&B/Soul sounds of Motown, Philadelphia soul and Stax, the sounds of his beloved band Traffic and the same lyrical fury that made his work with his previous two bands so vital.ġ8. It contains his fantastic version of Sister Sledge’s ballad “Thinking of You”, which was written by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards.ġ9. This was Weller’s first official covers album. Finally, the record company discovered the tapes of a live Jam show and released it for all of us to enjoy!Ģ1. But, when artists’ performances on the BBC are released, Americans can finally hear what they have been missing and the British take for granted.Ģ2. Here in the States, we do not have anything that resembles what the BBC does in England. Catch-Flame! Live at the Alexandra Palace (2006) – Paul Weller.Ģ3. But, his live albums never do him justice.Ģ4. I know how good Paul Weller can be in concert. The Style Council in Concert (1998) – The Style Council. Extras: A Collection of Rarities (1992) – The Jam. This album is loaded with brilliant B-sides and other unreleased gems that could have been used to greater effect on some his weaker Style Council albums.Ģ6. Here’s Some That Got Away – The Style Council. Home & Abroad – Live! (1986) – The Style Council.Ģ8. While Weller’s solo career has been vastly more rich than at any other point in his career, there is still an occasional clunker like this one.Ģ9. Lesson learned? Weller needs time to write great songs, not just good ones.ģ1. The Jam’s first LP was so good, that their record company thought it would be a great idea to quickly release a follow-up. This Is the Modern World (1977) – The Jam. Confessions of a Pop Group (1988) – The Style Council. Little did I realize that he simply needed to fly out on his own.ģ3. I was so worried that Weller was losing his songwriting mojo on the last three Style Council albums. The Cost of Loving (1987) – The Style Council. Once it was released, everyone realized that the company was right.ģ4. This album was recorded in 1990 and was considered to be so bad that the record company kept it on the shelf for a decade. Modernism: A New Decade (2001) – The Style Council. So, let’s get this thing started! Start the countdown, for crying out loud!ģ5. Let’s find out which albums tend to be on my turntable, in my CD player or playing on my iPod or computer. So, that leaves me 35 studio and live albums to rank. I have left out all greatest hits packages as well as all box sets. Today, I am going to rank all 35 albums in Paul Weller’s catalog, which includes those he made with The Jam and The Style Council. But, I am not, so I will make due by listening to my Paul Weller albums and CDs. Plus, I would have better healthcare for much less money if I were living in the United Kingdom. Over the years, I have felt my tastes in music were more akin with the tastes of my English brethren than like my fellow Americans. And, that is a crime! How is it that such important British artists as Weller, The Smiths, Slade, Status Quo and Stone Roses have had huge careers in their native Great Britain, yet failed to make a significant dent on the charts here in the States? And, these are not the only musicians to fall through the cracks over the years, but they represent some of the more significant UK artists in this situation. Yes, he has garnered all kinds of hit songs over in his native United Kingdom, while here in the States, he has only experienced a small handful of minor hits. Yet, today, I still find that I am not done with Paul Weller. In retrospect, I probably should have gone all the way and gave him a more appropriate Top 50, but what am I going to do? Probably wait six months to a year or so before revisiting the man and his work. Yesterday, I presented my Top 25 Favorite Songs in the Paul Weller cannon.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |