UMC-Island release another of their covetable box sets of classic albums. This set comprises the first 5 albums from Paul Weller's highly successful solo career as he gathered pace to reach his now iconic and legendary status.
It was a few years after disbanding The Style Council in 1989 before Paul Weller released his first, eponymous, solo album for his new label Go! Discs in 1992. It was a top 10 album and marked a return to his first love, '60s Soul and RnB. The follow up, Wild Wood, launched him on a run of critical and commercial success: The album went to #2 in the U.K. and was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize; its multi platinum, million seller successor, Stanley Road (featuring guest appearances by Steve Winwood and Noel Gallagher), spawned two top 10 singles ("The Changing Man," #7, and "You Do Something to Me," #9), went to #1 and he picked up BRIT Award for Best Male Artist (which he won again the following year). 1997's Heavy Soul saw Weller twist his sound again to take him back to the top of the charts (#2 U.K.) and 2000s Heliocentric (erroneously rumoured to be his last album at the time) which was a much lighter affair did the same, seeing him peak again at number 2.
This covetable box sets of classic albums represents the first half of the catalogue of an exceptional songwriter, guitarist and lyricist. It features some of his most successful albums and showcases his constant drive to progress as an artist, never afraid to take chances and desire to always staying fresh.
"Paul Weller – Classic Album Selection: Vol 1" is released on 8th September as a nifty box set CD collection and also available digitally.
The albums are:
1. Paul Weller (Island) 1992
2. Wild Wood (Island) 1993
3. Stanley Road (Island) 1995
4. Heavy Soul (Island) 1997
5. Heliocentric (Island) 2000
(tracklistings below)
Stanley Road (Island) 1995
Weller's landmark, multi-platinum selling No. 1 album which stayed 87 weeks in the
chart. It spawned the classic hits 'The Changing Man', 'You Do Something To Me'
and 'Broken Stones'. It's a timeless record, full of great tunes and very personal lyrics. Also includes a stunning rendition of Dr John's "I Walk on Gilded Splinters" featuring Noel Gallagher on guitar. The album also features legendary British musician Steve Winwood on two tracks. The album's famous cover collage was created by the British pop-artist Peter Blake, designer of The Beatles' legendary Sgt Pepper's album artwork.The album's title comes from the street in Woking where Weller grew up.
Heavy Soul (Island) 1997
After Stanley Road came the more 'rootsy', stripped-down style of Heavy Soul, once
again the influence of British 'blues-rock' -Free, Spooky Tooth, Cat Stevens shone
through (perhaps no coincidence that the album appeared on Island Records label!).
Weller's typical soul and R&B influences are filtered through 1960s psychedelia,
and folk -Up in Suze's Room is a hazy, gem, the soulful apology I Should Have Been
There to Inspire You is deeply affecting. The album included hit singles -Brushed, Friday Street, the jaunty 60s-inspired Mermaids and the riotous, Jam-like Peacock Suit.
Heliocentric (Island) 2000
A fascinating and often overlooked album, Weller's 5th
solo record includes the beautiful ballad Frightened, the psychedelic grandeur of Love-Less and the epic Dust And Rocks, re-introduced into his live set recently, and the magnificently strange There's No Drinking After You're Dead.
Sadness and regret underpin themes of the album, but there's also humour,
affection, and, ultimately, optimism running through it, with a varied and slightly
experimental feel in its songs and performances. Features hit singles –the rocker -He's The Keeper, and catchy Sweet Pea, My
Sweet Pea.
Tracklistings:
Paul Weller (Island) 1992
1. Uh Huh Oh Yeh
2. I Didn't Mean To Hurt You
3. Bull-Rush
4. Round And Round
5. Remember How We Started
6. Above The Clouds
7. Clues
8. Into Tomorrow
9. Amongst Butterflies
10. The Strange Museum
11. Bitterness Rising
12. Kosmos
Wild Wood (Island) 1993
1. Sunflower
2. Can You Heal Us (Holy Man)
3. Wild Wood
4. Instrumental One (part 1)
5. All The Pictures On The Wall
6. Has My Fire Really Gone Out?
7. Country
8. Instrumental Two
9. 5th Season
10. The Weaver
11. Instrumental One (part 2)
12. Foot Of The Mountain
13. Shadow Of The Sun
14. Holy Man (reprise)
15. Moon On Your Pyjamas
16. Hung Up
Stanley Road (Island) 1995
1. The Changingman
2. Porcelain Gods
3. I Walk On Gilded Splinters
4. You Do Something to me
5. Woodcutters Son
6. Time Passes
7. Stanley Road
8. Broken Stones
9. Out Of The Sinking
10. Pink On White Walls
11. Whirlpool's End
12. Wings Of Speed
Heavy Soul (Island) 1997
1. Heavy Soul (Pt. 1)
2. Peacock Suit
3. Up In Suze's Room
4. Brushed
5. Driving Nowhere
6. I Should Have Been There To Inspire You
7. Heavy Soul (Pt. 2)
8. Friday Street
9. Science
10. Golden Sands
11. As You Lean Into The Light
12. Mermaids
Heliocentric (Island) 2000
1. He's The Keeper
2. Frightened
3. Sweet Pea, My Sweet Pea
4. A Whale's Tale
5. Back In The Fire
6. Dust And rocks
7. There's No Drinking, After You're Dead
8. With Time And Temperance
9. Picking Up Sticks
10. Love-Less
