release date: 1983
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,22]
producer: Peter Wilson and Paul Weller
label: Polydor Records - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "Long Hot Summer" - 2. "Headstart for Happiness" - 3. "Speak Like a Child" (4 / 5) - 5. "The Paris Match"
Studio debut ep by The Style Council (most likely released in the Summer, or in Sep.-Oct. '83). The band was originally formed by Paul Weller, who had just split with The Jam, and Mick Talbot, ex-keyboardist of Dexys Midnight Runners and The Bureau. These two were the backbone of the project and they brought in various collaborators in the span of the band's 7-8 years life-time, eventually, breaking up in 1990. At this early stage, the band also consists of Tracie Young on backing vocals, and drummer Steve White. All tracks here, except the instrumental "Mick's Up" by Talbot, are written by Weller. The style is very different from the hard new wave-sound of The Jam and is a mix of various styles, which mostly may be referred to as sophisti-pop. However, the best track "Speak Like a Child" is close to the style of The Jam when thinking of the band's last album The Gift (1982). The major influences are soul, rhythm & blues, and jazz. This is not a strong and tight ep release. The tracks are more like a compilation of early singles. Tracks #2, #3, and #7 were all A-side single releases with some of the others tracks as B-sides, which explains the diversity in style.
