Customer Reviews

Introducing

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A rollicking fine debut which successfully launched Paul Weller's post-Jam foray into blue-eyed soul. While the formula would be refined and perfected before finally reaching an apex with "My Ever Changing Moods", the rawness and spontaneity of "Introducing" is hard to beat.

While "Introducing" picked up its share of devoted followers, it never reached a mass audience. Too bad, as several stand-out tracks would have made fine singles. The effortless groove of lead track "Long Hot Summer" conjures the romantic image of escaping the daily grind on a blistering July day. The acoustic sing-a-long "Head Start For Happiness", adeptly structured on a bed of minor-seventh chords, is an achingly sincere love-fest. Best of all is "The Paris Match", a soaring romantic epic, which rightfully earns its place among the upper strata of Weller's work. Really there a no duds on the disc. Even throwaway "Mick's Up", a bluesy send-up a la Booker T & the MG's, is worthy. Overall, a fine introduction to a vastly underrated band.

One summer afternoon, 20 years ago while walking the streets of downtown Bowling Green, OH, I heard this hauntingly beautiful melody playing in a record store I passed. Even though I was a poor college student and perpetually broke, I had to have this record. I bought the album based on hearing the one song, and have not regretted it. To this day, I still listen to this album on my turntable. I only recently ordered the CD. I don't understand why this album didn't get more air time.

Guys/gals! Take it easy! Why reviewer two, seemingly dissed reviewer one, don't know, cause reviewer one liked what he was reviewing.

while i am not, as is apparently, reviewer 2, a world's authority on soul, i know great music when i hear it and play it, to wax egotistical for a moment. (i'm a musician.)

excepting that, sometimes weller's falsetto gives the game away, (white boy makin' black soul) generally, he can do the blue eyed soul thang perfectly and this record does indeed show him at the apex of his powers. (regarding talbot, actually, mick was essential to the council and while his instrumentals aren't for everyone, his arrangement and keys are vital "in de mix.")

a truly great LP from the cover art down, weller's urbane yet pensive expression on the sleeve says it all: ego, talent, fierceness, naked fear (at the reagan-thatcher world order). this album was actually played in REGULAR ROTATION by the world's greatest dj, big rick stewart in california in the sorely missed 80's, so great were the tunes and despite no american mtv or other commercial pumping.

as his melodic sense goes, so goes weller. he gets it, loses it, gets it, loses it. with the exception of money go round, all these songs are extremely melodic (and money go round was just fine, too). i agree with reviwer two, the the production was similarly fantastic - why such limited credit in this regard, i'll never no.

finally, weller says today, he merely 'likes' the council and finds them interesting. to be frank, at least from point of great melody, with few exceptions, the first three style council records smoke the jam. period.

drink your tea, kids, and stop fightin.' get on up!

Although the tracks on this debut album seem inconsistent, they demonstrate the versatility of Paul Weller and his partner Mick Talbot. The song Long Hot Summer is first rate!

When I received this item I was initially disappointed to realize it was a 12" "Mini LP," as I was under the impression it was a proper long player. The record consists of six proper tracks(one instrumental) and an (inferior)club mix of "Long Hot Summer."

That being said, the rest of the songs on this record are amazing. The original version of "Long Hot Summer," "The Paris March"(LOVE that synth solo) and "Speak Like a Child" are catchy, polished pop tunes. I was also pleasantly taken aback by "Headstart for Happiness." An acoustic number recorded live, it's not something you expect to hear on your typical dance pop album. With the organ it sounds alot like what Neil Finn would do later in Crowded House. The final track "Money Go Round" is a bit long and monotonous, easily the weakest track in my opinion.

All in all I was very happy with the record, it was my first exposure to TSC and I can't wait to delve deeper into their catalogue. Just be aware that you're getting what amounts to an extended EP on a twelve inch record, and you won't be disappointed.

Introducing a band that needs no introduction. The Style Council was the soul spin off of the iconclastic band , The Jam. Paul Weller provides the smooth sounds that ushered in the 80's neo soul. Keyboardist Mick Talbott added the texture that would influence future artists. This recording contains the only version of "The Paris Match" sung by author, Paul Weller.
A must have for students of British soul.

