The Style Council
The Style Council were an English musical group formed in 1983 by ex-The Ja… Read Full Bio ↴The Style Council were an English musical group formed in 1983 by ex-The Jam singer and guitarist Paul Weller with keyboardist Mick Talbot. The permanent lineup grew to include drummer Steve White and Weller's then-wife, vocalist Dee C. Lee. Other artists such as Tracie Young and Tracey Thorn (Everything but the Girl) also collaborated with the group.
The band showed a diversity of musical styles. Singles "Speak Like a Child" (with its loud soul-influenced style), the extended funk of "Money-Go-Round", and the haunting synth-ballad "Long Hot Summer" all featured Talbot on keyboards and organ. Near the end of 1983, these songs were compiled on Introducing The Style Council, a mini-album initially released in Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States only. The Dutch version was heavily imported to the United Kingdom.
In 1984, the single "My Ever-Changing Moods", backed with the Hammond organ instrumental "Mick's Company", reached #29 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. The song remains Weller's greatest success on the American charts (including his efforts in The Jam and as a solo artist), while the group reached the peak of its success in the United Kingdom with the 1985 album Our Favourite Shop.
To Weller's fans, the decision to split up The Jam at the height of their commercial success was met with considerable controversy[citation needed]. Weller deliberately distanced himself from The Jam's sound and style, with his use of new musical arrangements and instruments in a much slicker, more heavily produced style. In the place of the Bruce Foxton-Rick Buckler rhythm section were drum and bass parts done entirely on synthesisers.
Structurally, many of the band's early singles were not far removed from The Jam's latter-day soul-pop efforts such as "Town Called Malice" and "Beat Surrender", but they were often criticised as overproduced, despite Weller's impressive songwriting[citation needed]. Also, many observers saw even the early albums as indulgent and overly experimental; Trouser Press called Café Bleu "too schizophrenic to be a good album".
The Style Council took a more overtly political approach than The Jam in their lyrics, with tracks such as "Walls Come Tumbling Down", "The Lodgers", and "Come To Milton Keynes" being deliberate attacks on 'middle England' and Thatcherite principles prevalent in the Eighties. Weller was also instrumental in the formation of Red Wedge with Billy Bragg. However, he later said that this began to detract from the music: "We were involved with a lot of political things going on at that time. I think after a while that overshadowed the music a bit"
In 1986, the band released a live album, Home and Abroad, and, in 1987, the album The Cost of Loving was launched, followed later in the year by the upbeat non-album single "Wanted", which reached #20 in the United Kingdom. However, Confessions of a Pop Group, released a year later, sold poorly. This led to their record label Polydor rejecting their final album (Modernism: A New Decade), which was heavily influenced by the contemporary house scene. A greatest hits album, appropriately called The Singular Adventures of The Style Council, was released internationally in 1989; it included the non-album single "Promised Land", which had reached #27 in the United Kingdom earlier that year.
In 1989 members of The Style Council went under the name of King Truman to release a single on Acid Jazz titled "Like A Gun". This was unbeknown to Polydor and the single was pulled from the shops only 3 days prior to release. Acid Jazz founder Eddie Piller said "The pair offered to make a single for my new label, which I'd just started with Radio 1 DJ Gilles Peterson as a side project. Mick and Paul took pseudonyms Truman King and Elliott Arnold." [1]
The Style Council broke up in 1989. The cover of "Promised Land" (originally by Joe Smooth) was the only release which surfaced from the Modernism sessions at the time; however, the entire album was released in 1998, both independently and in a 5-CD box set, The Complete Adventures Of The Style Council. After the split, Weller embarked on a successful solo career (still featuring Steve White on drums, who had left The Style Council by the time Confessions of a Pop Group was released, having only played on a few of its tracks). Talbot and White released two albums as Talbot/White — United States of Mind (1995) and Off The Beaten Track (1996). More recently, Mick Talbot and Steve White have formed The Players with Damon Minchella and Aziz Ibrahim.
All of The Style Council's UK releases (including singles, 12" maxis, albums, compact discs and re-issues thereof) featured the work of graphic designer Simon Halfon, who often collaborated with Weller to hone his ideas into a graphic form. Weller and Halfon began working together at the end of The Jam's career, and continue to work together to this day on Weller's solo material.
