The Style Council "Modernism: A New Decade" (1998)

Modernism: A New Decade
release date: Oct. 26, 1998
format: digital
[album rate: 2 / 5] [2,02]
producer: The Style Council
label: PolyGram - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 6. "That Spiritual Feeling"

5th and final studio album by The Style Council - an album the record label rejected upon its completion in 1989, which led to band splitting up. The bands first three albums had all sold very well in the UK, all reaching at least #2 on the national charts list but the fourth album Confessions of a Pop Group only made it to #15, so what made the band risk a major stylistic change, was not accepted by the label. However, here it is - released a decade after its completion. Apparently, Weller said that the band should have split two-three years before they actually did, meaning before or after recording The Cost of Living (1987). Anyway, this is strange. Not for its time, but for being a release by a sophisti-pop band. And then again: thinking of how well Everything but the Girl made their move from sophist-pop to dance-pop and electronic, would make this an accepted decision. However, Paul Weller and Co. simply weren't accustomed with the genre nor did they get the same and perfect helping hand from someone who knew about the style they boarded. Na, this is weak, though, not worse than the band's '87 album, but frankly, it shouldn't have been released.
[ allmusic.com 1,5 / 5 stars ]

The Style Council "Confessions of a Pop Group" (1988)

Confessions of a Pop Group
release date: Jun. 20, 1988
format: digital
[album rate: 2 / 5] [2,12]
producer: Paul Weller, Mick Talbot
label: Polydor Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "It's a Very Deep Sea" - 2. "The Story of Someone's Shoe" - 7. "Why I Went Missing" - 8. "How She Threw It All Away" - 10. "Confessions 1, 2 & 3"

4th full-length studio album by The Style Council. After releasing Our Favourite Shop in '85 the band released a third album The Cost of Loving in '87, which may be seen as the band's low point. I honestly didn't think they would continue much longer after that, but this is an improvement. Technically, it's superior to anything they have released but it doesn't bring about anything new and sometimes it sounds more like an anachronism. With 'do-bi-doo' backing vocals, greasy slick harmonies that make one think of The Carpenters, and a strange but often use of marimbas... What is this, Mr. Weller? The New Manhattan Transfers? The 'soul' and originality has nearly disappeared completely and what remains is pastiche pop, or lounge when it's least daring. This is below mediocre, and the album became the last studio release before the band split up in 1989. A final album had been recorded prior to the disbandment; however, it wasn't released until 1998. Paul Weller and Dee C. Lee married in 1987.
[ allmusic.com 1 / 5 stars! ]

The Style Council "Live! Home & Abroad" (1986) (live)

Live! Home & Abroad (live)
release date: May 1, 1986
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,45]

Live album by The Style Council. I don't find it specifically good nor very interesting. It's okay, no surprises, and without... brilliance.
[ allmusic.com 2 / 5 stars ]

The Style Council "The Lodgers" (1985) (single)

The Lodgers, 12'' single
release date: 1985
format: vinyl (TSCX10)
[single rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,68]
producer: Paul Weller & Brian Robson
label: Polydor Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) "The Lodgers (Extended Mix)" - - B) 1. "The Big Boss Groove" - 2. "Move on Up" - 3. "Money-Go-Round / Soul Deep / Strength of Your Nature (Medley)" - 4. "You're the Best Thing"

Single release by The Style Council Featuring Dee C. Lee issued after the album Our Favourite Shop. The band has now officially been extended to include drummer Steve White and backing vocalist (and future wife of Paul Weller) Dee. C. Lee. This is not one of the band's best issue's, although, it's the first time they release live takes. The first three tracks on the B-side are live recordings with the track "Move on Up" being a familiar cover, which The Jam used to play live.

The Style Council "Our Favourite Shop" (1985)

Our Favourite Shop
release date: May 1, 1985
format: vinyl (gatefold - 825 700-1) / digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,46]
producer: Paul Weller, Peter Wilson
label: Polydor Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 2. "All Gone Away" - 3. "Come to Milton Keynes" - 4. "Internationalists" (3,5 / 5) (live) - 5. "A Stones Throw Away" - 7. "Boy Who Cried Wolf" - 9. "Down in the Seine" (4 / 5) - 10. "The Lodgers (Or She Was Only a Shopkeeper's Daughter)" - 12. "With Everything to Lose" - 14. "Walls Come Tumbling Down" (at Live Aid)

2nd studio album by The Style Council, whose style has become less pop soul, more jazz inspired, and seems more straight and narrow with this release compared to the debut, and although, it contains a large number of fine compositions I generally find it a bit too slick, too nicely sounding. There's simply too much work put in the studio in arranging these songs with the right horns, strings, and additional instrumentation, which nearly disguises the quality of the songs. The first track "Homebreakers" is like a perfect example of what you shouldn't do. It's lengthy, somewhat tiresome, and it doesn't provide any original ideas, whereas "A Stones Throw Away", "Down in the Seine", and "Walls Come Tumbling Down" show what this duo is capable of.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Uncut Magazine 3 / 5 stars ]

