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.
Love Pains
The Style Council Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh I think it's too late again
Trying to look back over my shoulder
I could see my past oh so clear
And I remember how, how I used to hold her
Oooh it makes me wish that she was here
Too many love pains
Too many love pains
Too many scars for us to hide
Too many love pains just because of foolish pride
I can't turn back, now my hands are tied
I just try to look ahead - instead of behind
I don't know where I went wrong
I just know that it's too late for us to carry on
Too many love pains
Jealous inside
Too many love pains
Too many scars for us to hide
Too many love pains just because of foolish pride
The Style Council's song Love Pains reflects a common sentiment of regretting decisions that have cost someone their love. The opening lines "Oh I think it's too late baby, Oh I think it's too late again" express the realization that the singer has lost his chance of rekindling his relationship. The verse "Trying to look back over my shoulder, I could see my past oh so clear" indicates remorse for past failures in the relationship. The singer wishes to hold his lover again and erase the love pains that were inflicted.
The chorus "Too many love pains, Jealous inside, Too many love pains, Too many scars for us to hide, Too many love pains just because of foolish pride” highlights the irony of how a powerful emotion like love can make someone behave in foolish ways, resulting in heartbreak and pain. The line "Jealous inside" implies a possessive nature that led to jealousy and impacted the relationship negatively.
The closing lines "I can't turn back, now my hands are tied, I just try to look ahead – instead of behind" show the acceptance of the finality of the break-up. The singer acknowledges that they can't change what has already happened and instead choose to look to the future.
Overall, the song Love Pains is an emotional piece that reflects the pain of losing love and the realization that one cannot undo the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh I think it's too late baby
I believe that it's already too late for us to fix things, my dear
Oh I think it's too late again
I think it's once again too late for us to make things right
Trying to look back over my shoulder
I'm attempting to reminisce about the past and remember what went wrong
I could see my past oh so clear
My memories of our history are vivid and easily retrieved
And I remember how, how I used to hold her
I recall how I used to embrace and hold my beloved
Oooh it makes me wish that she was here
My longing for her embraces is rekindled
Too many love pains
I've experienced too many heartaches
Jealous inside
I'm jealous deep down inside
Too many love pains
I've felt too much emotional pain, too many times
Too many scars for us to hide
We have too many emotional scars to conceal
Too many love pains just because of foolish pride
Our relationship has suffered too much because of our prideful attitudes and behavior
I can't turn back, now my hands are tied
I can't go back in time, I'm stuck in the present
I just try to look ahead - instead of behind
I'm attempting to move forward, rather than dwelling on the past
I don't know where I went wrong
I'm not certain where and when I made bad choices in our relationship
I just know that it's too late for us to carry on
I'm aware that it's impossible for our relationship to continue
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maurício Amaro
In my opinion the best pop band in history. Very talented. Very creative and very engaged in social issues. Can we say the same about anyone else since then?
Sandy
This (TCOL) and its follow up Confessions of a Pop Group blew me away back in 87-88. It took me many listenings to absorb the texture and depth of the songs. Both albums were so different from the first 2 albums its hard to believe its the same group. Compared to most bands at this time who were trying to maintain their sound identity, TSC didn't stick to a "pop sound" and went for artistry. Didn't win them any sales though. But a hell of a ride.
fllynismydog
hell of a ride for sure
Sandy
Cost of Loving was, and is, still strong. It was way ahead of its time. Backed by a label that didn't get it.
Barry Close
fantastic version of the Eric Dennis modern soul gem
mn ly
Perfect song for a morning glow
Aaron Chase
It sounded like they were having fun on this!
Brian Burroughs
Would have made 'The Cost Of Loving' album a bit stronger...