Artist: Paul Weller
Year: 1992
I feel guilty. No. 75?!? Shameful. He's the Modfather, for cryin' out loud! The man behind two of my all-timers, the Jam and the Style Council. So, why aren't I enamored with Paul Weller's solo work? There have been some fine moments, and I felt nothing but excitement when I heard his first two singles, "Into Tomorrow" and "Uh Huh Oh Yeh." So what if his self-titled debut didn't quite live up to past glories. He was finding his footing. Great albums were sure to follow... Unfortunately, for me, that solo masterpiece never came, at least not yet, although I have continued to enjoy songs from time to time, like "Wild Wood," "You Do Something to Me" and the more recent "Brand New Toy." Like a lemming, I keep buying and hoping.
"Uh Huh Oh Yeh" was a pretty big hit in the UK, peaking at No. 18. Like much of that first album, there's a lot of '60s-inspired soul, funk and R&B in there. For most listeners, however, I imagine this song hinges on whether you like the sample taken from "Hot Rod Poppa," a scorching Marsha Hunt B-side, written by Marc Bolan, that came out in 1969. I do. Oh, yes, I do. If you think I'm way off on Weller's solo work, let me have it. I can take it.
7 comments:
I have to agree Brian, those first two singles, coming after the end of The Style Coucil, the aborted Acid Jazz connection as King Truman, and working with Young Disciples, felt like they fit right in. In fact the first album is really great - even with Kosmos being a bit noodle-y.
This was a really create period for Weller. He was writing with Brendan Lynch, Robert Howard and contributing to still wife DC Lee's Slam Slam album. That album is really a companion album to Weller's first solo album for me. DC got to get more soulful and housey, but there is the mark of Weller on a few tracks and you can hear DC backing up Weller on his album as well.
I never really got excited by Wildwood, and thing went south from there...Weller became a single and occasional album track artist for me. I was done by Stanley Road. The whole New Steve Marriott thing really annoyed me basically. Recently he's shown some form, but oh for those halcyon days...
Your feelings about Weller's solo career (along with Echorich's) are fairly similar to my own. I remember the 'Into Tomorrow' single arriving in the shop and (after sniggering at the pomposity of the moniker, 'The Paul Weller Movement') loving it and the first LP the following year. After that, while everyone was banging on about 'Wild Wood', 'Stanley Road' and 'Heavy Soul', I found myself out of the loop, unable to see what all the fuss was about. Some good tunes here and there, but that was it. I kept trying though, and saw him live several times through the 1990's and every time found the experience a dull disappointment.
By 2008 I hadn't heard a new Paul Weller LP since 'Heliocentric' in 2000, but started reading rave after rave about '22 Dreams' and picked up a copy out of curiosity - I'm very glad I did. For my money the run of '22 Dreams', 'Wake Up the Nation' and 'Sonik Kicks', plus all the odd one-off tracks, has been as strong as anything in Weller's career. He's clearly influenced by more than just Steve Marriott & co these days - you're never quite sure what you're going to get next and I like that a lot. I'm looking forward to 'Saturns Pattern' in May.
I agree with both you. I loved this single on release, he was back and reborn. The 1st solo lp has a lot going for it. Stanley Rd, Heavy Soul, Heliocentric were all too trad and hard work.
Have to agree with The Swede's assessment of 22 Dreams, Wake Up The Nation and Sonik Kicks. There's a sophistication to those three albums that translates into a strength of song as well.
Of all his recent records, the no lp single Starlite is by far his best work in 20 years! It's rooted in late Style Council house/pop grooves and really caught my attention in 2011. Best version is the Drop Out Orchestra's Rework/Remix.
Fellas, Consensus seems to be first album good, rest of '90s and into much of the '00s fairly uninspired. I agree with Swede on some of his more recent work, especially 22 Dreams. That would be my second favorite Weller album and just abut the only one I pull out with any sort of regularity these days. As for Saturns Pattern, of course I will get it. I'll be crossing my fingers.
I've listened to a few live cuts from his recent tour and there's a track or two on Saturn's Pattern that have a real, can I say this, Jam feel to them. Even the "heavier" mod/rock tracks, Long Time and White Sky seem more well thought out.
The triumvirate of 22 Dreams, Wake Up The Nation and Sonik Kicks have some of his best solo tracks but, as a whole, his debut solo album is his finest. Into Tomorrow was such a great track to come back with. Don't really know why Stanley Road and Wildwood are acclaimed as neither of them does much for me.
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