A Weekend with Ye Olde Style Council
We’re just over a month away from Paul Weller’s new album 22 Dreams (on Yep Roc), which I really look forward to hearing. I thought I’d take a trip back to his great blue-eyed British soul band of the 80’s, The Style Council. Wanting to incorporate R&B, soul, and jazz into his songwriting, Weller had walked away from his pioneering, mod-revival band The Jam in 1982 at their peak and formed the Style Council in 1983. The Style Council sort of fizzled out by the end of the decade, but Weller has continued on with a strong solo career as the Mod Godfather of the British music scene.
This is the kind of show that accompanies a nice sunny day, a cool breeze, and a nice lemonade (preferably spiked) on the front porch. No daytime front porch action for me, by the way. High of 102 on Sunday, and 106 on Monday. And heeere we go. Another summer in the Sonoran Desert.
JamBonus → Oh, also, a blog synergy bonus: Steve at Maybe We Ain’t That Young Anymore has a sweet Jam show from 1980.
Enjoy!
The Style Council
March 10th, 1984
Goldiggers, Chippenham, UKIntro – Pete Drummond (BBC)
Meeting Over Yonder
My Ever Changing Moods
Speak Like A Child
The Whole Point Of No Return
Le Depart
The Paris Match
Party Chambers
Money Go Round
Headstart For Happiness
Hanging On To A Memory
Dropping Bombs On The White House
Long Hot SummerIckmusic’s Friday Five: May 16, 2008
You can’t hurry love, but this week I’ll be hitting you all with a ‘speed round’ of the Five…
Here are this week’s tracks:
1. Jay-Z – ’03 Bonnie & Clyde (feat. Beyoncé Knowles) (from The Blueprint²: The Gift & The Curse (disc 1: The Gift))
Mr. & Mrs. Carter rocking a cover (in the loosest term) of 2Pac’s “Me and My Girlfriend” with a little twist of Prince’s “If I Was Your Girlfriend”. I have to say that I have more respect for this couple for managing to be very high profile celebrities and not allow every moment of the lives be invaded by the media. They should be role models for how to live a celebrity life!
2. Maceo Parker – Georgia on My Mind (MP3) (from Life on Planet Groove)
There’s no doubt that when it comes to funk there are few funkier than Maceo. I always love hearing him taking his talents and applying them outside of the funk as well. Here it’s all about the voice. I just found out the Maceo and Soulive are performing at the Tarrytown Music Hall and if my schedule allows I’ll be in attendance.
3. Steve Perry – Girl Can’t Help It (from 1994-11-22: Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA, USA (disc 1))
There is no substitute. This was taken from one of the great circulating bootlegs from his For the Love of Strange Medicine Tour.
4. The Cure – A Letter to Elise (from Wish)
This track is a masterclass in how to pour your entire heart, soul and being into a song. One of, if not my absolute, favorite Cure songs (it’s a tie between this and “Pictures of You”).
And every time I try to pick it up
Like falling sand
As fast as I pick it up
It runs away through my clutching handsBrilliance…
5. Portishead – Silence (from Third)
The opening track from Portishead’s latest. I’ve not totally gotten into this new record yet despite numerous tries.
So what’s playing as you are rushing out the door?
