Paul Weller Presents That Sweet Sweet Music.
Label: Ace
Format: CD.
Release Date: 28th March 2025.
From an early age, soul music has played an important part in Paul Weller's life. He grew up listening to, and buying soul singles. This was just the start.
Then during his ten years with The Jam, the group covered two soul classics on their six albums. The first was Wilson Pickett's 'In the Midnight Hour which featured on their 1977 sophomore album, 'This Is the Modern World.' Two year later in 1979, the group covered Martha and the Vandellas'' 'Heat Wave' on their fourth album 'Setting Sons.' Soul music would continue to influence Weller's music.
Weller formed The Style Council with Mick Talbot in 1983. The group combined blue-eyed soul with jazz, funk, pop and house on the five albums they released between 1984 and 1998. By then, Weller had embarked upon a solo career.
His solo career began with his eponymous debut album in 1992. Weller followed this up with three of his finest solo studio albums. The first was 'Wild Wood' in 1993. Next came 'Stanley Road' in 1995, with 'Heavy Soul' following in 1997. Soul was continuing to influence Weller's music.
That would be the case right through to his most recent album, '66.' It was released on May 24th, 2024 and was Weller's seventeen solo studio album in a career that had already spanned fifty-two years.
A day after the release of '66,' Weller celebrated his 66th birthday. Still his love of soul music remained, and he continued to collect and buy soul singles and albums.
Twenty-six of Weller's favourite soul tracks feature on a new compilation that he's compiled for Ace. This is 'Paul Weller Presents That Sweet Sweet Music,' which will be released on '28th,' March 2025.
Opening the compilation is 'God Made Me Funky' by The Headhunters. The group was formed by Herbie Hancock in 1973, and became his backing group. Then in 1975, The Headhunters released their debut album 'Survival Of The Fittest.' The jazz-funk group were joined by The Pointer Sisters on the much-sampled album opener 'God Make Me Funky.' It's a delicious mixture of jazz, funk, fusion, P-funk and soul. This is the version that was released as a single. The album cut a nine minute epic that showcases Hancock et al at the peak of their powers.
'Breakaway' by The Valentines was released on Sound Stage 7 in 1970. The lyrics are powerful, and full of social comment on a track that found favour on the UK's Northern Soul scene.
John Davis produced 'Top Of The Stairs' for Collins and Collins. It was recorded at the legendary Sigma Sound Studios, and released as a single on A&M in 1980. The was a cover of an Ashford and Simpson composition that featured on their 1977 album 'Send It.' This irresistible funky, soulful and joyous cover is truly timeless and one of the highlights of the album Collins and Collins. It's also one of the highlights of the compilation, and is sure to brighten up even the dullest day.
'Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You' by The Spinners was arranged, conducted and produced by one of the architects of Philly Soul, Thom Bell. He reinvents a track that was originally recorded by Wilson Pickett in 1970. It's very different, and so much better. No wonder. The classic lineup of MFSB feature and are complimented by a string arrangement by Don Renaldo. Bell, forever the innovator, seamlessly transforms them into a big band. Phillip Wynne is at his soulful best with what was one of his best vocals on the group's 1973 album Spinners. It one of the finest albums they released, and the first of five consecutive albums that were certified gold in the US.
'Black Balloons' opened Syl Johnson finest album 'Is It Because I'm Black.' It was release on Twinight in 1970, and nowadays, is regarded as a soul classic. The song features an emotive, heartfelt and tender reading of Oscar Brown Jr's rhapsodic song which deals with the subject of black pride.
'Run For Cover' featured on The Dells 1966 US album 'There Is A Few.' It was also released on Chess as a single in the US. Despite its quality, the single failed to make an impression on the charts. By the early seventies, this anthemic dancer was a favourite of Northern Soul DJs and dancers.
Another track released on Chess was 'It Ain't No Big Thing' by The Radiants. It was released in 1965, and saw original members of the group Maurice McAlister and Wallace Sampson joined by Leonard Caston Jr. This new lineup breathed life and meaning into this song about the end of a relationship. It's as if there's an inevitability about it, and they've accepted that they're about to go their separate ways. The single reached ninety-one in the US Billboard 100 and fourteen in the US R&B charts, and was The Radiants' biggest hit.
Brother To Brother covered Gil Scott Heron's 'The Bottle' in 1970. The song was released as a single on the Turbo label. Producer Michael Burton stays true to the original but adds piano and bass to the arrangement. This results in a track that's a glorious fusion of soul, funk and jazz.
One of the hidden gems on the compilation is Joe Simon's rendition of Mac Gayden and Bob Wilson's 'When.' It was released on Sound Stage 7 in 1970. The versatile soulman delivers an impassioned and hopeful vocal as he sings of the love that many people believe exists within everyone.
James Carr delivers a soul-baring vocal on 'Pouring Water On A Drowning Man.' It was released on Goldwax and features a vocal bristling with emotion. It's as if Carr's lived the lyrics. His delivery is powerful and deeply moving, and twenty-four years after his death on January 7th, 2001, he's quite rightly recognised as one of the greatest soul singers ever.
In 1971, Jon Lucien released 'Search For The Inner Self' as a single on the Ampex label. Horace Ott's arrangement provides the perfect backdrop for Lucien as he tenderly bestows wisdom to the song's innocent protagonist on this beautiful song. It's one of his finest songs. Lucien's recording career spanned forty years. However, the first five albums he released are, without doubt, his finest.
Closing the compilation is Beautiful Feeling by Darrell Banks. It was released on Volt in 1969, and features a vocal that's full of longing and tinged with regret. It's a beautiful way to close Paul Weller Presents That Sweet Sweet Music.
It's the first compilation that Paul Weller has compiled, and hopefully it won't be the last. Familiar faces rub shoulders with what will be new names on this carefully and lovingly curated compilation. It's like a modern-day mix tape, featuring well known tracks, hidden gems, album tracks and ones that got away. The result is Paul Weller Presents That Sweet Sweet Music, which is one of the finest compilation that will be released this month.
Paul Weller Presents That Sweet Sweet Music.
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