More on: Paul Weller

Label: Island
Release Date: 06/11/06
Rating:

Weller has released a four CD box set with all 67 of his singles with The Jam, The Style Council and as a solo artist. For everyone's Christmas present list there's this 23 hit single version, which evenly represents each period of Weller's career. Remarkably, it is the first one to do so.

This is what a Best Of is all about - a collection that makes you exclaim "blimey", in case you realise you've forgotten what incredible tunes the man has churned out over the years.

All throughout the style changes - the punk mod-revivalists The Jam, the quintessentially eighties The Style Council, to the comfortable middle-aged mellowness of his solo work, the songwriting never faltered.

From listening to The Jam again, it's clear that Weller is an artist that absorbs his influences, proudly displays them, and in most cases, improves on them. All classics present and correct here - including 'Start!', 'Eton Rifles' and 'Down In The Tube Station At Midnight'.

The passion may be less apparent in Weller's voice with The Style Council, placated perhaps by sharing vocals with Tracie Young and Dee C. Lee. He couldn't be the angry young man forever though. The mellowness of this period, where you can just picture tracks like 'You're The Best Thing' being brought out for dinner parties, does feel dated, but don't let it distract you from the class underneath the cheesy saxophone.

The raw gritty presence came back in Weller's solo work, with 'Wild Wood' being a particular case in point. The man had his cool points back. 'You Do Something To Me' has classic stamped all over it, and is testament to Weller's strength as a singer-songwriter.

Don't lose this amongst the glut of Best Ofs that appear this season - 'Hit Parade' is essential owning for anyone who has even a passing interest in Weller's music. Not a dud among this collection. A CD befitting the talent behind it - one that is truly representative of a staggering career.

Becky Reed

Paul Weller Official Site