Search - Style Council :: Ultimate Collection

Welcome Back to WLIR/WDRE and the 80's

Mark Gellman | Santa Monica | 04/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I hear "Long Hot Summer" or "My Ever Changing Moods", I'm transported back to Long Island in the 80's, and my little Toyota covered with WLIR bumper stickers (the "new wave" radio station that freed many of us from having to listen to Lisa Lisa or Prince, and made us feel like we were in a special little subculture), John Hughes movies, teenage insecurities as I was transitioning from high school to college, and (I hate to admit it) my mullet. Sweet memories.
Paul Weller surprised a lot of people when he reinvented himself in '83 as the front man of The Style Council, after the demise of the hugely popular punk/wave British band The Jam. Where the jam was angst and melodic power, the Style Council was jazzy, funky and soulful.
This truly is the "ultimate" collection, with all of their hits, remixes, and some of the less well known songs that were my favorites, like the torchsongish "Paris Match" and funky "It Didn't Matter". Hope you enjoy the album, the memories, and that you smile at how amazing it is - you're twenty years older and still feel like that kid."

Flawed Tracklisting With Flawless 32-Bit Sound!

Jason W. Bellenger | Byron Center, Michigan, USA | 11/08/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Universal Netherlands could have done a better job with this 'Ultimate Collection' 3-CD release from The Style Council -- at least when it comes to the tracklisting. First of all, the tracklisting information is not completely correct on Amazon.com or even on the back of the digipak. Amazon.com lists 31 tracks. This package actually covers 34 tracks over 3 discs. The correct tracklisting is as follows:



CD 1 -

1 Speak Like A Child (3:18) 2 Money-Go-Round [Parts 1 + 2] (7:46) 3 Long Hot Summer [12" Version] (7:00) 4 A Solid Bond In Your Heart (3:18) 5 The Paris Match (4:25) 6 You're The Best Thing (5:42) 7 My Ever Changing Moods [LP Version] (3:38) 8 Shout To The Top! [7" Edit] (3:24) 9 Come To Milton Keynes (3:05) 10 Walls Come Tumbling Down (3:24) 11 The Lodgers (Or She Was Only A Shopkeeper's Daughter) (3:58) 12 Have You Ever Had It Blue (4:47) 13 It Didn't Matter (5:45)



It's worth noting that CD 1 features Parts 1 & 2 of "Money-Go-Round", not just Part 1 as stated. "Long Hot Summer" is thankfully featured in it's full 7:00 12" version. "You're The Best Thing" is featured in all it's 5:42 length, not in it's single edit. "My Ever Changing Moods" is featured in it's original LP version, not the more popular single remix version as featured in the promo music video and other collections. I prefer having the original LP version here since the 12" remix can be found on disc 2. Unfortunately, "Shout To The Top!" is the edited single version, not the full length extended version which clocks in at 4:16. Why feature full versions of tracks like "Long Hot Summer" and "You're The Best Thing" yet feature the edited version of "Shout To The Top!"? Was this compilation just thrown together carelessly?



CD 2 -

1 Waiting (4:26) 2 Wanted (Or Waiter, There's Some Soup In My Flies) (3:25) 3 Life At A Top Peoples Health Farm (4:27) 4 Promised Land [Radio Edit] (2:59) 5 Who Will Buy? (2:42) 6 Waiting For A Connection (3:06) 7 The Cost Of Loving [12" Version] (3:49) 8 My Ever Changing Moods [12" Version] (5:43) 9 Shout To The Top! [Live] (3:24) 10 Walls Come Tumbling Down [Live] (3:35) 11 The Lodgers [Live] (4:39) 12 Our Favourite Shop [Live] (3:22) 13 My Ever Changing Moods [Live] (4:33)



CD 2 features the popular remix version of "My Ever Changing Moments" in it's full 12" version, not the edited single remix version which clocks in at just over 4 minutes. Including the original 7" remix of the track would have been a nice addition to this compilation. All five live versions presented here are taken directly from the 1986 'Live! Home And Abroad' album. Why do we have so many live tracks here? Surely this band has a lot more to offer than live versions pulled from a 1986 live album, especially when a number of 12" versions, alternate versions, and b-sides are notably absent.



Bonus CD -

1 The Jam - Start! (2:30) 2 The Jam - Going Underground [Live] (3:12) 3 The Jam - Town Called Malice (2:54) 4 The Jam - Beat Surrender (3:25) 5 Paul Weller - Wild Wood (3:23) 6 Paul Weller - Sunflower (4:07) 7 Paul Weller - Hung Up (2:41) 8 Paul Weller - You Do Something To Me (3:40)



I'm not sure why a live version of "Going Underground" was featured here instead of the original version. The liner notes within the package do not list where this live cut was taken from. Again, this sounds like it was a mistake on the record company's part, making this release look rushed and sloppy.



Now what about the total number of tracks prestented? 34? It seems like Universal went slim and greedy with this release. That's not to say that the tracks featured aren't worthy of inclusion, but c'mon now. 13 tracks each on disc 1 and disc 2. Disc 3, noted as a bonus CD, featured 8 non-Style Council tracks. Why do we get The Jam and Paul Weller tracks here? It is, after all, a Style Council compilation, right? -- not a Paul Weller career sampler.



Surely, each disc could have included a few additional tracks. (ABC's Ultimate Collection, also from Universal Netherlands, features a full 30 tracks on the first 2 discs with a bonus 10 track CD). The bonus CD presented here should have included notable 12" versions ("My Ever Changing Moods [12" Version]"), alternate mixes ("Shout To The Top! [USA Remix]", "Shout Top The Top! [Instrumental]"), and "My Ever Changing Moods [7" Remix]", and a couple of live tracks (as featured on disc 2). Any remixes and live cuts should not have been included within the main two discs since The Style Council have a lot more to offer from their catalogue. The Jam and Paul Weller should have their own 'Ultimate Collection' releases and not have random classics thrown in here.



Now enough with the complaining! Believe it or not, I actually like this release! Overall, I have to highly recommend this package for the stunning 32-bit digitally remastered sound. Yes, it is that good! It amazes me that so much care was given to the sound quality yet the tracklisting seems more or less thrown together with little logical thinking on tracks, mixes, and versions featured. Thankfully, the full rich sound of these tracks makes up for these flaws. These tracks have never sounded better, as far as I know, than on this multi-disc set from Universal Netherlands.



I own a few other of these other 32-bit remastered 'Ultimate Collection' releases, and they all sound oustanding! "Long Hot Summer" has never sounded hotter! Just listen to that bass come roaring through your speakers! What a jam! "Shout To The Top!" has never shouted louder with it's crisp string arrangement! "You're The Best Thing" has never sounded more soulful and beautiful. What an an amazing production! "Walls Come Tumbling Down" could just make walls come down with it's blaring brass and punch. The bass, crispness, and clarity of each of these tracks makes this collection worth owning! If you can forgive the tracklisting, get this one for the audio upgrade! It is definitely worth experiencing!"