The Style Council "Café Bleu" (1984)

Café Bleu [debut]
release date: Mar. 1, 1984
format: vinyl (TSCLP1) / cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]
producer: Paul Weller, Peter Wilson
label: Polydor Records - nationality: England. UK

Track highlights: 2. "The Whole Point of No Return" (4 / 5) - 4. "Blue Cafe" - 5. "The Paris Match" (3,5 / 5) - 6. "My Ever Changing Moods" (4 / 5) - 10. "You're the Best Thing" (5 / 5) - 11. "Here's One That Got Away" (3,5 / 5) - 12. "Headstart for Happiness" (4 / 5)

Studio debut album by The Style Council. The album is a stylistic mix of pop soul and sophisti-pop with bits and pieces of jazz. It's pretty good, and frankly, it's the best by this band who, despite the bold pop expression, holds tight to a lust for experimentation. The best tracks are the ones solely composed by Paul Weller. Whenever Mick Talbot is credited as composer it becomes too jazz-fueled and it loses everything connected with soul. Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt (aka Everything But The Girl) feature on "The Paris Match" and Weller's future wife Dee C. Lee sings backing vocals on "Strength of Your Nature" and "Headstart for Hapiness".
The album is enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5 stars ]

The Style Council "My Ever Changing Moods" (1984) (single)

My Ever Changing Moods, 12'' single
release date: Feb. 1984
format: vinyl (817 450-1)
[single rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,68]
producer: Peter Wilson and Paul Weller
label: Polydor Records - nationality: England. UK

Tracklist: A) "My Ever Changing Moods" (long version) (4 / 5) - - B) 1. "Spring, Summer, Autumn" (4 / 5) - 2. "Mick's Company"

Single release by The Style Council with a track from the forthcoming debut album. Track #1 is credited to Paul Weller; track #2 to Jake Fluckery (aka Paul Weller); and track #3 is credited Mick Talbot. Weller and Talbot are The Style Council. Hon councillors are: Steve White (drums), Pete Wilson (bass synth), Barbara Snow (trumpet), and Hillary Seabrook (saxophone).

The Style Council "A Solid Bond in Your Heart" (1983) (single)

A Solid Bond in Your Heart, 7'' single
release date: Nov. 1983
format: vinyl (gatefold - TSC4)
[single rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: Peter Wilson and Paul Weller
label: Polydor Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: A) "A Solid Bond in Your Heart" (4 / 5) - - B) 1. "It Just Came to Pieces in My Hands" (3,5 / 5) - 2. "A Solid Bond in Your Heart (Instrumental)"

4th single release by The Style Council released after the ep Introducing.... Still, only Mick Talbot and Paul Weller are credited as The Style Council with Zeke Manyika (on drums), Chris Hunter (on saxophone) are credited as 'hon councillors'. Somehow this single wasn't including on the '84 full-length studio debut. The style is a fine uptempo combo of jazz pop and pop soul, and it would have fitted very nicely on the album released four months later.

The Style Council "Introducing The Style Council" (1983) (ep)

Introducing The Style Council, ep
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.

The Style Council "Money-Go-Round (Parts 1+2)" (1983) (single)

own scan

Money-Go-Round (Parts 1+2), 7'' single
release date: May 1983
format: vinyl (TSC2)
[single rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,66]
producer: Peter Wilson and Paul Weller
label: Polydor Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) "Money-Go-Round (Part 1)" - - B) "Money-Go-Round (Part 2)"

2nd single release by The Style Council. The single is included in a slightly altered "Club Mix" version on the band's first ep Introducing the Style Council. Following the single "Speak Like a Child" this is a different kinda style, and definitely not something one would associate with The Jam. It's jazz pop and funk (!) without the soul element, and really not my cup of tea.

The Style Council "Speak Like a Child" (1983) (single)

Speak Like a Child, 7'' single
release date: Mar. 1983
format: vinyl (TSC1)
[single rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]
producer: Peter Wilson and Paul Weller
label: Polydor Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) "Speak Like a Child" (4 / 5) - B) "Party Chambers" (3 / 5)

First single release by The Style Council. The A-side track could easily have been enlisted as a final single release by The Jam without sounding like something completely different when thinking of that band's final single "Beat Surrender". This is not the sophisti-pop style that The Style Council would become associated with, but it's more pure pop soul. Here the band only consists of Paul Weller and Mick Talbot with Zeke Manyika playing drums and Tracie Young singing backing vocals (both credited as hon. councillors). I bought the single upon its release after hearing it on MTV and it really only made me ready to purchase the band's debut album as soon as it landed.