The definitive Paul Weller thread
 

http://www.fuk.co.uk/files/paul_weller_fred_perry.jpg

Paul Weller's influence on me as a person is unbeaten by any other artist, changing me from a grungy 14 year old in a large stripey jumper with long blond hair, to a 15 year old in a well fitted Fred Perry buying Motown vinyls.

This month sees Paul Weller turn 50 and also release yet another solo album. So I thought I would start a thread in honour of his career so far and also create 3 mixes; one of The Jam, one of The Style Council and finally his solo career.

I'll start with a mix of my favourite Jam songs, panning many of their albums and also showing their growth as a band in a very short space of time. I tried to stay away from the obvious choices so I hope there are songs here you may not have heard before.

Tracklist :
1. Art School (In The City 1977)
2. Slow Down (In The City 1977)
3. English Rose (All Mod Cons 1978)
4. Start! (Sound Affects 1980)
5. Non Stop Dancing (In The City 1977)
6. The Eton Rifles (Setting Sons 1979)
7. Down in the Tubestation at Midnight (All Mod Cons 1978)
8. Smithers-Jones (Setting Sons 1979)
9. Liza Radley (Single/B-Sides)
10. Tales From The Riverbank (Singles/B-Sides)

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Although I am not his biggest fan, I like a a fair amount from each of his 3 phases and appreciate his change of style each time. Good thread and these comps will be good to listen to at work! I think Stanley Road is a great great album.

I'm not an enormous Jam fan, but Snap! is a brilliant compilation. That looks like a fine mix, Eton Rifles is my fave Jam song.

I am surprised at the lack of interest here or maybe I am not....?

I am big fan of the Jam, i haven't really heard any of his solo stuff. =x

I'm planning to do that next when I get the time ;)

Paul Weller is responsible for writing some of my favourite tunes of all time. 'Down in the Tubestation at Midnight' would possibly make my top ten ever.
Surprised you didn't include 'Strange Town' and 'Butterfly Collector', but then again, it aint my list. ;)
Not so keen on 'Start', too much like The Beatles 'Taxman' for comfort IMO. Good choice with 'Art School' though.
Weller's early songwriting was brilliant and at it's best (his angry young man attitude) he's every bit as good as Ray Davies.

Never liked his Style Council phase and was well chuffed when he released Stanley Road.
He's everything Noel Gallagher wants to be, but never will.

Yeh that's true.

Part two of my compilations is looking at Weller's solo career as it stands so far, ranging from most of his solo albums & also one song which was a collaboration with Death In Vegas.
Like The Jam compilation, I hope there is some tracks on this that you have yet to hear.

Tracklist:
1. Blink And You'll Miss It (As Is Now 2005)
2. Out Of The Sinking (Stanley Road 1995)
3. I Walk On Gilded Splinters (Stanley Road 1995)
4. Wild Wood (Wild Wood 1993)
5. From The Floorboards Up (As Is Now 2005)
6. So You Say You Lost Your Baby (Scorpio Rising 2003)
7. You Do Something To Me (Stanley Road 1995)
8. Roll Along Summer (As Is Now 2005)
9. Hung Up (Wild Wood 1993)


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Out Of The Sinking is worth downloading this alone.

Noel Gallgher on Paul's new album
Oasis Noel Gallagher hails Paul Weller's 'brave' new album | News | NME.COM

It IS Taxman, I have no idea how they got away with that.
'All Mod Cons' is one of my favourite albums (I just love the way the Jam were the only punk-era band to be wearing their 60's influence on their sleeve) and 'Our Favourite Shop' by the Style Council is an 80's classic IMO.
Probably need to pick up 'Wild Wood'. Neat-o!

The Style Council
 

Anyone here like them? or Paul Wellers solo stuff? i have a friend who raves about them all the time, I dont get it, not impressed, sorry.

I am still dissapointed at the lack of views on his latest release. Shall I get it or not?

Depends If youre actually paying for it.

I can't decide what I think on it, because I'm just not bowled over by it nor do I think it's terrible.
The Curtis Mayfield vibes are nice though I must say. And the production is good (though not as good as Stanley Road)

I am a huge fan of Stanley Road, I think that it is his best work as a solo artist. I know that Wild Wood is often sited as his best but for me Stanley Road works better as an album, each track complements the one after it and they all mesh together brilliantly to make a great listen.

Having said that, I haven't given 22 Dreams a decent enough listen to critique it.