Since 2007, the song "Walls Come Tumbling Down" has been used as the theme song for the German TV series Dr. Psycho – Die Bösen, die Bullen, meine Frau und ich.
The band showed a diversity of musical styles. Singles "Speak Like a Child" (with its loud soul-influenced style), the extended funk of "Money-Go-Round", and the haunting synth-ballad "Long Hot Summer" all featured Talbot on keyboards and organ. Near the end of 1983, these songs were compiled on Introducing The Style Council, a mini-album initially released in Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States only. The Dutch version was heavily imported to the United Kingdom.
In 1984, the single "My Ever-Changing Moods", backed with the Hammond organ instrumental "Mick's Company", reached #29 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. The song remains Weller's greatest success on the American charts (including his efforts in The Jam and as a solo artist), while the group reached the peak of its success in the United Kingdom with the 1985 album Our Favourite Shop.
To Weller's fans, the decision to split up The Jam at the height of their commercial success was met with considerable controversy[citation needed]. Weller deliberately distanced himself from The Jam's sound and style, with his use of new musical arrangements and instruments in a much slicker, more heavily produced style. In the place of the Bruce Foxton-Rick Buckler rhythm section were drum and bass parts done entirely on synthesisers.
Structurally, many of the band's early singles were not far removed from The Jam's latter-day soul-pop efforts such as "Town Called Malice" and "Beat Surrender", but they were often criticised as overproduced, despite Weller's impressive songwriting[citation needed]. Also, many observers saw even the early albums as indulgent and overly experimental; Trouser Press called Café Bleu "too schizophrenic to be a good album".
The Style Council took a more overtly political approach than The Jam in their lyrics, with tracks such as "Walls Come Tumbling Down", "The Lodgers", and "Come To Milton Keynes" being deliberate attacks on 'middle England' and Thatcherite principles prevalent in the Eighties. Weller was also instrumental in the formation of Red Wedge with Billy Bragg. However, he later said that this began to detract from the music: "We were involved with a lot of political things going on at that time. I think after a while that overshadowed the music a bit"
In 1986, the band released a live album, Home and Abroad, and, in 1987, the album The Cost of Loving was launched, followed later in the year by the upbeat non-album single "Wanted", which reached #20 in the United Kingdom. However, Confessions of a Pop Group, released a year later, sold poorly. This led to their record label Polydor rejecting their final album (Modernism: A New Decade), which was heavily influenced by the contemporary house scene. A greatest hits album, appropriately called The Singular Adventures of The Style Council, was released internationally in 1989; it included the non-album single "Promised Land", which had reached #27 in the United Kingdom earlier that year.
In 1989 members of The Style Council went under the name of King Truman to release a single on Acid Jazz titled "Like A Gun". This was unbeknown to Polydor and the single was pulled from the shops only 3 days prior to release. Acid Jazz founder Eddie Piller said "The pair offered to make a single for my new label, which I'd just started with Radio 1 DJ Gilles Peterson as a side project. Mick and Paul took pseudonyms Truman King and Elliott Arnold." [1]
The Style Council broke up in 1989. The cover of "Promised Land" (originally by Joe Smooth) was the only release which surfaced from the Modernism sessions at the time; however, the entire album was released in 1998, both independently and in a 5-CD box set, The Complete Adventures Of The Style Council. After the split, Weller embarked on a successful solo career (still featuring Steve White on drums, who had left The Style Council by the time Confessions of a Pop Group was released, having only played on a few of its tracks). Talbot and White released two albums as Talbot/White — United States of Mind (1995) and Off The Beaten Track (1996). More recently, Mick Talbot and Steve White have formed The Players with Damon Minchella and Aziz Ibrahim.
All of The Style Council's UK releases (including singles, 12" maxis, albums, compact discs and re-issues thereof) featured the work of graphic designer Simon Halfon, who often collaborated with Weller to hone his ideas into a graphic form. Weller and Halfon began working together at the end of The Jam's career, and continue to work together to this day on Weller's solo material.
Since 2007, the song "Walls Come Tumbling Down" has been used as the theme song for the German TV series Dr. Psycho – Die Bösen, die Bullen, meine Frau und ich.
