The Soul Stylists: Sixty Years of Modernism [Paperback]

Paolo Hewitt (Author), Paul Weller (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 2003

With the use of personal testimonies of both the famous and the unknown, this book seeks to establish the link between the two key elements of Modernism today—American rhythm and blues and British working-class fashion. It follows the transition of musical styles from London in the late 1950s, with the black American servicemen and their love of bebop, through the sharply dressed Mods of the early 1960s, to the dawning of the skinhead and suedehead movements which provided the musical and stylistic inspirations for 1980s bands such as Madness, The Beat, and The Specials. It also explores Britain's Northern soul scene, the soulboy and the casual, as well as 2001's Mod inheritors—the youth who make up the acid house and hip-hop scene.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Unwillingly revealing himself as the Sealed Knot of mod, Paulo's book is a complete hoot.' Select; 'The low-down on the cool clothes and music of soul. Paul Weller's idea and graced by his introduction' The Mirror; '... trip down memory lane for style obsessives...' Mojo

About the Author

Paul Weller is one of Britain's leading songwriters and a dedicated Modernist. He has led two influential groups, The Jam and The Style Council and is now enjoying huge success as a solo artist. Paolo Hewitt is a well known music journalist and the biographer of Oasis, The Small Faces and The Jam.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Mainstream Publishing (September 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1840185961
• ISBN-13: 978-1840185966
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.6 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,017,390 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable reference, August 24, 2007

By 

Lady La (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Soul Stylists: Sixty Years of Modernism (Paperback)

This modest-looking little paperback is an amazing collection of primary sources for anyone studying the fashions or culture of these groups. Well organized and well edited, and a fascinating read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Short and very sweet, November 30, 2008

By 

Kevin Smith (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Soul Stylists: Sixty Years of Modernism (Paperback)

As with most oral histories, you'll find this story to lack cohesiveness often, with many gaps in the narrative and conflicting claims about what really happened. That said, this lightning-fast read is packed with more than its share of entertaining and informative insights from various people who, in the 40s through the 90s, made these scenes into the legends that they are. Although ostensibly split in half between music and clothing, clothing seems to get more coverage. Required reading for any present-day mods and skins.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, but it does have shortcomings, June 28, 2008

By 

Zelie Nic (Pittsburgh) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Soul Stylists: Sixty Years of Modernism (Paperback)

This book is pretty modest. It sits at just over 200 pages, but because its more of an oral history, there's a lot of white space and that cuts down on the "true" size of the book. You'll be surprised at how quickly the pages go by.

It is a great book though. Hewitt's writing is suplimented with bits of interviews from original players of the day (names like Ann Sulivan, Ian Hebditch, Cox, etc.) all of whom share their personal input into the clothes, the music...everything. The interview segments are the absolute best part and without them this book would just be a long essay from Paolo.

I wish it were longer. I wish there were more lifted from the interviews. I wish there were pictures. I have "Mod: A Very British..." and its not as if I'm lacking photos of the era, but I just think a few personal ones from the people in the book would have really beenfitted this book.

I'd pay as much as forty dollars to have this book in my collection. As it is, I only paid $9. Good deal, good book.