I gotta say, of the three incarnations of Paul Weller, the Style Council is by far my favorite. I have owned solo albums, and there was some quality tunes, I own some of The Jam on vinyl, and enjoy it from time to time, but I really feel like Paul's true virtuosity came with The Style Council. If you listen to "My Ever Changing Moods", you hear so many different musical styles. With The Jam, mostly one style...good, yes... but not much variety. The same goes for most of the solo stuff that I've heard (his first couple solo albums). There was a chemistry found between Paul and Mick Talbot, not to mention the drum prodigy Steve White. You want some good Acid Jazz, check out Talbot and White's stuff...

Paul Weller Appreciation Thread
 

Now this may not be too popular as most people I come across dont really appreciate him as much as I do.
He is one of my favourite artists. I first heard The Jam first whom I rate the lowest amongst all of his musical projects. I prefer the Style Council although they commited some terrible crimes in some of their videos (check out 'Long Hot Summer' if you dare!) they had a lot more creativity bringing funk,soul& r&b with strongly political motivation behind most of their songs) than the hooligan-like anthems The Jam did although 'That's Entertainment' is a fantastic song. My favourite Style Council album is their very last one entitled 'Confessions Of A Pop Group'. Massively underrated album.
But most of all it is Paul Weller's solo work for me that stands head and shoulders above The Jam & The Style Council put together. My favourites are his first self titled album which is sort of a cross between his move into more guitar based music & still reminiscent of the Style Council at the same time. Wild Wood has such a raw sound that it sounds like hes there with you in your livingroom playing + every single song from start to finish is immense. (Best tracks 'Can You Heal Us Holy Man','5th Season','Country', 'All The Pictures On The Wall' + the two instrumental tracks are cracking.
Also Stanley Road is obviously his most commercially succesful but contains some of the most beautiful songs Ive ever heard- 'Stanley Road', 'Porcelain Gods', 'Broken Stones', 'Wings Of Speed' but most of all 'Time Passes'- I have the deluxe edition also where he did demo covers of Neil Young's 'Out On The Weekend' which i actually prefer to the original & 'Corrina Corrina' off Bob Dylans 'Freewheelin' album.
Also I love the Heavy Soul album i think the title track is excellent especially the lyrics- 'We're Words Upon A Window, Written There In Steam...' Also I bought the 'Brushed' (from Heavy Soul) single a few months and contains a great extended jam from Stanley Road sessions called 'Steam' & a good track called 'Shoot The Dove' + an excellent cover of 'Aint No Love In The Heart Of The City'.
Personally I think he kind of lost his way after 1997+ but sort of picked up with As Is Now (2005) (although I throughly enjoyed his 'Studio 150' covers album (2004)) but really blew me away with '22 Dreams' which is really excellent especially the last three tracks on the album which is just pure experimentation. Also the first track on the album 'Light Nights' has been described as 'Acid Folk'.
As for Live albums I love the 'Live Wood' album and personally rank it amongst one of the greatest live albums of all time (out of what Ive heard so far anyway). Just the sheer energy of that album makes it one of my favourites.
Also another gem to check out is his Glastonbury 1994 Performance where he did the cover of Neil Young's 'Ohio' again this is parallel to the sheer energy and passion from 'Live Wood' performances.
YouTube - Paul Weller- Ohio Live

Anyway anyone who agrees/disagrees with anything I have said here please get back to us..

thread merged.

Nice post Mirrorball95.

I was a big fan of The Jam at the time, but he turned me right off when he went all 'French' and created The Style Council. I love the fact that he loves soul, but apart from a few songs he did I just couldn't get over the shock of it not being The Jam and eventually ignored him completely.
That was until he reinvented himself with his solo work and all was well again between me and the "modfather".
He's a musical magpie, but who'd dare accuse him of being generic?
Certainly not me, as he's always managed to stamp his own signature over whatever he does. Great songwriter that deserves even more credit than he already gets.

I've been listening to the Jam a lot recently, and I'm fast becoming a fan again. The first three albums are absolute class, and I love Sound Affects too (along with David Bowie's Rebel Rebel, That's Entertainment is basically the song that got me properly into music so to speak).

As for the Style Council, I like a few songs I've heard, but I've never got round to getting an album of theirs.