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The Style Council Lyrics
A Casual Affair Its funny how time seems to soften the blow And only…
A Gospel Handed down from fathers to sons Was the hatred of weakness…
A Man Of Great Promise I bought the paper yesterday And I saw the obituary And I…
A Solid Bond In Your Heart Feelin' is a word I can't explain At least not in…
A Stone's Throw Away For liberty there is a cost - its broken skulls…
A Stones Throw Away For liberty there is a cost, it's broken skulls and…
A Woman's Song Hush, little baby, don't you cry Momma's gonna buy you a…
All Gone The wind blows whispers down the street Having free reign wi…
All Year Round Our eyes meet across the floor We don't have to say…
Angel If I could I'd give you the world Wrap it all…
April's Fool I, just like a fool let you go Not knowing what…
Big Boss Groove Hold on is what they say To get any back to…
Blood Sports Who takes the heart from a stag Who gets a hard-on…
Boy Who Cried Wolf As the rain comes down, upon this sad sweet earth I…
Call Me I know you have time But believe me it will fly…
Can You Still Love Me ? Can you still love me? Take it - I look into your…
Changing Of The Guard Changes of clothes and summer showers Like changing the guar…
Come To Milton Keynes May I walk you home tonight On this fine and lovely…
Confessions 1 2 & 3 Confessions 1, 2 and 3 Count me off but don't count…
Confessions of a Pop-Group Cheap and tacky bullshit land Told when to sit don't know…
Cost of Loving The cost of lovings on the line again Honey, that just…
Down In The Seine Catch me I'm falling so fast and I can't seem…
Everybody's on the Run Yeah, yeah, everybody's on the run Everybody's on the run Ye…
Fairy Tales The giant towers over all But from close distance, he don't…
Francoise The teardrops in my eyes are now just words upon…
Ghosts of Dachau I close my eyes I reach out my hand And there you…
Gospel Handed down from fathers to sons Was the hatred of weakness…
Have You Ever Had It Blue Have you ever chased the night that sailed in front…
Headstart For Happiness When I find you waiting hours, oh You're there to save…
Headsteart for Happiness When I find you waiting hours; oh, You're there to save…
Heavens Above Heaven's above what have we done Oh, we've killed off the…
Here The pub talk, the scandals Like vandals they try to tear…
Homebreakers Good morning day, how do you do I wonder - what…
How She Threw It All Away Of all the things that money can buy freedoms never…
I Ain't Goin' Under I've counted all the pores of my skin I've listed all…
I Am Leaving Tired of dust and dirt to clean This place once loved,…
In Love For The First Time Guilty of the old excuse Of losing myself to you But I'm…
Internationalists If you believe you have an equal share In the whole…
It Didn I remember all the early days Trying to think of the…
It Didn't Matter I remember all the early days Trying to think of the…
It Just Came To Pieces In My H I stood as tall as a mountain I never really thought…
It's A Very Deep Sea I'll keep on diving 'til I reach the ends Dredging up…
It's Very Deep Sea I'll keep on diving til I reach the ends, dredging up…
Iwasadoledadstoyboy There's better ways of making cash Than waiting in parks, se…
Life At A Top People's Health Farm Dads gone down the dog track, Engels' laying cables Brother…
Life at a Top Peoples Health Farm Dads gone down the dog track, engels' laying cables Brother…
Life at the Top Peoples Health Farm Dads gone down the dog track, Engels laying cables Brothers…
Lodgers No peace for the wicked, only war on the poor They're…
Long Hot Summer I play out my role Why I've even been out walking They…
Long Hot Summer '89 I play out my role Why I've even been out walking They…
Long Hot Summer (Single Edit) I play out my role Why I've even been out walking They…
Love Pains Oh I think it's too late baby Oh I think it's…
Luck Luck fell in the right place for me The day you…
Man of Great Promise I bought the paper yesterday and I saw the obituary…
Money go round It's no good praying to the powers that be 'cause they…
Money-Go-Round It's no good praying to the powers that be 'cause they…
Move On Up Hush now child, and don't you cry Your folks might understa…
My Ever Changing Mood Daylight turns to moonlight, and I'm at my best Praising th…
