Saw him here in Chicago for the fourth time. I love that guy! This time I took my Mom with me. She's 62 years old and was elated afterward! She can't figure out why he's not more popular here. Neither can I actually. His music is very universal. He's your national treasure.
What? No replies? Oh come on guys. Believe it or not, people came from all over the states for the show.
Ha-ha! Katie- he's a british rock GOD. Ever heard of The Jam or The Style Council? They were both his bands in the 70's and 80's until he went solo. If you get a chance, check out his stuff on iTunes.
Hahaha. I just listened to a clip on the iTMS, and I was gonna say it sounds like The Jam! I've never heard of him, but obviously heard of The Jam.
Oh.. I was born in '88. That may explain why I know what a Paul Weller is. or what The Jam or Style Council are. ...I'm so young! *cries because earliest band (for lack of a better word) she can remember is N-Sync.*
OMG you saw Paul Weller? Omg that is so amazing!!! Omg. I wish I was you! Who the heck is Paul Weller??????
Lee, I am Californian born and raised and I definitely grew up with The Jam and Style Council and know who Paul Weller is. I was into all the early English music, The Selecter, The English Beat, The Specials, Judge Dredd, Prince Buster, the list is endless. Then later all the English blue beat, ska, punk and the early Oi bands...Funny that I know all that and I am from CA, and no replies from our UK contingent?
Err... I'm old enough to have covered Jam songs in various bands... How about sitting around the turntable with the band mates listening to the brand new Clash "London Calling" for the third time and saying "WTF is THAT!?!" and then "How do WE get some of that?"
Maybe brits aren't posting as most of the thread was between 5-6am in't morning.Paul Weller is a legend at least to those of us of "a certain age".
Hey! Sounds like you've been raiding my iTunes library. (Though less punk & oi, more ska & bluebeat. more. MORE! MORE!). I tend to "rediscover" ska about every 4 years or so and listen to nothing but for a long while. Drives my wife nuts. Now of course this'll happen less since I have constant access to more of my music. Re: Paul Weller, for some bizarre reason the Jam and his solo work never resonated as well with me as the Style Council did. Pure pop goodness with a good helping of social consciousness, a bit like the (English) Beat. The "Singular Adventures of the Style Council" compilation is a permanent highly rated fixture on my iPod. One of these years I'll probably replace my individual Style Council & Jam LPs with CDs into iTunes. Speaking of the Beat, Dave Wakeling usually puts on a good show if you ever get a chance to see him live. He often plays here in SoCal since he lives here, though he is sometimes billed as the English Beat or General Public. B
You have great taste in music balamw! "Singular Adventures of the Style Council" is definitely an all time classic album. Listening to some Desmond Dekker right now. Using iLink I have started converting all my old LP's to digital and then into iTunes. It only costs $35 and works great.
Don't worry, we're awake(ish) now. Honestly... don't they teach you anything at school these days? Glad to hear you enjoyed the show, leekohler. Paul's one of my all time favourite musicians (which I suppose puts me at that 'certain age', Peterkro). In contrast with what a few other people have said, I prefer his solo work and stuff with The Jam over The Style Council. One good aspect of his live shows is that he plays material from his whole career, not just the stuff since he went solo. Me and the missus saw him play live at Dalby Forest last summer it was a great show, despite the heavy rain (it was open air!).
Paul Weller was great in the Jam, absolutely and strangely crap in the Style Council (cardies round the shoulders Paul? What was that about?) and has been fabulous ever since. "Wildwood" is one of my favourite albums, and I often use it as an example of great production in class.
I liked The Style Council when I was in high school and I remember when they performed at Live Aid. They didn't have that much success in the USA as far as I can remember, I used to hear their songs on this syndicated radio show back in the 80's (I think it was called Rock Over London or something like that....)
Lucky you... thanks for the reminder, I'm now humming Going Underground having grown up with The Jam and good ole Mr Peel. An awake Brit... - Dal