Seriously, he is one collaboration with Ladysmith Black Mambazo and a couple country tracks away from covering the lot. The just-released best-of, More Modern Classics is the sequel to the exquisite Modern Classics of 1998 and between the two of them show a span of styles that few other artists can claim. What followed was the break-up of the group and a dark period for Weller musically, but one that would directly result in the start of his massively successful solo career a few years later. The record took queues from the beginnings of house music coming out of America, but predated Britain's massive rave scene by just enough that Polydor took one listen to it and threw the band out on their arses. The single time where his foresight hasn't served him well was with the release of Modernism: A New Decade, the final Style Council album. But, as unpopular as the decision may have been yet again to form a new line-up, 22 Dreams went straight to number one on the charts, became his first platinum seller since Stanley Road and brought Weller into an era of gushing critical acclaim, accolades and legend status that hasn't let up yet. As he says here, it's difficult to keep a number of guys moving in the same direction for a long period of time. Their disappearances marked the beginning of Weller's most drastic stylistic changes to date, just before the recording of 2008's critically hailed 22 Dreams. They are not decisions made lightly, but if reviews and record sales are any indication, he usually makes the right one.Ī rarely examined, yet deliberate shift in his more recent career is his parting of ways with drummer Steve White – who had been with him for over twenty years since the inception of the Style Council – and bassist Damon Minchella who had joined Weller back during the Wild Wood-era. It ranges from busting up The Jam at their height for pastures new and leaving a perfect legacy, to ending an association with Record Store Day after greedy eBayers took advantage of his vinyl-loving fans. I personally think Weller's staying power is in knowing when to quit and when not to. It draws space-age synths and motorik beats into the mix – a far cry from the Britpop-adjacent 90s rock he continues to be associated with. His most recent album Sonik Kicks is one of those chart toppers. In his solo career alone he's racked up four number one and five number two charting albums.
What's astounding though is how an artist who constantly changes, deliberately rubbishes his own fans' expectations and generally doesn't give a shit what anybody else wants, somehow continues to release wildly successful records. If you learn anything from being a long-time fan of the man it's that his work, like his attitude, is a constantly shifting thing, never made to order. It was eventually released in this format as a 2 x 12" Promo only to promote The Style Council's 1998 Boxset.The extremely serious teen punk thrashing away on a Rickenbacker? The beret-wearing pop politiciser? The mop-haired rocking modfather? The earthy, pastoral psychedelic? The arty soul singer? The angry Luddite? Well it doesn't matter really, because in case you haven't noticed, all those Paul Wellers are dead and gone. The record company refused to release the record as it was considered too dance orientated.
This track segues into "Can You Still Love Me" on other versions of the album but here you only get 4 or 5 seconds of the intro as the track fades out.Ĭ1: "Can You Still Love Me" The version contained here is not the album version but the "Vocal" mix found on the B-Side of the "Promised Land" single (or track 5.2 on the Complete Adventures box set).ĭ1: "Everybody's On The Run" The version contained here is not the album version but "Version One" found on the B-Side of the "Long Hot Summer '89" single (or track 5.4 on the Complete Adventures box set). "Can You Still Love Me", "Love Of The World", "That Spiritual Feeling" & "Everybody's On The Run" all change positions.Ī1 "A New Decade" The mix on this LP is missing the 'peace brother' vocal at the start. The running order of this double album differs from the other available versions of this release ( Single LP/ Japanese CD/ Complete Adventures box set). The Cappuccino Kid is on holiday somewhere in the North of England. Publishing info from back cover (there are some discrepancies with the label info):Ī1, A2, B1, B2, C1: Published by EMI Music Publishing LtdĬ2 & D2: Published by EMI Music Publishing Ltd/Notting Hill Music (UK) Ltd/Copyright Controlĭ1: Published by EMI Music Publishing Ltd/Copyright Control