And I basically got all his solo albums when they were all in the bargain bin at HMV (CD shopping - those were the days!). 22 Dreams, Wild Wood and the debut are my favourites. With the others, there are some brilliant songs on them (some of my all-time favs on Stanley Road), but I've always felt they tail off a little bit. Should probably give them all a good listen again sometime soon; I imagine I'll have another Paul Weller day sometime over the weekend, just like old times.

I have only given 22 dreams a single listen which should be rectified. Stanley Road is usually held up as the pinnacle and quite rightly so. I have to say that i'm not a huge fan of The Jam. I like them but I rarely have a blast although 'News Of The World' and 'Funeral Pyre' are top top tunes. As RT rightly says, he doesn't get the respect he deserves. He's such a great songwriter just never particulary cool enough for younger fans and a little too off mainstream for the middle of the road fans.

On the contrary...he's too cool for younger fans.

**** me man I went to all that trouble just to find there was already another post. :banghead:.....
Also I didnt think people would find it that good as I basically just had a rant for about 10 mins.
Cool man you have taste, dont you like his solo stuff though? I rank it amongst the best stuff hes done. Also the key word is 'variety' when it comes to ranking the Style Council higher than the Jam. Not many artists get better as their careers go on.

Yeah 22 Dreams is definitely a grower but to me the albums that grow on you are the best (IMO). As for him not being 'cool enough' for younger fans. I know quite a few people my age who are into Paul Weller. + Also it shouldnt be to do with how 'cool' he is as his music is immense and thats all that matters (IMO).
Well I dont really think its about how 'cool' he is. If thats the case then they cant be into music in the first place. + He has been around for a while and could win new fans of any age (although I highly doubt my brother will start listning to him anytime soon). I hate how older people say we all listen to ****e/dont know what real music is. I agree to a certain extent there are the clowns who have the happy hardcore blaring out there cars but I aint certainly aint one o them lol. Also sometimes I wish I was older so I could have lived through all the great decades of music but TBH I think I was born in the perfect generation as everything is so accessible now especially with the internet. I wouldnt have been able to get into around 90% of the artists ive gotten into if it wasnt for amazon marketplace and their cheap prices.

ALSO CHECK OUT THIS CRACKING COVER OF NEILS YOUNG'S OHIO LIVE AT HIS COMEBACK GIG AT GLASTONBURY 1994. IF YOUVE HEARD THE ORIGINAL YOU WILL SEE HOW HE HAS MADE IT HIS OWN HERE.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CIvKCvAvCE

My comment was a tongue in cheek reply to jackhammer.
What I was implying, was that his music isn't rated as highly as it shoud be among the younger generation. When I see bands like The Clash and later The Smiths getting a new lease of life, I feel it's unfair that The Jam haven't had the same recognition.
Then again that would only happen if they suddenly become 'retro cool' with the teens...which wouldn't do them justice.

That's because older people have the experience of the moment to reflect on in later years.
Also. you are living in a time of great music already...maybe you haven't realised this yet, I don't know.
Maybe you'll only appreciate whats under your nose in later years.
I know I did with a lot of bands that took me decades to rediscover after only scratching the surface of artists at the time.

I've got a feeling you'll be alright...you seem to have taste and a mind of your own, unlike the happy hardcore sheep you mentioned.

Yeah i did know it was a reply to the other guy. Just that I dont really understand why people only listen to certain bands/artists because its 'cool' which presumably means just because so&so listens to them...

Of course I know there is always great music around everywhere, you just have to look for it. I dont have a totally negative view of new bands/artists. There are some such as Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes,A Place To Bury Strangers whom are all excellent.(there are more but cant rememeber them right now).
Most of the music I discover is from previous decades but partly present as well like you said you come across a band you didnt notice at the time and realise they were great. I tend to steer away from all the new modern Indie bands (of whom 99.9% are **** IMO) only ones I kinda like are The Doves & Starsailor but even then they can just be too bland for me now and Id rather listen to something else. (especially since my venture into Jazz).
Also as I have always said I never let anyone tell me whats good or listen to stuff just because someone else does. I listen to music that I like and that moves me and if someone else doesnt like it or if its not 'cool' then I couldnt give a ****.
Also I believe that music is timeless and although I usually have an obsesssion with which year it was from you can listen to any music from anytime and still be inspired by it as all the passion/energy is captured forever there in that one recording at that time. Thats what the truly great thing about music is (IMO).

Weller for me is the UK's finest songwriter that came after the 60's & 70's