My Ever Changing Moods Daylight turns to moonlight, and I'm at my best Praising the…
My Ever Changing Moods (12" Version) Daylight turns to moonlight - and I'm at my best Praising…
My Ever Changing Moods (Acoustic] Daylight turns to moonlight, and I'm at my best Praising the…
My Ever Changing Moods (long version) Daylight turns to moonlight - and I'm at my best Praising…
My Ever Changing Moods - Daylight turns to moonlight, and I'm at my best Praising th…
My Very Good Friend Down and down I went in a spiral wheel 'Til I…
Night After Night Oh night after night - I still miss you baby Night…
Our Favourite Shop Sometimes I get to feelin' I was back in the old…
Paris Match Empty hours Spent combing the street In daytime…
Party Chambers Back in the party chambers Laughter, records loud I guess my…
Piccadilly Trail What you asked for is what I gave No questions stopped…
Promised Land Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah Brothers, sisters, one day we'll…
Right To Go If we don't move - the moves our last We deprive…
Shout To The Top I was half in mind I was half in need And…
Shout to the Top! I was half in mind I was half in need,…
Solid Bond In Your Heart Feel is a word I can't explain, At least not in…
Soul Deep Getcha mining soul deep - with a lesson in history There's…
Speak Like A Child Your hair hangs in golden steps You're a bonafide, in every…
Spin Drifting I was hoping to be found alive In a pool of…
Spring Summer Autumn I will learn, I will grow and for my pain,…
Spring, Summer, Autumn I will learn, I will grow And for my pain, my…
Stand Up Comics Instructions Get 'em laughing - keep 'em there, You hold your own…
Start! It's not important for you to know my name - Nor…
Stone's Throw Away For liberty there is a cost - its broken skulls…
Story of Someone's Shoe It's either, Something in their eyes or something in the dr…
Strength of Your Nature When you gonna find the strength of your nature? When you…
Sweet Loving Ways Can it be a part of me has changed a…
The Big Boss Groove Hold on is what they say To get any back to…
The Boy Who Cried Wolf As the rain comes down, upon this sad sweet earth I…
The Cost Of Loving The cost of lovings on the line again Honey, that just…
The Gardener Of Eden True I was a gardener, once upon a time. When the…
The Ghosts of Dachau I close my eyes I reach out my hand And there you…
The Lodger's No peace for the wicked, only war on the poor They're…
The Lodgers or She Was Only A Shopkeepers Daughter No peace for the wicked - only war on the…
The Paris Match Empty hours Spent combing the street In daytime…
The Paris Match (feat. Tracey Thorn) Empty hours Spent combing the street In daytime showers They…
The Piccadilly Trail What you asked for is what I gave No questions stopped…
The Stand Up Comic's Instructions Get 'em laughing - keep 'em there, You hold your own…
The Stand Up Comics Instructions Get 'em laughing - keep 'em there, You hold your own…
The Story Of Someone's Shoe It's either, Something in their eyes or something in the dr…
The Whole Point II Harbor lights that shine before me The jewels that gleam fro…
The Whole Point Of No Return The lords and ladies pass a ruling That sons and girls…
The Wholepoint of No Return The lords and ladies pass a ruling That sons and girls…
Waiting I don't mind what people say They always think the worst…
Waiting on a Connection I don't mind what people say, They always think the worst…
Walking The Night I feel like walking, because my poor hearts breaking You tol…
Walls Come Tumbling Down You don't have to take this crap You don't have to…
Wanted There's a girl in my office She keeps on stopping Right in…
When You Call Me I know you have time But believe me it will fly…
Who Will Buy Who will buy this wonderful morning Such a sky you never…
Whole Point II Harbor lights that shine before me The jewels that gleam fro…
Whole Point of No Return The lords and ladies pass a ruling That sons and girls…
Why I Went Missing I don't know why, I went missing It could have been…
With Everything To Lose From the playground to the wasteground Hope ends at 17 - Swe…
Woman's Song Hush, little baby, don't you cry Mama's gonna buy you a…
You're The I could be discontent And chase the rainbows end I might…
You're The Best Thing I could be discontent And chase the rainbows end I might…