At the end of The Jam's life there were more than a few hints that Paul Weller was transitioning from punk/R&B to a more soulful and jazzy sound. However, nothing presaged the breezy blue-eyed soul of Introducing The Style Council. SC captured me from the opening beats of the great Long Hot Summer and held me to the very end. Though immensely popular in the UK (12 top twenty singles) the band barely made a dent in the US (two chart entries, #29 and #79!). Again, it's ironic that Britain (then a solidly Caucasian country) welcomed soul and R&B from the get go yet America consistently rejected most of the Brit's take on the genre when it was tossed back across the pond. Hell, Motown and Stax/Volt drew far greater (white) audiences in the UK in the 1960's than they ever drew over here. Indeed, soul and R&B artists could always count on healthy live sales in Britain and Germany long after their flames has dimmed back home. I suppose that some of the reluctance is racial (white boys singing black music). Then again, the US consistently parades its parochial nature for the entire world to see. In addition, although the main influences are definitely American soul SC was always difficult to pigeonhole - Weller and Talbot weren't afraid to explore different sounds on the same LP. Finally, they often expressed their political beliefs quite vocally (anti-Thatcher most noticeably)and politically orientated popular music has always had a bigger audience in Europe. Well,I guess that I've explained away the band's lack of US success! However, from a purely qualitative POV I remain bewildered that US popularity eluded them. For me great music is great music. And this IS terrific music. Even if the long play records failed to register there are numerous individual songs that one would have thought capable of reaching a pretty large audience. Anyway, thankfully, there was more to come.

Having been a PW fan since his days with the Jam, I remember the day I picked up the Long Player single that came out before this record, to say the least, like many Jam fans I was disappointed, but after a month or so I put the record back on the turntable and loved it! Then this Record came out and I was done. The direction was fresh and soulful, if you missed this, the first time out don't miss it now. Perfect for the summer, perfect for the winter, really perfect all year around. The Style Council was just starting there scooters for this one, and I waited for each album after and I have yet to stop playing this record or any of there other's for that matter . While so much [...] came out in the 80's this long player made the difference. Buy It and you will know the sound and why we "keep on burning"! Introducing The Style Council is a must, stand outs include, Long Hot Summer, Speak Like a Child and Paris Match, and you can't forget Mick Talbot's great Organ playing on Mick's Up. I dare you to fine a record/song from the same period that still has meaning today, one listen to Money-Go-Round and you will agree we are still not off it. 7 songs of soul-jazz, served fresh and cool.Just the begining of something great a must have and if you have never listed to TSC you will never stop once started.

The first track Long Hot Summer always reminds me of the type of early 80's American R&B groups like Mtume's Juicy Fruit or the same deep, synth soulful sounds of the S.O.S Band ! Headstart for Happiness with it's Hammond organ sound and cheerful acoustical style is sheer retro 70's, bluesy upbeat pop.Speak Like a Child, well just think late 60's pop. The mid-tempo balladry of The Paris Match would later be re-worked in a more torch, jazz like-feel on the next album Cafe Bleu/My Ever Changing Moods. Vocals would be sung by Tracy Thorn of Everything But the Girl fame...Even the album cover photos sport a true sign of the times fashion glimpse of the preppie and yuppie movement with a Euro flair...

Paul Weller always had the great artistic knack to take his own songs and do several different alternate versions of the same song in various musical styles! He did it without compromising the meaning or integrity of the song ! The tune Mick's Up is just a jazzy-swinging bluesy instrumental to show off band member's Mick Talbot's musical chops as a organ/piano keyboardist.The last track Money Go Round is campy and trite, yet very likeable, danceable as a funk/pop track !

The 7 tracks on this cd are well worth many spins to come! Introducing the Style Council served as an excellent sampler as to the great material the band would later produce before their breakup in the late 80's...

This album absolutely blew me away on the first listen. I never did own any Style Council before this year. I did see some of their videos and heard some of their music on the radio for many years. I especially enjoyed listening to their first track (Long Hot Summer), I enjoyed the soul style and the packaging was great. To make it brief, I would recommend this album to anyone interested in this group or this type of music from the 1980's. I think this is a great example of The Style Council for those who aren't familiar with their music. This is definately a great album to listen to in the summertime.