The Style Council

In 1982, The Jam were Britain's most popular rock group and seemingly on the verge of finally cracking the American market when leader Paul Weller decided to fold the band to form a new act, the Style Council. With musical partner Mick Talbot, Weller indulged his fascination with RB and Northern Soul in The Style Council, and as well intensifying the political focus of his lyrics. In 1987, the Style Council were touring Europe in support of their album The Cost of Loving when they recorded a live set for the German pop music series Full House, and this home video release features their performance in full.

Après la séparation des JAM fin 82,le dandy Paul Weller fit appel au claviériste Mick Talbot(ex DEXY'S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS),à DeeC.Lee l'ex choriste de WHAM et futur épouse de Weller et auditionna un jeune batteur de 17 ans Steve White pour former son nouveau combo THE STYLE COUNCIL.En 1983 sortirent leurs premiers singles "Speak like a child","Long hot summer"et" Solid bound in your heart"(initialement prévu comme le dernier des JAM),tous se placèrent dans le top 15 en GB.C'est en mars 84 que parut le magnifique,l'immense le sublissime CAFE BLEU et sa pop jazzy teintée de soul qui fut en total contre courant avec l'ambiance musicale de l'époque(new wave).Enregistré à Paris ce disque résume à lui seul le classicisme anglais et le raffinement à la française avec des titres tels que "Blue café"(divine ballade instrumentale),"The paris match"(interprété par Tracey Horn d'EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL),"My ever changing moods"(ici dans une autre version que le single(#5 en GB)… Les points négatifs (oui quand même!) sont "A gospel et Strength of your nature" sorte de pseudo rap vraiment dispensable,cela n'empêcha pas l'album de finir à la seconde place des charts de nos amis d'outre manche.

Top of the Pops 1985 includes hits from Wham!, Duran Duran, Simple Minds and many others.

Top of the Pops 1983 includes hits from Duran Duran, Kajagoogoo, Culture Club and many others.

Love the 80s? Then this album is especially for you – 5CDs of pure 80s Groove greatness!
Having brought you the electronic and pop side of the 80s with 80s Anthems, Union Square Music now presents the more soulful side of the decade with 80s Groove.
Throughout the 80s a smooth dancefloor friendly genre developed that saw beats slowing down and basslines being cranked up. Hit after hit saw clubs up and down the country packed out as Jocelyn Brown, Mantronix, Maze, Simply Red, Mica Paris, Loose Ends, Soul II Soul, Neneh Cherry and many more produced classic after classic, many of them on this fantastic compilation.