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.
Changing Of The Guard
The Style Council Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like changing the guard it only lasts for hours,
Wondering what and where did it go
Crying over nothing worth crying for
Once in a while, I still think about,
The smile on your face girl, the first time around,
I'm wondering what and who your doing it with
Crying over nothing, worth crying for, still
Just now and then, I still get it,
That same old feeling, I can't forget it
Wondering why and where did I go
Trying not to let them get to me so
Once in a while I just can't help it
It's that same old feeling and how I regret it,
Wondering why, I miss you so,
Crying over nothing worth it all
Baby please, if there's a chance,
Let's throw out the past and get something back,
I'm wondering why, did we part at all
Crying over nothing worth crying for,
Crying over nothing worth crying for,
Crying over nothing worth crying for.
The Style Council's "Changing Of The Guard" explores the feelings of nostalgia and regret that emerge from a past relationship. The first verse encapsulates the fleeting nature of life's changes, comparing it to the changing of the guard, where the new takes over from the old. The singer reflects on memories of a past love, wondering about where that love has gone and what the ex-partner is doing. But ultimately, the emotions that surface over this person are "nothing worth crying for."
The second verse reveals that the singer still gets that same old feeling, indicating that they haven't fully moved on from the past relationship. They try not to let the memories affect them, but occasionally, their longing for their past love proves too strong. The final plea for reconciliation adds another layer to the song, indicating that perhaps the singer still has hope for a reunion with their ex-partner.
Overall, "Changing Of The Guard" is a poignant reflection on the impermanence of life and love, and the difficulty of truly moving on from past relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Changes of clothes and summer showers
Life is full of temporary things, like changing clothes or summer rains, that come and go quickly.
Like changing the guard it only lasts for hours,
Just as changing of the guard is a brief and temporary event, so too are many things in life.
Wondering what and where did it go
Reflecting on the past and wondering where it went.
Crying over nothing worth crying for
Being upset or emotional about insignificant things.
Once in a while, I still think about,
Occasionally reminiscing about the past or memories.
The smile on your face girl, the first time around,
Remembering the happiness and joy of early times and memories with a significant other.
I'm wondering what and who your doing it with
Curiosity and jealousy about the current actions or company of an ex-partner.
Crying over nothing, worth crying for, still
Continuing to be upset or emotional about things that don't really matter.
Just now and then, I still get it,
Occasionally feeling the same emotions or sensations as in the past.
That same old feeling, I can't forget it
Being unable to shake off old memories and emotions.
Wondering why and where did I go
Reflecting on past actions and wondering what went wrong or why things didn't work out.
Trying not to let them get to me so
Making an effort not to let past memories and regrets affect current emotions and actions.
Once in a while I just can't help it
Occasionally being unable to control or suppress emotions and thoughts about the past.
It's that same old feeling and how I regret it,
Feeling regretful about the past and wishing things had gone differently.
Wondering why, I miss you so,
Questioning the reasons for still missing an ex-partner and feeling emotional about it.
Crying over nothing worth it all
Being upset about something unimportant and not worth the emotional energy.
Baby please, if there's a chance,
Appealing to a former partner for a reconciliation or another chance.
Let's throw out the past and get something back,
Suggesting that both parties forget and move on from past issues to try and create something new together.
I'm wondering why, did we part at all
Questioning the reasons for a past breakup or separation from a significant other.
Crying over nothing worth crying for,
Being upset about insignificant things that are not worth the emotional energy.
Crying over nothing worth crying for,
Being upset about insignificant things that are not worth the emotional energy.
Crying over nothing worth crying for.
Being upset about insignificant things that are not worth the emotional energy.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alex Dornelli
one of the most beautiful love songs ever written by anyone, any band, anywhere, anytime
Glenn Groves
Sends shivers down my spine. One of wellers most beautiful tunes.
Andrew Levy
How this wasn't a worldwide hit is beyond my comprehension. As good as the hits were from SC and the Jam. To me this is the optimy of greatness.
Eamonn Quigley
after all these years...................when i heard this song back in 87 i couldnt believe a song could be so brilliant dee c lee voice is unbelievable she brilliant
JohnHenryNhammer
Awesome song!!! A lot of memories with it.
Patricia Jones
Beautiful song, one of my favourites x
david bassett
Superb song, one of my all time favs! Doesn't get much credit though?
jasonald71
This was a soundtrack to my teenage years walking around a North East village with leather soled bowling shoes. I still love Mr Weller despite my trench foot. Mellandi originals. 🤪
Berre van den broek
Such a lovely song...place in my top 10 deathbed🙂
You rue the day carly shay
I don’t remember what love feels like but this song helps